CDR Yamaha's Dean Ferris has made it back to back MX Nationals crowns after securing the 2017 championship win with a scintillating performance at the penultimate round of the series, at Toowoomba today.
Entering round nine at the picturesque Echo Valley Circuit, Ferris held at 73-point advantage over his nearest rivals after dominating the opening eight rounds. With 73 points available at each round, Ferris needed either a round win in Toowoomba or to beat Kirk Gibbs on the day to lock down his second consecutive MX1 MX Nationals championship victory, with one round to spare.
Adding to the tension was the fact his partner Renae is also expecting the couples' first baby so there was a race against riders, a race against time and a race against mother nature but all was handled calmly by the 27 year old Kyogle resident who delivered the championship to the CDR Yamaha team again but the baby is still waiting for its own grand entrance into the world.
"At the start of the year you have all these dreams and goals you want to achieve but rarely does it ever go 100% to plan but my 2017 season has been awesome," said a triumphant Ferris. "To win eight out of the nine rounds completed so far and win the championship with a round to go leaves me a little speechless. It has just been an amazing run.
"Every round things have gone well and the CDR Yamaha team and I have just gone about our business each and every week and we have been rewarded with another championship.
"I can't thank everyone on the team for their 100% commitment to being the best and giving me exactly what I need to get the results we have. We have a great bunch of people and sponsors in the team that all have played a part in our success.
"My family also played a huge part, my Mum, my partner Renae, Jon Hafey, Guy Andrews, Blue Dolphin Resort, SCOTT- so many people that contribute to this and they deserve plenty of recognition," he adds.
Ferris started the day in good form but not looking as sharp as usual during the morning practice and could only muster third in the Go Pro Superpole qualifying event. But that didn't mean much when the gates dropped in moto one and within two laps, Ferris had taken control of the race and started eyeing off another race victory. Kirk Gibbs slotted in behind him and while he never got close enough to make a passing attempt, he kept Ferris on his toes all the way to the finish line, where Dean took the race win by twelve seconds.
Race two was a carbon copy of the opening moto, with Ferris gaining the upper hand on the opening lap and set about reeling off lap after lap at a relentless pace. This time he cleared out to a six second lead and crossed the finish line with fist raised in the air before celebrating with his team.
"Winning championships like this mean so much to me and I'm proud to have won the MX Nationals again, especially with such a talented group of riders this year.
"My bike has been spot on every round and the work that Aiden, Brad, Gary and Sam do back in the work shop makes my life easier on race day.
"Getting it done today means we go to Coolum and enjoy the final round without championship pressure. The only thing I need to worry about now is when the baby arrives but I can't control that so I will just roll with the punches on that one," he laughs.
In the past ten years of MX Nationals history, the CDR Yamaha team have won the premier MX1 championship an astounding seven times with Jay Marmont, Josh Coppins and Dean Ferris at the controls and each one is just as special for team manager, Craig Dack.
"I have been in awe at just how good Dean has become in the past two years. He has not just developed as a rider but also matured so much as a person in that time and as a team we really enjoying spending time together.
"If you look at his record since half way through the 2016 season, it has been a near flawless run of racing and something we are extremely proud to be a part of. He works hard, inspires the team to be better and has become a great role model and ambassador for the sport of motocross.
"Thanks to my guys in the team who continue to show they are the best in the business and also to our racing partners who continually support CDR. Yamaha Australia's ongoing support allows us to run a successful race team as well as the rest of our valued partners.
"Congratulations to Dean and his family and we look forward to enjoying another championship victory in the coming days," Dack ends.
The 10th and final round of the championship now moves to the Coolum circuit on the Sunshine Coast this weekend. Although Ferris has locked up the championship, he plans to keep his foot well and truly on the gas pedal as he will lead Australia's team at the Motocross of Nations in September where he can again show case his talents to the world.
For more information and a full list of results: www.mxnationals.com.au
Round Nine Results – Toowoomba
MX1
1st Dean Ferris – CDR Yamaha
2nd Kirk Gibbs
3rd Kyle Peters
4th Nathan Crawford
5th Kade Mosig
6th Luke Clout
7th Luke Styke
8th Dylan Long – CDR Yamaha
9th Todd Waters
10th Callum Norton
MX1 Championship Standings – After Round Nine
1st Dean Ferris – 633 points (Yamaha YZ450F) - 2017 Champion
2nd Kirk Gibbs – 553 points
3rd Kade Mosig – 489 points (Yamaha YZ450F)
4th Todd Waters – 468 points
5th Luke Styke – 455 points
6th Kyle Peters – 431 points
7th Luke Clout – 425 points
8th Brett Metcalfe – 375 points
9th Nathan Crawford – 358 points
10th Joel Green – 300 points
Credits: MXN Images
For further information, please contact:
Craig Dack: craig@dackracing.com.au