Image: AUS-X Open.

CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris and headlining American Cooper Webb (Yamaha Factory Racing) engaged in a heat race incident at yesterday’s opening night of the 2016 AUS-X Open in Sydney.

The Yamaha duo came together as they entered the ‘Sydney Beach’ sand tunnel, resulting in the pair crashing to the ground and denying either one the chance of transferring directly to the main event.

Ferris, who is currently pitted alongside the number two of Webb, spoke of the incident post-race with MotoOnline.com.au and stated the US import wouldn’t be returning to the team’s truck following last night’s event.

“I think Cooper [Webb] just didn’t use his brain and pushed me into the wall, I bounced off the wall and hit him, so we both went down,” said an evidently frustrated Ferris. “Cooper’s not coming back to the truck, he’s somewhere else.”

The incident caused significant damage to Ferris’ factory YZ450F, which led him to withdraw from the following semi race and forced him to transfer to the main event via the last chance qualifier.

In what was hist first indoor appearance, the New South Welshman completed the night in eighth position and sits second in the championship standings with a seven-point advantage over his teammate Dan Reardon.

The SX1 championship was wrapped up a round early by Honda Genuine Racing’s Justin Brayton after a hard-fought second place finish to Chad Reed (Yamaha Factory Racing) inside Qudos Bank Arena last night earned him the title.