Coming off the back of an up-and-down 2015 MXGP campaign where he ultimately finished 11th, Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Dean Ferris has announced that he’s returning to Australia next year to race for CDR Yamaha. The 25-year-old also rode hard at the weekend’s Motocross of Nations at Ernee, France, in an effort that saw Australia come home in a credible seventh place. MotoOnline.com.au caught up with Ferris to get the lowdown on a huge MXoN and his impending return to home shores.

Source: Supplied.

Dean, congratulations on a solid display at Ernee over the weekend. Are you happy with how you went?

Yes and no. On Saturday I was going really well and was third in my heat race with a few laps to go, but then got taken out by a lapper. I was pretty pissed about that. Then on Sunday it was a bit up and down. In moto one it seemed like everything just went wrong – I got a bad start, wasn’t riding well, I crashed three times, stalled it, everything. That whole race was just a write-off, really. I liked the fact that my two races were close together and I felt warmed up and ready to do for the second moto. I ripped a good start from the outside and finished the first lap in fifth, but a couple laps later I got past [Ken] de Dycker for fourth and held that for about 20 minutes. Then Cooper Webb caught me and T-boned me hard enough to break my radiator; I had coolant pissing all over my boots and my bike was steaming, but I kept holding down ninth until the last lap where I highsided in the first turn and hit the deck hard. It kinda stunned me, but I managed to roll it home. I was pretty wounded, but I’m happy I’m okay.

And what about Australia’s result; is seventh a result everyone’s proud of?

Well we beat the Kiwis and that’s the main thing! I don’t think we’re disappointed with seventh, although we’re capable of more than that. We gave it our all and that’s the way it went for us this year. At one point on Sunday we were in fourth position and it would’ve been great to bring that home, but yeah, there’s always ifs, buts and maybes at the des Nations. I just focused on putting the best result I could in for the team and had a shocker in both motos. The one thing that doesn’t change though is that we have the coolest gear every year – the green and gold looks awesome [laughs].

The French crowd at Ernee was just madness, just as it was back in 2005. Why does the Motocross of Nations attract such a big crowd at that track?

It’s the French, they just love it. Any Italian or French GP is a big event and draws great crowds, but Ernee is special. It’s such a good spectator track and from almost any position you can see the whole track and follow the racing. The noise when you’re riding out there is just out of control. In moto two I had Gautier Paulin on my tail and being French, the crowd was following his every move. For 20 minutes or so I knew he was behind me because the crowd would just go wild when we came by.

Just before the weekend you announced that you’re returning to Australia to race next year. What’s the story with that deal and how did it come about?

My goal was always goal to stay here in Europe, but as things turned out, I didn’t have the opportunity I believe I needed to do well here. I’m not one to fill gates and just race here for the hell of it – I want to improve, ride to my potential and get good results. With what I was left with, I don’t believe I could do that, so the best option that was open to me was to ride for Craig Dack’s CDR Yamaha back in Australia. Dacka runs a world-class show and Yamaha has got a really good bike at the moment, so it was an easy decision in the end. An even bigger incentive was that we worked out a deal to race in New Zealand for JCR Yamaha and work with Josh Coppins, which will be a great pre-season leading into the MX Nationals. That’s a tidy championship to have in your back pocket if you win.

Source: Supplied.

Did you have any other offers to stay in Europe for next year?

Yeah, I did have offers to remain here, but given the circumstances, I didn’t want to stay for reasons I won’t go in to. I’m 25 and I know what works the best for me; wherever I’m racing I want to reach my potential. Dacka’s team is really well respected and he builds great bikes. You know what they say – happy bike, happy life. A lot of people are going to say things, talk shit and say I should’ve stuck it out for another year or two, but you know, it’s my life and I’ll do what I want with it and make the decision that’s best for me.

What are you most looking forward to about returning home?

Apart from having a good meat pie and drinking good coffee, I’m excited to be back in Kyogle, seeing mates and being near my family. Everything’s good about Australia mate, it’s home. Before I moved to Europe I’d travelled a fair bit and knew how good it was and that by making the commitment to the GPs I’d miss out on things back home, which I have. It’ll be nice to be there for those things and the important family events. By no means am I shutting the door on an international career in the future either. If I click it up a gear and the right opportunity comes up, I might head back overseas in another two years or so. I’ve still got plenty in the tank and am open to whatever the future brings.

Awesome. Well, enjoy the last two weeks in Europe and we’ll see you back here soon.

Thanks mate. See ya soon.