Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Reigning MX1 national champion Dean Ferris and runner-up Kirk Gibbs will maintain focus on the Australian Supercross Championship despite being selected to represent Australia at the FIM Motocross of Nations next month.

CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris told MotoOnline.com.au that he his contracted to contest the supercross series and it will remain his priority in the lead-up to the MXoN.

“I’ve signed up for supercross with Craig Dack, that’s the deal,” said Ferris. “I’m not going to forget how to ride motocross, so my focus now will be preparing for supercross. Craig left my motocross bike with me, so I’ll do a day or two of riding that leading into Jimboomba just to stay sharp.”

Kirk Gibbs (KTM Factory Motocross Racing) has similar intentions to rival Ferris heading into the series, although seat time on the tight and technical supercross tracks is important to ensure he remains at 100 percent health throughout the championship.

“I’m going to mainly ride supercross as I want to get through it without any injuries,” explained Gibbs. “I want to make sure I’ll be solid enough to put 20 laps in without getting hurt. It’s only going to be a few weeks and I don’t feel like I will lose fitness in that time.”

Round one of the Australian Supercross Championship will commence on 17 September, while the MXoN will take place the following week at Maggiora in Italy on 24-25 September.