Dean Ferris has long expressed his interest in heading to Europe for a shot at the Motocross World Championship, which is exactly what he’ll get to do in 2012 thanks to ICE1RACING.

MotoOnline.com.au called Ferris this week to speak about his international plans, as well as to preview the Monster Energy Super X series, which starts this weekend in Melbourne.

Dean Ferris will be Australia's great hope in World Motocross for the 2012 season.

Dean, congratulations on the ride. It’s something we all expected, but now finally confirmed. How’s it feel knowing you’re headed to Europe next year?

Yeah, it’s a pretty big deal for me. It’s been a realistic goal for about four years, I’ve had my sights set on getting to Europe. I’m pretty stoked and it’s funny how it all panned out.

I made a plan four years ago about how I’m going to do it, although there was a few obstacles along the way, I’m here in the end. I can celebrate achieving what I have, but now I have to reset my goals and keep working forward.

Today is 10 years since my dad passed away, and that was my first year of motocross. Where I am today, chasing my dream, is a massive achievement for me. I was sitting down thinking of it today and I’m pretty proud of it all, for sure.

You have been the one Australian rider who has said you’d like to go to Europe all along, so what’s the motivation behind going to World Motocross?

Motocross is more my passion to be honest, that’s why. A few of my heroes have gone to Europe and I’ve always looked at the tracks thinking they’re really good. Don’t get me wrong, I do have aspirations to maybe go to America one day too, but for now it’s Europe and the world championship.

I’ve always been one of those kids who wants to be different to the others. Everyone wants to go to America, but I want to go to Europe, so… [laughs].

Last year we saw you do a couple of GP rounds and this year you went for a holiday to Europe, so what expectations and goals can you set for yourself?

Top 10 straight up. I honestly think I’m capable of it and I might even surprise myself. Billy Mackenzie and I are pretty good mates, and sometimes we get talking about GPs and he’s sort of been there, done that. I think he really rates my speed and style, so when I speak to him he has a lot of faith in me. He thinks I’ll do really well, and so do a lot of people around me.

First year, top 10, and I just want to learn all the tracks, learn the ropes and get in there. I’m not going to be satisfied with riding around and learning – I’m going to go for it and give it all I’ve got every race. I’ll put in a really good off-season and make sure I’ve got every box ticked. I might surprise myself hey!

Super X starts this weekend in Melbourne, but has your GP ride been a distraction at all?

Yeah, obviously the GP ride is something that I’m really excited for, so maybe a little bit. But when the helmet goes on I’m focused and know what I’m employed to do there. I’m really looking forward to racing supercross.

I have a new attitude coming into supercross, just more relaxed and not over-training like I did in years before. I rode and rode, trained and trained, then felt like I was in a bit of a rut and didn’t really get anywhere.

This year when I’m on the bike I’m just making it quality time, doing what I have to do. I’ve been spending more time getting my bike right, rather than riding something I’m not so happy with day in, day out. I’ve just changed my focus a lot, made the things that are more important my priorities.

Ferris held the red plate for much of the MX Nationals season, but he'll step back to the Lites class for Super X.

I’ve been told you’re looking good in the lead-up to Super X, so how’s the transition back to the Lites bike been?

Well at the start I thought it was going to suck, but I got on the bike and immediately started pumping out laps like I hadn’t even not ridden supercross or a 250F for two years. I was really surprised with the bike that the guys built me – it’s a really good bike. My confidence is better on the supercross track than ever.

How closely have you been working with Troy Carroll to make sure you’re ready from the start in SX?

Yeah, I mean while I’m not testing I’ve been just hanging out in Kyogle and doing my practice here, but we’ve done some testing and Troy has helped out a lot. It’s just a few little things that he’s picked up over the years. He’s working hard to help us get results, and when we’re testing he’s more worn out than we are.

He thinks so hard trying to help us, looking at our bikes and styles, so it’s really cool. It’s good to have him there throughout the series because he’s won many championships and knows how it’s done. I look forward to working with him again in supercross.

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