Image: MXN.

Newly-crowned Motul MX Nationals MX1 champion Dean Ferris has confirmed he’ll remain aboard the 2017 Yamaha YZ450F for the prestigious Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) at Matterley Basin, Great Britain, on 1 October.

The CDR Yamaha rider had previously expressed his desire to remain aboard the 2017 model until at least the completion of the MX Nationals, however he has revealed he will switch to the highly-anticipated 2018 edition for the Australian Supercross Championship.

“Yeah, just because we have a good motocross setup,” Ferris replied to MotoOnline.com.au in an interview this week. “Otherwise, it will just be an extra workload setting up an ’18 for the Nations, and we’re not sure if we’re ready to race it over there.

“I’m just committing to the ’17 because I know we have the parts and everything. We’re racing the ’18 for supercross and I’m looking forward to it, I have ridden the stock bike and it’s really good. We’ll focus on the ’18 here and take the ’17 overseas.”

As per last year, the now two-time champ will be forced to juggle motocross and supercross preparations over the next month, now with the addition of developing the new bike for the six-round series.

“I’ll probably put a bit more into supercross,” he continued. “Last year I was more focused on the Motocross of Nations. I kind of winged it at Jimboomba and did really well, I was surprised because I didn’t try that hard and I was doing more motocross.

“But it will be different this time, and I’ll try rest a little more this time before Jimboomba and before I get on the flight – I was actually really sick at the Nations last year because I was going motocross one day, supercross the next – I just wore myself out. I want to be sharp at Jimboomba and sharp the next weekend at the Nations too. It will be a balancing act.”

The final round of the MX Nationals is scheduled for this weekend at Coolum in Queensland, while the first round of the Australian Supercross Championship is pencilled in for 23 September, at Jimboomba, Queensland, just one week prior to the MXoN.