Dean Ferris will be based in Australia while preparing for the 2013 FIM Motocross World Championship series, where he will join the Dixon-run Monster Energy Yamaha team in the MX2 class.

Aboard the ICE1RACING Kawasaki in 2012, Ferris suffered a tough rookie season contesting the GP circuit in the premier MX1 class. A shoulder injury sustained at the French Grand Prix would unfortunately see him sidelined for the remainder of the year.

Despite his injury-woed campaign, Ferris was offered a ride at the renowned Monster Energy Yamaha team, providing he stepped down to the MX2 bike for 2013.

Ferris has spent a short amount of time doing some base testing in Europe, before heading back to his base in Northern New South Wales and preparing there until the Qatar season opener on 2 March.

“This off season I’m going to stay in Australia for the whole summer, and the team is quite happy to let me do that,” explained Ferris. “They have had riders from overseas before, and always found it best to let them train in their own environment.

“Then I’m just going to meet up with the team at round one and just be ready there.”

Ferris and team owner Steve Dixon have decided they will not compete in any pre-season events, having a long season ahead, they feel it will be the best choice.

“I’m really looking forward to next season, it’s a long calender and this is Steve’s 24th year, I think, running this team,” he added. “He’s got a lot of experience to pass onto me and we’ve decided I won’t do any pre-season races, I’ll just get stuck into it at round one.

“There’s 18 rounds, a lot of travelling, a lot of overseas races, so I think we’ve got a really good plan for next year.”

Ferris will be Australia’s lone rider competing on the FIM Motocross World Championship circuit for 2013, stay tuned to MotoOnline.com.au for regular updates on his progress.