Image: Foremost Media.

Newly-crowned four-time Australian MX1 champion Dean Ferris has been drafted back into CDR Yamaha Monster Energy ahead of the 2024 season, signed alongside new recruit Jed Beaton in what will make for an all-new, powerhouse roster in place of Aaron Tanti and Luke Clout.

Ferris won three-straight premier class championships with Craig Dack Racing (CDR) between 2016-2018 before trying his hand with a short stint in the US, then lining up on a mixture of machinery in between multiple retirements during the following seasons.

It was his shock return to satellite YZ machinery with the support of Brisbane Motorcycles – and heavily linked to Yamaha Motor Australia’s Queensland-based racing operations – that enabled now 33-year-old Ferris to get back to his finest in 2023, going on to seal the Penrite ProMX Championship at Coolum’s finals in convincing fashion. He won three rounds during the series, at Maitland, Toowoomba and Queensland Moto Park.

“The return to Yamaha has been a great career move for me and now to be back at CDR Yamaha, the team I have had the most success at, just inspires me to work even harder,” commented Ferris. “Despite going in other directions in recent times, Craig Dack and I have always remained in contact and friends, so it was always a matter of time before we got back together and worked on winning more championships.

“We have managed to put together a deal that works for both of us and I’m super-excited to be back and looking forward to working on championship number five. I will take a quick break after a long season of racing, but will get back to work pretty quickly as I love riding the YZ450F.”

As for Beaton, after finishing runner-up to Ferris outdoors upon his homecoming, the switch from Boost Mobile Honda Racing to CDR Yamaha Monster Energy serves as one of the topical points of what has been a turbulent silly season locally. It also spells the exit of US-bound Tanti and, more recently, Clout – the latter tipped to be spearheading an elevated Empire Kawasaki premier class effort next year.

Beaton is himself a product of Yamaha Junior Racing, Yamalube Yamaha Racing and Serco Yamaha during various stages of his career, plus lifted the 2016 national MX2 championship onboard a satellite team-operated YZ250F before embarking on a six-year stint in the world championship. It’s also been revealed that he will make a surprise return to the Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) with CDR in 2024.

“My goal when I returned to Australia last year was to win championships and I feel I have everything I need to make that happen in 2024,” Beaton explained. “With the technical support of the CDR Yamaha team as well as the YZ450F, I have the tools required to ride my best and win the ProMX championship.

“Coming into 2024, I will be much better placed now that I’m back in the swing of racing in Australia, have a better knowledge of my rivals and experience with the tracks and formats. I am also looking forward to doing supercross again. It’s been a while for me, but I’m sure with some track time, I can get up to speed and do a good job for the CDR Yamaha team.

“It’s going to be a big season and my goal is to win. I understand the competition is strong in Australia at the moment, but I’m prepared to do the work and get the only motocross championship in Australia, I haven’t won yet.”

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team owner Craig Dack welcomed both Ferris and Beaton to the organisation: “To secure both Jed and Dean for the 2024 season is great result for Yamaha and CDR. Both riders are ultra-professional and leave no stone unturned in their preparation and that mantra fits perfectly with what we do at CDR.

“Myself and the rest of the team look forward to working with Jed and Dean and feel both riders have the best racing ahead of them. Dean shows no signs of slowing down and his determination is infectious as he continues to grow and develop as a racer and a person.

“For Jed, it’s so refreshing to see the excitement in his face when we signed the deal. It’s easy to forget he has raced for some of the biggest budgeted teams in the world championships, but he was over moon to race for CDR and I’m sure together we can achieve career best results for him.

“Thank you to our major partners in Yamaha, Monster and Fox for stepping up and working with us to secure the two best riders from the 2023 season. We are in for a great year and determined to add another championship to the CDR mantlepiece.”

With Beaton already committed to AUSX in the later stages of next year and Ferris understood to be continuing on a motocross-only arrangement, it’s been suggested behind the scenes that Tanti could be in line to return with CDR Yamaha on a supercross-only contract after taking on Monster Energy AMA Supercross in a deal yet to be formally disclosed.