Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Dean Ferris is one of Australia’s fastest rising stars in motocross. Coming off an epic year in the MX Nationals where he held the red plate for most of the series, Ferris has been making a huge name for himself on home soil.

This week will see Ferris jet off to Europe on what he is calling a holiday while attending some World Motocross rounds, still recovering from thumb surgery that he underwent following Coolum’s season finale.

Ferris finished fourth in the Pro Open class of Australian Motocross in 2011, crashing out of the final two rounds while in the form of his life, but certainly left his mark against the experience of Jay Marmont, Josh Coppins and Billy Mackenzie.

At just 21 years of age, Ferris may just be the next big thing in World Motocross from Australia, so MotoOnline.com.au gave him a call to see what his immediate plans are and also to find out what he expects when he returns to Super X in October.

Well Dean, the MX Nationals season didn’t finish as planned in the final couple of rounds, but what are you thoughts on the year now that we can look back at it?

Yeah, I’ve had two weeks to look back and there were a lot of highs, but there are some places I can improve. You know, apart from crashing out at Moree and Coolum, I can take positives out of it and there is still a lot to learn. You live and learn, I guess.

How would you compare this season to last year, where you finished third as a privateer with no expectations on you whatsoever? This year you held the red plate for a long time and won a few races, so how do they compare in your eyes?

I was a lot more solid this year than last year. I didn’t get my bike where I wanted it last year until the last two rounds, and then I went on a charge and got third.

This year it was a lot more competitive I think, we all stepped up the pace, and I felt pretty rock solid all year but ended up fourth.

That was because of the DNFs, but I was a lot more competitive and the racing was a lot more intense.

We are a couple of weeks past the season now, so how are those injuries that you picked up at Coolum in the final round?

I got surgery on my thumb the day after Coolum and that’s coming along as expected. I was pretty beat up from that crash at Coolum, I got run over and stuff in the first turn, got knocked around a fair bit. I’m sort of still recovering from that.

It wasn’t the best time to get an injury, but not the worst either. I did plan on doing some GPs, but that’s not what I’m contracted to do and there is a bit of a break before supercross. I’ll be fully healthy for that, which is the main thing.

From what I understand, you’re heading to Europe tomorrow, so what’s the deal there? Just going over to check things out?

Yeah, well I’m basically just going to treat it like a holiday and go to watch some GPs. It will be a bit of time on my own, you know, and give me a bit of time to reflect on the motocross. I’ll also be able to clear my mind for Super X.

You have been selected as Team Australia’s MX2 reserve rider, so will you be in France for that event next month?

No, at the moment I’m going to focus on getting ready for supercross. I’ll try to take advantage of that decision, anyway.

For Super X you’re switching back to the Lites and also returning to the series after sitting it out in 2010, so what are your expectations for that series?

I want to win it. I know I can ride supercross and that I can ride the little bike. In the past I’ve never really had the package, or good supercross bike, and I know that Kawasaki are supplying me with that. I’m looking forward to it and will go for the win.

To race supercross again, in a different class and against different competitors, is it a whole different outlook compared to the MX Nationals for you?

Yeah, you have to look at supercross a bit different. As the season approaches I’ll put in my work and it always pay off when I show up. It’ll be a bit different riding a 250, but I’m looking forward to it for supercross, that’s for sure.