Dean Ferris answers the hard questions

It has come as a bit of a shock to the paddock to hear last years’ MX2 star performer, Dean Ferris is back in Europe after spending the start of this season racing in the USA for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. While the AMA Supercross Championship didn’t go quite to plan for the super-talented Australian, who saw things go from bad to worse when his chances at making his mark in the AMA Outdoors slid through his fingers after a training accident three weeks before the outdoor season began destroyed his wrist, we caught up with the kid known to his fans as ‘Ferriswheel’ to first of all, wish him a happy birthday since today 4th of July he turns twenty-four-years old and secondly, have a chat about his return to the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Congratulations! You are the buzz of the paddock here at MXGP of Sweden. We now know you will be filling in for Tyla Rattray at Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing, how did all this happen?

Roger (De Coster) just approached me last minute with the opportunity to come back, I was ready to start racing in America and finish off the last rounds of the AMA Outdoors but then Roger just asked me if I wanted to do come back here. For me it was a no brainer, it was 100% the best decision because I want to come back and ride here next year on a good team and with a good bike and I think it’s possible to get good results so yeah like I said, it’s a no brainer.

Does your support system in America know your goals have shifted to come back to Europe and race the FIM Motocross World Championship?

Yeah I think they had sensed that before they even approached me. So of course when they asked me, I was straight up and I told them my ambition was to come back here (Europe) and I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity.

What has influenced you to choose racing in Europe over staying in America and giving that style of racing another year?

My goal has always been to be world champion and it has never changed. You know when I left I was caught between a rock and a hard place, so I kinda just leapt at the opportunity to ride for a good team and on a good bike, even though it meant going to America. I thought I would have done better in supercross, but I didn’t. That probably was the biggest thing to influence me to return to Europe and focus on MXGP.

Saying that, was your goal ever to race in America? Or did you rather stay in Europe?

I always wanted to go to America one day, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon, like I have said before, if I was to remain in Europe it’s no problem at all, but you know that was the best opportunity I had.

When you first swung ya leg over the factory KTM, how’d that feel?

Yeah it was pretty cool, obviously it’s like a dream come true because it’s been like the best team here in Europe for years and in America it’s also now known as the best team.

What do you think is the biggest difference between racing on a ‘factory’ team over a satellite team?

I think the amount of parts we can test, like the support we get from the factory is massive. I believe satellite teams can also be really good, it’s just they need to know a lot about the bike and even though they don’t have as much budget, satellite teams can be really good if they’re run by smart people.

So what are your plans from here? Will you finish the season of MXGP or are you planning to head back to America?

I am going back to America to do the last three rounds for KTM, that’s the deal.

Is there a possibility we will get to see you ride the last rounds of MXGP in Brazil and Mexico?

I don’t think so. I think the team made it clear that I am only here for these four rounds of MXGP (Sweden, Finland, Czech and Belgium), I guess unless Tyla (Rattray) and Todd (Waters) aren’t back then things may change.

So you landed in Europe early this week and met up with the team. How’s the transition back to Europe been so far?

For me it has been easy because I have already lived here before and I am staying with my friends. I landed and I was immediately comfortable and in less than 24hrs I was out riding and testing. It’s been good, Anttii (Pyrhönen) and the whole team at Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing as well as the guys from WP suspension have been really supportive and have tried to get things on track for me as fast as possible.

As most already know, you rode for IceOne in MXGP (previously named MX1) back in 2012, how much has the team evolved since then?

Yeah the team is completely different. Apart from the ‘IceOne’ part in the name it has been completely restructured and it’s definitely one of the top teams in the paddock now. They deserved to have factory support and now they have it, and great equipment so for me it is great to come back and it’s nice there are still a few familiar faces in the team.

Tell us, 350 or 450?

350.

Why?

I didn’t choose actually, it’s the teams’ decision and I am filling in for Tyla and I think it’s a great bike, it suits me. I can ride 450 also but it’s nice to ride a 350 factory bike. I feel comfortable on the bike so I’m just gonna go out there and pin it.

You’ve spent the last two years on MX2 bikes, last year you rode for Steve Dixon at Bikeit Yamaha Cosworth and this year you have been riding MX2 for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in the USA, is it a big deal for you to randomly jump over to MXGP at such short notice?

I seem to adapt really easily. I came to Europe originally as a 450 rider and last year I dropped to MX2 because it was the only deal I could get at the time and I seemed to adapt and ride it really good which really surprised a lot of people, so hopefully in the next four rounds of MXGP I can show everyone I have the skills to ride MXGP bikes too, so it should be good.

Do you have any goals or expectations for this weekend?

I know the team doesn’t want to put much pressure on me, but I can say that I am back here to do well and I want a good deal for next year. It’s just like any other race, and I will give it my all.

I know it’s your birthday today, again Happy Birthday, and you are half Swedish, can you explain how special this event here at MXGP of Sweden is for you?

Yeah that’s right, you said it all. The cherry on the cake is I am going to be racing here, what is more or less my home Grand Prix, on the weekend of my birthday and on a Swedish bike.

Really, Husqvarna originates from Sweden?

Yeah, the museum is just up the road.

Sweet! So you’re feeling it?

Yeah I am back in Europe, I’m so pumped to be here, of course I am feeling it!