It was a perfect day for CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris at Toowoomba’s penultimate round of the Motul MX Nationals, successfully defending his MX1 title to crowned the 2017 premier class champion with a perfect 1-1 performance. We tracked the down the number one to gather his thoughts on a brilliant day at Echo Valley.

Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Dean Ferris, congratulations on wrapping up your second-consecutive MX1 title and going 1-1 today. It was obviously a perfect day for you, tell me how it all unfolded.

Yeah, it started a bit uncharacteristic of me – we had a bike change in practice and it made me nervous – I kind of kooked it in Super Pole. I came back and regrouped, and you know, the old Dean was back. I didn’t get a great start in moto one, but I made some quick passes, got into the lead and controlled it. It was the same for moto two, but I had a better start. I pulled out a pretty good gap and in the last few laps I was able to enjoy it, last year at Coolum it was pretty nerve-wracking in the last race, but today I really enjoyed it. It was a perfect day and perfect to wrap it up a round early. We were pretty dominant this year and didn’t really drop too many points at all. It was just really solid and I’m really happy.

It didn’t look it, but were you feeling any added pressure today, particularly in that final moto?

Nah, I felt normal like it was any other round. I kind of had it in the back of my mind that I really wanted to get it done today, because I had the opportunity. That was the only thing, maybe a little pressure there, but it felt like every other day.

Your partner Renae is due to have your first child today, was that playing on your mind too?

No, Renea has been really relaxed, so I’ve been relaxed as well. The baby will come when it’s ready, and she held off today. It’s a little less pressure for Coolum anyway if it decides to come then, or this week, then I’ll just be able to enjoy it.

Image: MXN.

The announcement came through this week on your selection for the Motocross of Nations (MXoN), you must be pleased that’s been revealed.

Yeah, I think it’s going to be a really good team – the best team we’ve had in a long time. Kirk [Gibbs] is riding really good and Hunter [Lawrence] is a really good MX2 rider and he’s doing well over there – it’s hard to find a good MX2 rider. I’m looking forward to it, I know Kirk’s going to keep working hard and carry his form, and Hunter is improving every week. I hope that we can shoot for a podium.

You’ve mentioned that you wanted to stay aboard the 2017 YZ450F at least until the end of the MX Nationals, is the plan to stay on that for the MXoN too?

Yeah, just because we have a good motocross setup. Otherwise, it will just be an extra workload setting up an ’18 for the Nations, and we’re not sure if we’re ready to race it over there. I’m just committing to the ’17 because I know we have the parts and everything. We’re racing the ’18 for supercross and I’m looking forward to it, I have ridden the stock bike and it’s really good. We’ll focus on the ’18 here and take the ’17 overseas.

Just lastly, it will be the same as last year where you’ll have to juggle supercross and motocross preparations. What’s the approach for the next month?

I’ll probably put a bit more into supercross, last year I was more focused on the Motocross of Nations. I kind of winged it at Jimboomba and did really well, I was surprised because I didn’t try that hard and I was doing more motocross. But it will be different this time, and I’ll try rest a little more this time before Jimboomba and before I get on the flight – I was actually really sick at the Nations last year because I was going motocross one day, supercross the next – I just wore myself out. I want to be sharp at Jimboomba and sharp the next weekend at the Nations too. It will be a balancing act.

Yeah awesome, thanks mate.

Thank you.