Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

CDR Yamaha has revealed two-time Australian motocross champion Dean Ferris will remain with the outfit in 2018 for the Motul MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championship.

Ferris, who was speculated to be in talks with Rock River Yamaha for a full-time seat on the AMA circuit, finalised his plans in recent days despite strong overseas interest.

“My decision didn’t include other teams in Australia,” Ferris explained. “If the right opportunity presented itself in the US, then I would have looked into it but if I was staying in Australia, then it was always going to be CDR Yamaha.

“The last two years have been the best of my career and I have formed some great relationships with everyone on the team. So personally, I have some great friends here at CDR and professionally, I know the team will provide me with exactly what I need to win races and championships.

“I’m excited to stay with CDR Yamaha and look forward to 2018. The new YZ450F is amazing and we have barely scratched the surface of the bike. Knowing that I have a heap of hard working people behind me also inspires me to keep working hard and secure more championships for both myself and the CDR Yamaha team.”

Team owner Craig Dack spoke of signing Ferris for another year, stating the past two seasons have been a gratifying experience and that the New South Welshman is a perfect fit for what CDR Yamaha strives for.

“Working with Dean over the past two seasons has been a gratifying experience for everyone here at CDR Yamaha,” said Dack. “His professionalism, dedication and pure determination rubs off on the entire team and we feel he is the perfect fit for what CDR Yamaha strives for.

“He has grown into his role as the number one rider in Australia and has become an extremely good ambassador for the sport. He is giving of his time with the race fans and happy to work with young kids who look up to him. He has become a true professional in every sense of the word and we are humbled that he will continue with CDR Yamaha and together we can chase even more championship success.”

After a number of season racing internationally, Ferris returned home to Australia in 2016 with CDR, earning the MX Nationals crown in both 2016 and 2017, while finishing runner-up in last years Australian Supercross Championship. The number 111 currently sits second in the standings of the 2017 supercross series as it heads to Virginia in South Australia this weekend for round three.