Riders from ‘Downunder’ will again have an influence on this year’s motocross nationals in the United States.
With New Zealand MX1 No.1 Cody Cooper, Australian MX1 No.1 Dean Ferris and perennial MX1 frontrunner in both countries, Australian Todd Waters, all lining up for the opening rounds at least, the early part of the season in California should give Southern Hemisphere fans something extra to cheer about.
Cooper will mount a privateer Honda campaign for the first three of 12 rounds in the series, while Ferris is to fill in for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team’s Aaron Plessinger and DPH Motorsports Husqvarna rider Waters will also race the first three rounds in the US.
Round one is the Hangtown Classic Pro Motocross Championship on May 18.
Current Australian MX1 champion and former GP rider Dean Ferris, back on a Yamaha for a tilt at the AMA Motocross Championships title this season. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Each of these three Australasian riders have had motocross grand prix racing experience and each has also represented their respective countries at the Motocross of Nations in recent times.
As Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team racer Plessinger continues to recover from his broken heel injury sustained in supercross earlier this year, the team announced that former GP rider Ferris will stand in, starting with the opening round.
Ferris added his name to the history books in 2018 as the first rider to win all 10-rounds of the Australian Motocross Championship series.
The Australian has also gone undefeated in the title chase for the last three years aboard Yamaha’s YZ450F.
Earlier this season, the 28-year-old filled in for injured Frenchman Romain Febvre in the MXGP World Championship. Having achieved his current goals in the national Australian championship, Ferris is eager for new opportunities abroad to further hone his skills as a top motocross rider.
Current New Zealand MX1 champion Cody Cooper, no stranger to racing on the world’s greatest motocross stages, including Europe and the United States. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
An update on Plessinger’s return will be made when available.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager Jim Perry was thrilled to announce the news.
“Dean is a multi-time Australian Motocross Champion with a goal to race in the U.S,” he said.
“Timing is everything and he will get a great opportunity to do so in the Lucas Oil Motocross Championship as Aaron continues to make progress in his recovery.”
Ferris said he was looking forward to the start of the US season.
“I’m super excited about this opportunity to race with the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team,” said Ferris.
“I’ve won a lot of races on the YZ450F, so it’s a perfect fit for me to start my campaign in America. I’m looking forward to getting the outdoor season rolling in Hangtown next weekend.”
© Photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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