YAMAHA RACING:

Ford Dale (pictured last year) will return to Serco Yamaha for 2010

Talented dirt bike rider, Ford Dale will return home to Yamaha next year with Serco Yamaha today confirming the young Queenslander will complete the team’s lineup for the 2010 Pro Lites Motocross and Supercross Championships.

Dale joins Kirk Gibbs who will also race under the Serco Yamaha banner, the youthful team are already shaping up as early favourites for 2010, with numerous state and national junior titles between then.

Serco Yamaha Team Principal, Gavin Eales said the signing of Dale provides the team with an increased chance of taking out their first national title since 2007.

“We knew early on that we wanted to form a development squad and everything then lined up when Ford [Dale] approached me about returning to the team next year,” Eales said.

“It is great to have Ford [Dale] come back home to the team and Yamaha.  He has a lot of experience and a lot of speed and as a team we look forward to working with him to take this speed and transfer it into race wins.”

After rising through the ranks as one of the first graduates of the Yamaha Junior Development program, Dale said he is looking forward to returning to Serco Yamaha and the Pro Lites category after a stint in the larger Pro Open class.

“It’s awesome to be returning to Serco Yamaha,” Dale said, “I’m extremely happy with the team and another great advantage about the relationship is that the whole team is based [in Brisbane] closer to my home on the Sunshine Coast.”

“I raced as a junior on a Yamaha and was part of the Junior Development Team, so it will be great to return back to the manufacturer that gave me my first start.”

Dale who is recovering from a knee reconstruction said he will take delivery of a brand new YZ250F in December and will start preparing for the 2010 Australian Motocross Championship.

“My recovery from a knee reconstruction is going well.  I should be back on the bike in December and be be back to full speed in time for the start of the Motocross season,” Dale added.

“In 2010 my goal is to win the Australian Motocross and Supercross Championships and I believe that Serco Yamaha will provide me with the best chance to do this.”