Dean Ferris has been a great ambassador for Australia in motocross racing both in Europe and America. He has won on the Grand Prix scene, and shocked the American fans with a standout second place finish in a moto—in a one-off ride in the 2017 AMA Nationals at High Point.

While International success is still something the Aussie wants, he will concentrate on his Australian motocross and supercross duties in 2018. So motivated is he to win both titles that he has decided not to race for Team Australia in the 2018 Motocross of Nations, set for Redbud in America.

We caught up with the Australian motocross champion and talks about MXoN, his fellow Aussies Hunter Lawrence and Jed Beaton and a whole lot more.

Dean, it seems like you guys have a long offseason?

Supercross finished middle of November, and Nationals don’t come around until April, but my pre-season started in February, and I tend to fill in my time with state level races and International races.

 

State level races, those must be fun to do, a bit like going back to where it started?

Yes, it is. It’s going back to the roots to why we all went racing. I go out there and camp and it’s just good fun, but it’s also good practice. A lot of National level riders do them as their prep for the Nationals.

 

I didn’t think you had any racing going on. I saw a report on that Straight Rhythm thing that Brett Metcalfe won, but none of the Aussie websites run reports on those races. I know they used to back in my day, back in the 1980s.

Yes, I am surprised they don’t report on them. I don’t know what the deal is. The straight Rhythm is more main stream and I think that is why they cover that.

 

What about the New Zealand series you sometimes do?

They are mid-way through it now, but I didn’t go this year. I did it two years in a row and it didn’t give me any offseason. After three years going flat out, I needed a rest and these state races are just as good and a lot less effort.

 

Because you had such a dominant year in 2017, does that also give you a chance to rest up as you seem on another level now?

No, because of that I just felt I needed a bit of time, because I can’t remember to last time I took a break. I spent time with family, went to the beach, ate chocolate and ice cream. It’s nice to have them to do that and I just enjoyed myself.

 

It seems to me, with Chad Reed now at the end of his career, it felt a bit like you are the top guy, I would think. When you watch guys like Hunter Lawrence and Jed Beaton perform like they are at the moment, and you being a former GP rider and winner, how does that feel?

Yes, I watched it and of course Hunter is a massive talent—a nice guy. I have had a lot to do with Jed, and those two guys are the future of the sport for Australia. It’s really cool to see.

 

Jed, he hasn’t been around that long, and you mentioned you know him well. This year he has really improved. I am like, this guy is the real deal. What is your opinion on Jed?

He is just super keen being there in Europe and very eager. Obviously, Europe isn’t like home and it doesn’t bother him. There have been a lot of Australians who have tried. He just has the right attitude. He also has a big support crew, and I know they are here in Australia. Having those guys behind him, that helps a lot. His brother is really involved, and I think Jed has a really good technique which you need in Europe for those tracks—really technical tracks. He is so eager to do well.

Dean Ferris has raced at competed at the highest levels on multiple continents throughout his decorated career.

I know it’s way off but with Jed, Hunter and yourself, Team Australia has a very good team for the MXoN in America. You guys would do pretty well with that line-up.

Yes, of course it would be a great team, and those two are doing well. There are also domestic guys like Metcalfe, Todd [Waters] and [Kirk] Gibbs. I am probably going to disappoint you though Geoff, this year I doubt I go to MXoN. I have done it both years when I have been based in Australia and it’s right in the middle of our supercross season. I feel like after my performance last year at Matterley Basin—where I really couldn’t prepare well for it—and having done well at des Nations in the past, anything less than doing I did in 2013,is really disappointing for me. I feel like I can’t put in the effort to do that, because I am committed to supercross in Australia.

 

So, you are sure you won’t be going:

Yes, pretty much.

 

You bastard (laughing)

I knew you would be disappointed mate. I am contracted for supercross in Australia and need to be well prepared for that. Maybe in the future I will again put my hand up for des Nations and I will be readier.

 

That brings up an interesting thought. I know Chad [Reed] has mentioned he would like to race the Nations in America. A sort of swan song and a final appearance for Team Australia. I know his results might not warrant it, and he has said he won’t do many—if any AMA Nationals rounds—but should he get picked just because he has given so much to the sport in Australia?

Oh, you are putting me on the spot. It’s a tough one. I don’t think he is riding well enough for the position, but he has done a lot for Australia and dosed down a lot of trees for future Australian riders in America and Europe. If he is just doing a few Nationals for fun, then he won’t be able to do what he has done at the Nations.

 

What about you in 2018? You came off a great 2017 and had that one-off ride in America where you did really well. Will you stay in OZ full time, or maybe do some one-off races in America or Europe?

I still have that midseason break in June and I haven’t made any plans yet, but I would definitely love to get to America again and do a one-off race. Keeps me motivated knowing there is a chance to go there—riding a new track and that type of thing. In the coming months I will see what comes up and I need to make sure my season here is going really well.

 

I guess you watched MXGP from Argentina? If you did, what did you think of Jeffrey Herlings’ performance?

Amazing, wow! I was so impressed. I am sure everyone else who watched also felt that. That was a hell of a ride. I got goose bumps watching it, just unbelievable.

What do you think happens in that championship?

No mate, I don’t. I don’t have a crystal ball. All I know is that those two KTMs will be going head to head all year and their speed is just above everyone else. It would have been good to see where [Tim] Gajser was at, had he come in healthy. I think his speed is on par with those guys.

 

And as far as your season, you said supercross and outdoors. So the goal is to win both championships, I guess?

I want to really knuckle down and concentrate on supercross after the nationals are finished, and now that I have pulled out of the Nations—well you are the first person I have told that. But now that I won’t do Nations, I want to really concentrate on supercross.

 

[Justin] Brayton shouldn’t be too hard to beat (laughing).

Well, in 2016 I surprised myself and was good and had something for Brayton. I thought in 2017 I would put in a bigger effort and maybe I can run with him, but he just smoked us last year. If I am going to step up to that level, I need to improve in the whoops. I will prep up my supercross and make it bigger and get ready.

 

So, no chance of seeing you in Europe again?

You might see me doing offroad in Europe. Some of the beach races in Europe have really caught my eye. There is some interest there, so maybe you will see me training in Lommel again in the winter. For sure that superenduro or the world endure championship is also something that interests me, but not yet, I still want to race motocross and supercross.

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