Australian Dean Ferris will depart Dixon Yamaha, headed to the US for 2014.

Australian Dean Ferris will soon be announced as part of the factory Red Bull KTM team in the United States according to reports, officially released from his MXGP World Championship agreement with Dixon Yamaha.

Ferris has been strongly linked to the Californian-based team alongside Marvin Musquin aboard a 250 SX-F, with Ken Roczen stepping up to the 450 full time alongside Ryan Dungey in 2014 (click here for details).

It was previously announced that after a breakthrough MX2 campaign in GPs this year Ferris would be stepping up to the YZ450F in the premier MXGP ranks (click here for details).

However Dixon’s announcement this morning has confirmed that despite their success, Ferris will part ways with the team for 2014. Ferris will remain aboard a 250F in the US, however KTM is yet to announce the move officially.

“Dean, who is now 23 years old, realised after his great starts and results at the Motocross of Nations that his 250 class career was really only just starting,” Dixon Yamaha team owner/manager Steve Dixon said.

“Since the Nations Dean and I have talked over his future and through experience I have learnt it is never good to retain a rider whose heart is elsewhere, it would only affect team spirit and potentially all the sponsors and partners.

“I took a few weeks to think about it and I feel happy I have made the right decision to let Dean financially compensate the contract and follow his dream to supercross and the USA. It may be the only shot he gets so I did not want to stand in the way.”

Dixon said it was an amicable split with Ferris, after a difficult decision-making process was completed.

“It was hard at first for Dean to approach me as he did not want to let us or Yamaha down, he was grateful for such a good opportunity in 2013 to show what he was finally capable of,” Dixon added.

“Lastly it is good that all of this has been carried out amicably and professionally and that both us and Dean both go into 2014 happy with our decision.”

With Ferris’ grand prix departure now announced, rookies Todd Waters and Luke Styke will fly the Australian flag respectively in Europe next season.