Image: Andy McGechan / BikesportNZ.com.

Ford Dale and the KTM Motocross Racing Team have delayed the Queenslander’s scheduled return to racing at this weekend’s Manjimup 15,000, instead focused on the final five round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals.

Dale has been recovering from a broken left arm sustained in the lead-up to the MX Nationals, returning to riding a fortnight ago in preparation for his official return to racing. Despite hoping to race at the iconic Western Australian event, it’s been decided his national return will take place at Swan Hill on 29 June.

“It’s only bike time holding me back at this point, we just want to wait till everything is 100 percent and get back on when I can win, I guess,” Dale said. “I haven’t even been back on the bike two weeks yet. The recovery went really good, no hiccups at all, just struggled with not using my arm for a few weeks to let it heal properly.

“I’m still going to go down and check it out, and ride the practice day on Friday and stuff. I’ve never been there before, but I believe the track is awesome, and I definitely plan to be coming back here again.”

Team manager Rob Twyerould said Dale took part in today’s official practice at Manjimup, but will instead support teammate Kirk Gibbs for the weekend’s racing action.

“We’ve made a decision that Ford is not going to race, but we have brought him along for the experience,” team manager Rob Twyerould explained. “And there is a practice day there on Friday, and he’ll ride that, but at this stage he won’t compete.

“He’s not quite ready yet, but he’s very close, so we don’t want to jeopardise anything leading up to the last half of the Australian championship.”

Lining up alongside Gibbs will be fellow national contenders Jake Moss, Jay Marmont and Brock Winston, plus New Zealand’s Ben Townley, Americans Nick Wey, AJ Catanzaro and Brett Cue, and a host of local threats.