Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Newly-crowned MX Nationals MX1 champion Dean Ferris proved he has the potential to contend for a double championship in 2016 after soaring to second in Jimboomba’s opening Australian Supercross Championship round.

Ferris was the surprise packet in the riveting SX1 main event, challenging American import Justin Brayton for the 20-lap duration and finishing ahead of defending champion CDR Yamaha teammate Dan Reardon.

After spending the past four years competing internationally, mostly in MXGP, Ferris was able to capitalise on his American supercross experience gained in 2014 while riding for Red Bull KTM in six rounds of the Western Regional 250SX series. His best result was a seventh in Phoenix.

“Everyone keeps telling me I’m an outdoor guy, but I really like riding supercross and when I prepare for it, I think I can go well,” Ferris said post-race in the Yamaha report. “I felt great on the bike tonight and the team have done a great job in getting me comfortable quickly on the bike and adjusting to riding the smaller tracks.

“Being the first round it’s important to get things off to a good start and not do anything silly, so it was a great start for me and with Dan [Reardon] also on the podium – it’s a good reward for everyone at CDR Yamaha who have worked so hard over the past few weeks.”

The last time Ferris contested a full season of the Australian Supercross Championship, back in 2011 with Monster Energy Kawasaki in SX2, he claimed eighth overall in the standings, with a single overall podium of second to his credit at the Maitland round. He won races during that season.

CDR Yamaha team owner Craig Dack said it was a deserving result for Ferris, more regarded for his motocross performances: “Dean showed he is more than just a motocross guy and also I believe he showed plenty of maturity in taking his second place finish and not taking huge risks in going for the win at such an early stage in the championship.”

Ferris has since departed Australia for Europe, where he will revert to the outdoors and represent Team Australia as our Open entry in this weekend’s annual Motocross of Nations at Maggiora, Italy, on 24-25 September.