Australian motocross is in a pretty solid place at the moment, maybe even as solid as it was some 17 years ago when Chad Reed, Andrew McFarlane and Micheal Byrne set-out on their world travels after their consistent results at the Australian Grand Prix at Broadford. Sometimes one race can make a big difference in a riders career.

For the last 17 years it has been Reed who has shocked the world, won major titles, and put Australia on the map. Performances that have placed him as one of the true legends of the sport.

Now, with the current performances of Hunter Lawrence in the MX2 championship in Europe, and Dean Ferris continuing his rise in the world rankings, Australia has something to cheer about again.

Last weekend at the High Point circuit in America, Ferris put in one of his best rides ever, with a solid runner-up place in the opening moto of the AMA 450 championship. His rock solid technique, and even stronger character to achieve the most out of his career, could see him arrive in America in 2018, and he might just surprise those same people who doubted Reeds ability.

Geoff Meyer caught up with Dino as he rested from a busy week or traveling, racing and planning his future.

First up, well done mate last weekend.

Thanks Geoff, it went pretty well.

 

Obviously going to America, you have shown maybe six times that you are really world class, like stand out races, but lining up against guys like Tomac and Musquin, did you look along the starting line and think, wow, these guys are superstars?

No mate, I have been on the start line enough times in Grand Prix, and those guys are also superstars, so I didn’t think about that at all.

Dean hopes his 2nd in moto 1 will land him a deal in the US. It probably will.

It seems like those American tracks would suit your style. How did it feel?

Well, yes, it was the first one I had done, and big jumps, big hills and I guess so.

 

You started well, your practice, top three, and obviously did well in the first moto. Did you expect that, straight off the bat?

I thought I might be in the front, just based on the fact that I did well in the des Nations last year and my speed was good, but I feel like I have improved on that, with bike set-up and another good solid year, so personally, I felt it was possible.

 

But still, you are racing a national series in Australia, that isn’t anywhere near like a GP or the AMA Nationals. That tough competition, that makes people quicker. Sure they have good guys there in Australia, but how do you know your speed was good enough to run up front in a National?

I can just feel it, my training and my bike, it’s really good, practicing on the same tracks, and I knew my speed was good, that was why I went to America, to see where I was at.

 

How was it when you line up in the first race. Americans can be pretty self-indulgent and not see the rest of the world. So you line up, some might know who you are, but a lot wouldn’t have known. How was that?

I think the leading riders knew who I was, but a lot of the fans probably didn’t know for sure.

 

You get that good result in the first moto, did you have a difference response after that moto?

I think a lot of the fans were surprised, I think a lot of the industry were surprised as well, but it wasn’t just the first moto, but practice and qualification. I stuck to my own program and wasn’t too busy with what was going on outside of that.

 

I noticed you mentioned in your racerx interview that you paid the whole trip yourself. Did prize money make up for some of the financial lose?

Look, I didn’t even look at what the prizemoney was worth and to claim it, I would have needed a W9 and a full-on visa and the hassle wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t the idea to make money, but my goal was to make it worthwhile in the long run, and I think it will.

 

Have teams over there contacted you?

Yes, sure, there were a couple straight away at the race, but since then I have been busy travelling home and getting back into the swing of things over here in Australia.

Dean is currently undefeated in the first 5 rounds of the Australian MX championship.

Good teams?

Yes, good teams for sure.

 

How confident are you that you can get something in America?

Look I would like to think from the result on the weekend I can get something. I would like to knuckle down and try and get something soon.

 

Obviously there is something about you and a Yamaha. I mean the early years on Honda at the GPs you were learning, and your time with KTM and Husqvarna wasn’t maybe what you hoped for, it didn’t turn out great. All your best results have been with Yamaha, your 2013 MXoN performance, you GP win, your 2016 MXoN performance, and obviously last weekend. Would you prefer to stay on Yamaha?

Ideally I would. I believe a lot of the bikes are good, but I really want to have an international relationship with one manufacturer, and I have a good relationship with Yamaha in Australia. If that would work out overseas, that would be easier for me also.

 

Is the goal now America, or would you still be open to coming to Europe?

My main goal is America right now, I have looked at all options since I left Europe a couple of years ago, and there seems like there isn’t enough rides in Europe for the amount of riders there, which makes it tough in Europe. The goal is America.

 

Having ridden the des Nations, you have raced GPs, and now a National. Can you compare from one race in America?

Not really from just one race. I think the Grand Prix’s are really deep at the moment, but the speed of the top riders, I can’t comment on that.

 

I mean, would you expect to do the same in a Grand Prix as you did in that opening moto at High Point?

Yes, without sounding cocky I would expect that same for sure. I say that because of the way I am riding at the moment, the program I am on at the moment. We have improved the bike a lot. I was on a good pace at the des Nations last year, so I would expect to do the same if I did a GP.

 

MXoN at Matterley Basin, you and Hunter Lawrence, with another solid Australian rider. How do you think Australia can go in this year’s MXoN?

I think we would be strong. We have needed a good MX2 guy for a while now, I rode in 2013, but it seems it is hard for Australia to get three good riders together. Hopefully Hunter and I are healthy in September and Kirk Gibbs is rock solid, he has a lot of speed here. There are a few others, Todd Waters and Brett Metcalfe, but its awesome Hunter is doing well.

 

What will you be up to now in the next four or five months?

We have another five rounds of the National here, and it will be the same program as last year. I have just committed to do supercross here again and round one is the week before the des Nations, so I will be swapping and changing doing supercross and motocross, because obviously I want to be sharp at both. It’s a busy program, but I pulled it off last year.

 

Did you decide to do supercross again because you had the goal of going to America?

No, I think I did it, because I really enjoyed it last year. I did really well and I think I can improve on it this year.

Photos by: Cycle Dump

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