Dylan Ferrandis interview - Winner

Posted on September 28, 2020

No doubt about it, Monster Energy Yamaha rider Dylan Ferrandis is heading for an AMA 250 motocross championship and it seems only bad luck would see him not become only the second Frenchman to win an American Outdoor championship and join legendary froggy J.M. Bayle in a very elite list.

In fact, only seven non-American riders have won an Outdoor title in USA, those being Pierre Karsmakers in 1973, Bayle in 1991 (250 and 500), Greg Albertyn in 1999, Grant Langston in 2003 and 2007, Chad Reed in 2009, Dean Wilson in 2011, and Ken Roczen in 2014 and 2016.

Ferrandis would be only the third non-American to win in the 250 (former 125cc class), and with his 250 supercross championships becomes one of the most successful non-American riders to race in the states. With it all on the line, the former GP winner is working hard with just two rounds to go and a nice points lead.

Ferrandis set a blistering pace to win both motos at the WW Ranch National and expand his points lead in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 250MX Championship. 

A combination of a very physically demanding track and the hot, humid Central Florida weather put riders to the test on Saturday. With time running out in the title chase, Ferrandis came out swinging. The Frenchman got a great launch from the number one gate pick. While in third place Ferrandis made the move for second and then shortly after passed for the lead. He then put the hammer down and built a comfortable gap to cross the line nearly 10 seconds clear of the competition.

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In the second moto, Ferrandis got off to another good start behind his teammate Cooper, who earned the holeshot this time, and then quickly made his move to lead. The back-to-back 250SX West Champion put on another masterclass performance to sweep the weekend for his second-straight overall win. Ferrandis’ perfect weekend in Jacksonville expanded his lead in the championship to 10 points with four races remaining.

The current red plate owner in the 250-class talked to the media in USA and this is what he said.

MXlarge: How did you feel your day went?

Ferrandis: It was a really hard day, but we all knew that I felt good and gave it everything I had, and I made it, so really top. We already knew that this race is one of the hardest of the circuit with the heat and humidity here in Florida. So, every year you have to manage your energy more than giving everything you have. I got two good starts, and that helped a lot. From there I just tried to control the race. It worked really well. The team and I, we changed some stuff on the bike to improve my start and it worked. So that’s good news. I’ve made a small gap in the championship, which is really, really good with two rounds to go. We’ll see how it goes. I’m in great shape. I think winning the Florida round shows that. Let’s go!”

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MXLarge: The track was really slippery; did you change the mapping at all?

Ferrandis: We don’t do that, maybe with a 450 you can do that, but in 250 when you do steps like that you los power. We changed the front tyre and a tyre we never use, but other than that we just try and find a solution when it is slippery. It was slippery, but not as bad as last weekend. Nothing crazy on the bike today.

MXlarge: You will head back to tracks that should suit you does that ease the not the stress, but are you more comfortable now?

Ferrandis: I think last weekend I showed, but I did well on some tracks and this year I did not, I did bad at Millville in previous years and good this year. Everybody has a good bike; some are more powerful. Pala isn’t my favourite track even though I practice there a lot. JMart said it last week, even on his home track it isn’t the same at practice as on race day. We see, I will just ride like every other track.

MXLarge: How difficult was the track for passing?

Ferrandis: Some places were good to pass. Some were not. They could improve some places on the track to open up some lines. You saw on the 450 there were places to pass. I liked the double lines.

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MXLarge: Going into today, quickest in qualification, fastest in both races. Was this a day you wanted to throw it down and show something?

Ferrandis: Yes, of course, and every race I have that mind set. At this point of the season, before today we were very close with Jeremy and it was him or me and I put this gap and it is good, but there are two more rounds and a lot of points. I have a lead, but rather be in front by 13 points than behind by 13 points.

MXlarge: Do you look at the statistics?

Ferrandis: I look at stats, just for curiosity, but from my riding, I felt I was on it today and I could have pushed more if I needed and when I have his feeling I feel I am faster and I saw the lap times and I am really happy. The second moto was much rougher. All day, this track is difficult physically and the wave section is killer, and it is a hard place to ride. I don’t know why we were so much slower in the second moto, maybe the bumps and ruts and that makes us slower. Anyway, the track was demanding today.

MXLarge: Have you progressed being in the US and especially outdoors?

Ferrandis: A lot, I think a lot. I think I would have progressed the same if I had stayed in Europe. It is more the people I met in the US and I work with and I think it would be the same in Europe. My experience in Europe riding on sand tracks helped today. 

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