Image: Andy McGechan (BikesportNZ.com).

Returning Australian international Dean Ferris may have fallen short of winning the 2016 New Zealand Motocross Championship, but displayed the type of speed that will place him as a pre-season favourite for the domestic MX Nationals in 2016.

After multiple seasons in MXGP and a short stint in the US, Ferris won three out of four rounds with Altherm JCR Yamaha in New Zealand at the beginning of this year, but ultimately lost the title to defending number one plate holder Cody Cooper.

It was a crash at Rotorua’s penultimate round that cost Ferris the crown, however he’s certain that the experience will pay dividends when the Australian nationals commence in Horsham on 3 April.

“I think I showed that I was the fastest rider and the man to beat this year, but that’s just the way it works out sometimes,” said Ferris after his final round win at Taupo. “That crash in Rotorua cost me a lot of points. In the end there was nothing more that I could do at Taupo except try to keep on winning races and hope luck might favour me.

“But this series has been perfect in one regard anyway, it’s been a perfect build-up for me for the Australian nationals. I’m riding the best I ever have, including since when I was racing the GPs.”

Ferris will partner former MX Nationals champion Dan Reardon as part of a revamped CDR Yamaha line-up for 2016, completing a positive pre-season testing program including victory at the prestigious Conondale Cup recently.