Davy Pootjes may have stepped away from full-time racing at the moment, but the Dutchman remains very much involved in the sport – now turning his attention to the next generation of riders. For the 2025 season, Pootjes has started working with promising young British rider Harry Dale, and so far, the partnership appears to be a fruitful one.
Dale has already made waves this year, impressing many with his speed and maturity despite being just 11 years old. His results speak for themselves, with the talented youngster currently second in the ADAC Junior Cup series. That achievement is made even more impressive by the fact Dale is still too young to compete in the 85cc class at the Junior World Championship. This weekend Dale will line up in Loket for the EMX85 championship.
Pootjes has been full of praise for Dale’s attitude, skills, and the environment around him.
“So far, it’s actually really easy. It’s really nice to work with them. He is only 11 years old but it’s funny, when we train a bit on technique, then I explain some things… He’s just like, yeah we’re going to do it and then the lap, he’s going to try it. He just does it. He doesn’t have to think or try it before he gets it right, he just can do it. That’s what makes it special.”
While Pootjes knows that there is still a long way to go in Dale’s development, the signs so far have been very encouraging.
“Of course, you never know what is going to happen in the future. But if he keeps going like this, then we all know he is able to become a very good GP rider in the future. But there’s still a long way to go.”
Just as important as talent and results is the support structure around a rider – something Pootjes believes Dale has in place already thanks to a smart and grounded family approach.
“In my opinion, the family is really smart. They actually know what they need to do. There are a lot of people pulling on Harry, you know. Everyone wants something from Harry. But the parents are really smart with it, and they play it really good. They just need to keep going like this and don’t put too much pressure on Harry, because now he’s so free and he feels so good. Then you see that he can do everything on the bike, so they also know that. I think this way; everything is going to be good.”
With Pootjes guiding him and a strong foundation of support, Harry Dale is certainly one to watch for the future. If his current trajectory continues, there’s no doubt the British youngster has the potential to become a serious force on the world stage.
