Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Dean Ferris has vowed to win the 2012 Australian Motocross Championship if he remains in the MX Nationals series next season.

Ferris endured a disastrous final two rounds of the season after leading much of it, eventually being credited fourth overall at the end of Coolum’s finale on Sunday.

Despite suffering a serious thumb injury and internal injuries at Moree’s penultimate round, Ferris braved the pain to return to action at Coolum.

The opening two motos saw the 21-year-old take 4-3 results, but a crash on the first turn of moto three saw him ruled out of the round alongside Yamaha’s Josh Coppins.

“I went down in the start of race three,” Ferris reflected. “I went down in the first turn with Josh Coppins and that ended our day. We both got carted off to hospital, Josh with maybe a dislocated shoulder and I had some internal injuries that had to get checked out.

“There are no severe injuries. I just coughed up a bit of blood, but they cleared me from hospital and said I’m fine to go. If I stay in Australia next year, I’ll win the championship for Monster Energy Kawasaki.”

Ferris underwent thumb surgery on Monday evening in Queensland, heading to Europe shortly to watch a number of Motocross World Championship races on the GP circuit.