Three-time Australian MX Nationals MX1 Champion Dean Ferris is gearing up for a late MX Nats series when the gates hopefully drop in August.
So what has Deano been doing for the months racing has been on hold and ride parks have been closed? Keeping fit, jigsaw puzzles and spending quality time with his young family. Plus, his online coaching school is going gangbusters.
What do you think about the updated MX Nationals calendar?
I think it’s good. At the end of the day, we’re all just keen to see the gates drop. I am no virus expert but all signs show that things are looking up. Queensland just reduced some of its restrictions and ride parks are starting to open up again so fingers crossed all will stay flowing and we will be back racing in August.
How do you think riders will handle the updated calendar? The full season raced in two months, there will be far less time between rounds.
It’s really hard to say. I think Coronavirus would have impacted everyone differently and the new format will test the effectiveness of the various training styles and mental toughness of the riders.
How do you train and maintain race fitness in these circumstances?
Nothing has really changed for me in my day-to-day routine. I did revert my program back to pre-season training because we’re not racing so no need to taper for weekends. Other than that I have my own track at home and was already doing 90% of my off-bike training at home. I adapted my gym program so I could do it at home so now it’s training as normal and getting ready for our season.
I am a huge advocate for base training. I don’t think you can ever do enough base training so that’s been my focus. A lot of people get caught up training towards an end goal and thinking they need something to work towards but I have found just focusing on continuous improvement every single day is a better approach.
With no racing to occupy your time, how have you been keeping busy? Netflix, jigsaw puzzles with the family?
As you know I have a young family so that keeps me busy whether we’re racing or not but I have actually been filling my time up with online coaching through my Motocross Masterclass. We have recently finished filming for it and there are over 15 hours of video content and practical tools for our members to apply.
Before coronavirus put a stop to all international travel, did you have any plans to race overseas this year?
There was nothing definite. I did speak with Renae about maybe doing one or two rounds of AMA Pro Motocross at the end of the Australian championship but who knows what it will look like now.
How are you feeling going into this season on a KTM?
I’m looking forward to it. I raced KTM back in 2014 and Husqvarna 2015 and the bikes have come a long way since then. Raceline gave me the opportunity to do one national at Murray Bridge last year before I shipped off to the states. Racing Murray Bridge gave me the chance to see how good the Raceline product and KTM is and I have such a good feeling with the bike. I honestly think with this machinery I can improve and I look forward to testing myself. I have now had a full year on the bike and I know it in and out. Feeling super comfy and itching to go racing!
Has your income been impacted because of Coronavirus?
As to be expected many of my sponsors have had to make adjustments for this period and obviously while there is no racing there is no opportunity for bonus. But fortunately, I have a great team behind me and we are working together to continue offering value to each other.
Besides MX Nationals, were there other events you planned on racing this year which have been impacted by Coronavirus?
I was planning on racing the Sunny State Series, the Queensland titles and possibly Manjimup. Hopefully these will still get run now things are starting to look up.
You started conducting motocross master classes last year. Can you tell us a little about how it works and how it has been going?
Yeah were in full swing! And because it’s all online things are going gangbusters at the moment. A lot of riders are taking advantage of the downtime we’re in and using my training tools to step up their game before racing starts.
My Masterclass is actually the first complete online Motocross School that covers all three key pillars of racing (Technical Skills, Mindset, Physical Training and everything in between). Literally a step-by-step guide giving racing families everything they need to improve on the race track.
It has three parts:
1. An online video series (15+ hours) sharing everything I have learned and applied to reach my level.
2. Practical tools and worksheets to apply to their training and build their programs
3. Access to a private Facebook group where I personally mentor the members and their families to help them apply the content and tools.
We have almost 50 members enrolled in the school now and we catch up every month on a Live group coaching call to share up-to-date advice and help them apply all the things we teach which I am really enjoying.
It’s been super rewarding and a really great way to share my knowledge and years of experience to equip the next generation.
What motivated you to start the Masterclass and share everything you have learned?
I just remember what it was like to be a kid with a dream to race motocross and no idea where to start or what to do to improve.
There is a lot of information out there but I found the hardest part was sifting through to find what actually works and then putting it all together, so that is what my program is designed to do. We say, it’s like the glue that helps put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
In most other sports like football, they have regular weekly training sessions and systems to follow but in motocross it has always been every man for themselves. You get bits and pieces here and there but no one putting mind, body and bike together to show you what it actually takes.
And once you make it to pro you get hit with some pretty tough realisations about how important the mental, and other aspects, of racing are. So I am trying to share this with the riders and parents now so that they don’t have to take as long as I did to work it all out.
I was fast enough to win pro level races at 17 and went on to do a lot of international competition with a few memorable races but I didn’t actually win my first championship until I was 26. Then after I finally put it all together and tried to take my career back overseas it was too late for me and didn’t work out.
I don’t want this to be the case for the next young racer. I want to spread the word about how important the right training is and encourage riders to develop mental skills earlier. It will make the racing safer and help us to create more Australian World Champions I am sure of it.
Where can people find out more or join the masterclass?
It’s all on my website at www.deanferris.com.au or they can contact me directly through IG @ferriswheel111