Ford Dale steps away from Honda

Penrite Honda rider Ford Dale has decided to step away from motocross racing, effective immediately, citing a struggle to form in the 2015 MX Nationals.

And he's set to be replaced by former world moto9crtoss champion Ben Townley, who was a former incumbent at Penrite Honda.

Dale (pictured) was 11th in the MX Nationals standings after six of 10 rounds, with the next instalment to be held in Shepparton, Vic on Sunday, July 19.

“The pressure on me mentally and physically to perform each week whilst providing for a young a family (he has two young sons) has taken its toll and I don’t feel I can do either job at 100 percent,” Dale said. “I am training hard and the team has given me everything I need, however I am just not coping with the pressure of performing where I need to be, and that is making it even harder.

“This decision to step away has nothing to do with the team. It is easy for people to assume that. The Penrite Honda Team went above and beyond; in fact I would say the team is the best it’s been and our results aren’t doing it justice.

“The phone didn’t ring at the end of last year; I didn’t finish the season in 2012 and since then have not finished a full year. I still believed I could race at the front and I called Yarrive (Konsky) and told him that — he took a chance and for that I am thankful. I certainly didn’t start this season thinking I would be stepping away in the middle of the championship."

Penrite Honda will just run a single bike for Cody Cooper in Shepparton, with Townley expected to saddle up for the final here rounds in Nowra (August 2), Toowoomba (August 23) and Coolum (August 30).

The team is also working on finalising its line-up for the 2015 Australian Supercross Championship, which will commence on October 10 in Bathurst, Chad Reed and James Stewart will compete in the November 28-29 rounds in Sydney.