Sunshine Coaster Ford Dale has been through the injury wringer on a yearly basis in recent times, but he’s bounced back every time. However, last year almost saw the 26-year-old give up after with two big injuries – including a broken back – saw him near miss the entire season. This year though, Ford’s returned once again and has signed with Penrite Honda, the team that helped him claim the 2012 Australian MX2 Championship. MotoOnline.com.au caught up with him yesterday to get some of his fast thoughts on a range of subjects.

Returning to Honda…

After I left Honda in 2013, Yarrive Konsky and I remained friends and I signed with the team again at the end of last year. Last year at KTM definitely didn’t go as planned with injuries, but I decided to race again in 2015. I had a couple of privateer options offered to me, but when Yarrive approached me to ride for him again I decided to sign up. I get my mechanic from 2012 again for the season and everything at the team has stepped up a lot over the time I’ve been away. Everyone is working really hard, and there have been a lot of big improvements within the team. Yarrive has delivered on a lot so far and that’s a big thing for me.

Injuries…

I love riding and racing but and injuries have definitely made it tough. I’ve had one every year since 2009 so that’s a lot of time sitting on the couch. It’s mentally draining to start at rock-bottom every time, but while I’ve just gone and done it in the past, now that I’ve got a family to worry about I wanted to make a smart decision and not just jump into it. I’ve had five knee reconstructions, but I’ve never had any issues with my shoulders, which is a problem for a lot of riders. I tend to get injured more when I’m practicing rather than at the races and I’ve changed my approach now to try and address that. I still go hard when I’m training, but I’m not at 100 percent and I’m smarter and more calculated. My injuries last year were tough. Two weeks before the first round of the MX Nationals I broke my radius and ulna when I felt I was in a really good position for the championship. In hindsight I got back on the bike too soon, went too hard too quick and put too much pressure on myself, which led to the crash where I hurt my back.

The decision to return to racing…

After the second injury last year where I did the T5 in my back and stress-fractured and compressed the T4, 6 and 7, I got into a bit of meditation. I wasn’t sure that I was going to come back, but I’ve been 100 percent into racing since I was a kid and I don’t know anything else. When I thought about trying to look at different jobs there was nothing there – I don’t have any other passions except for motocross, which kind of sealed the deal for me to return. I’ve always trained well on and off the bike, so for me the biggest thing was my mental state of mind. I’ve changed my approach a lot so it’s more about the fun of riding now and not just doing it because I have to.

Becoming a dad again…

It’s unreal. Telena and I love being parents. Our new son, Maddox was born on Friday night, but I actually missed the birth. Telena was due to be induced on Saturday, when I’d come back from testing in Melbourne, but she called me on Friday night saying she was having contractions and had to go to hospital. There was nothing I could do about it as there were no late-night flights from Melbourne to Brisbane, so I just had to catch the next flight up on Saturday morning. Hurley, my 15-month-old son, loves him already. It’s awesome seeing how excited he gets, but he needs to learn to be gentler around his little brother!

Goals for 2015…

Honestly, I just want to enjoy this year and have fun riding again. Sure I want to perform and hopefully win, but the biggest thing I want to achieve is to walk away from each round with a smile on my face instead of being wrapped up in it all. There’s a lot more in my life now than just racing, and while I’ll still put in as much effort as I always do, I think I’ve got more perspective now. Racing isn’t the only thing I live for any more.

The MXGP this year…

I want Ryan Villopoto to win, but I’d love for Toddy Waters to get some wins too. He rode unreal on the weekend at Thailand. I think Villopoto and Carioli will be one and two in the championship, but I’m leaning towards Villopoto taking it out. Having him over there is massive for MXGP. The amount of guys who are following the championship this year is amazing, just because Villopoto is over there.