The Australian Motocross industry was in awe overnight as Kyogle’s Dean Ferris raced to a stellar clean-sweep in MX2 at the Grand Prix of Belgium for Monster Energy Yamaha.

Today, MotoOnline.com.au looks at some of the finer facts regarding Ferris’ breakthrough performance.

Australian Dean Ferris racing to victory at Bastogne on Sunday.

How did he do it? In style!

Pole position and two race wins is exactly how you’d like to clinch your first grand prix overall, which is exactly what Ferris did. It will be a weekend that the 23-year-old remembers for a long time to come, the reward for a huge gamble he took at the end of 2011 in chasing his dreams to race in Europe.

Was it a surprise? No

With three podiums already to his credit earlier in 2013, it was no real surprise when Ferris rose to the occasion after Jeffrey Herlings’ injury on Saturday. He mentioned just recently he needed to be there to capitalise if Herlings had and problems and that he did. What was slightly surprising though was the relative ‘ease’ that he beat the remaining top 250F riders in the world with on the glorious Sunday afternoon.

When can we expect more? This year

One of the key things Ferris mentioned following his perfect weekend in Belgium was that he himself is anticipating more wins before the year’s out. Confidence is a wonderful asset, so with a qualifying race win and two GP race wins under his belt, we can expect big things at the final two rounds and the Motocross of Nations. “This is my fourth podium of the season and now that the monkey is off my back there is no reason why I can’t repeat this in Matterly and Lierop,” he told MXlarge.

What Australians have won GPs before? Leisk, Reed and McFarlane

For Ferris, this will forever remain a moment that will lock him into the Australian history books alongside the likes of Jeff Leisk, Chad Reed and the late Andrew McFarlane as a world championship round winner. That’s some impressive company in which he’s joined and here’s hoping there are many more race wins to come!

Can Ferris be our first GP champion? Potentially

One grand prix victory doesn’t amount in a world championship of course, however if you look at the pattern of Dean’s career, his application and dedication is second to none. With experience gained by the year, Ferris will hit his stride next season and no doubt has what it takes to challenge for more wins. Considering the current stranglehold Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings have on their respective titles, winning one will be no mean feat for anybody, but you can bet that if there’s a will, there’s a way for Ferris.

Ferris takes in his maiden grand prix victory on the podium.

Who was the last Aussie to win a GP?

The answer is Andrew McFarlane, back in the 2005 season at the British Grand Prix on the very same Dixon Yamaha team that Ferris rides for now. That year was epic for Sharky, racing to second in the world championship behind Cairoli after challenging him throughout the season. In fact, McFarlane won his fourth GP that season to become the winningest Australian rider in the history of World Motocross. And as unique sidenote, just like Ferris did this past pre-season, McFarlane spent the lead-up to 2005 training and practicing in Australia until right before the first round of the season.

Will more Australians try now? Yes

There’s little doubt that Ferris has reignited Australian interest in grand prix racing and for good reason. In fact, two of our finest are eager to make it to the world stage as soon as 2014 in Todd Waters and Luke Styke. Waters has already been heavily linked to the ICE1 Racing team (ironically the team Ferris rode for last year!) with an MX1 gig when it switches to the now KTM-owned Husqvarna brand next year, while Styke makes no secret that he’s doing all he can to secure a full time seat in MX2. As for the next gen, you can almost guarantee their focus is now on Europe as a stepping stone as well, rather than a direct transfer to the US.

Is Ferris worthy of an Aussie MXoN seat? Hell yeah!

If Ferris isn’t part of the 2013 team we’ll be hugely shocked – and disappointed. Already based in Europe, comfortable with the circuits and forming part of the official factory Yamaha MX2 team, Motorcycling Australia would be crazy not to select him at this point in his career. In fact, he’s shaping up to be our most competitive team member of all judging by current form.

Where did Dean come from? MX Nationals success

Ferris is one of the sport’s next generation riders that have specialised in the MX Nationals, albeit while still more than capable at Supercross. In short, a talented upbringing saw Ferris emerge on the national scene with fourth in the Under 19s during 2007. During 2008 and 2009 he formed part of the factory Honda team, but a spell of injuries left him rideless for 2010. That resulted in a defining year for the youngster, piloting a privateer Honda to third as a rookie in MX1.

Ferris would embark on a guest GP appearance, as well as compete at the Motocross of Nations that same year, but ultimately again returned to Australia again for 2011 after signing for Monster Energy Kawasaki. He challenged for the title once again, and then departed for Europe full time in 2012 for Kimi Raikkonen’s ICE1 team, which therefore led to his Monster Energy Yamaha signing after a number of promising performances.