Image: MXN.

Dual Motul MX Nationals champion Dean Ferris is inching closer to a deal that will see him contest the American Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in 2018.

Ferris, 27, dominated the Australian championship this season by winning nine of 10 rounds and has been adamant that he wants to return to the US next season.

The strongest official indication of Ferris landing a competitive deal in America came yesterday in the lead-up to Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) qualifying when he revealed ‘it looks like’ a deal has been reached to remain aboard a Yamaha over there.

Ferris starred in a one-off appearance at the High Point round to lead laps and take second in moto one, before an early crash in the second encounter saw him salvage a 14th-place finish for seventh overall. That’s the performance the will likely springboard him back to the AMA next year.

“That’s why I went there in June, to see how I could go, see if I could strike up a deal and it looks like I have,” Ferris told the pre-event MXGP Live Studio Show on Saturday in the UK. “It’s still in the process now, but I’m looking to stay on Yamaha for the outdoors and that’s where I’m at – it’s the priority to go to America for next year.”

If Ferris does in fact reach a deal with Yamaha – rumoured to be the factory organisation alongside Cooper Webb outdoors – it would mark his first deal in America since riding a partial season with Red Bull KTM in 2014. Much of his prior international career between 2012-2015 was spent in MXGP prior to returning home with CDR Yamaha in 2016.

The move would also set off the Australian motocross silly season, which has been remarkably quiet to date as the all-conquering CDR Yamaha team awaits confirmation from Ferris whether he will be staying or departing at year’s end.

Saturday qualifying at the MXoN saw Ferris ease into the weekend, lapping 12th quickest in free practice before improving to seventh in the heat race. Australia will have the third gate-pick for race day Sunday.