Dylan Ferrandis had an impressive year, helping Team France to a dominant victory at the 2014 FIM Motocross of Nations and putting up impressive podium finishes in the FIM Motocross World Championship. But the French rider is looking to the future, which could see him in the U.S. in 2016 after one last year in the FIM MX2 World Motocross Championship. We spoke with him after the Bercy Supercross to discuss his performance, the Monster Energy Cup, and more.
Racer X: Nice last main event there. You caught Weston [Peick] for third, maybe lost a little bit of time, but you’ve got to be happy with that, right?
Dylan Ferrandis: I’m happy. I showed my speed all of the weekend. When I stay on my wheels, I was always on top. Best French rider and plus American rider, so it was cool. Today was a better day for me. I make so good super pole, and it was so fun. I made it really close to [Eli] Tomac and was really happy. Elimination race was really fun. I had a big fight with [Justin] Barcia. Yesterday I made a big chip on him, and I think he was not so happy. He got me back today. For sure I was looking to make it again for the last main event, but he was too far. I didn’t make a good start. I came back on Weston Peick, but he’s a good rider. They make season after season in supercross. Me, I just make Monster Cup and just training on 450. I never ride 450, so it’s difficult. But I’m happy I came back on him. I tried to pass. I was close to pass, but he finished in front of me. It’s good experience. I make a good choice, and the French fans love it, and I love it too.
I tweeted that you got the most crashes award because you hit the dirt a lot. You okay?
Yeah, I didn’t make a big crash. I just crashed in the first main event today. It was in the corner, so it’s no problem. Sometimes too aggressive, and a race like this is just for show. It’s not the championship, so you can give all on one race. That’s what I like. I give you all for me and for the fans. Sometimes it’s good and I finish fourth, close to the American rider, and sometimes not, I crash.
I saw you at the Monster Cup. What’d you think of the whole experience there?
It’s so good. I’ve never been in the US. I went one week. I trained two days at Millstone and was so crazy. I learned so much, and when I came back in Europe I was really much stronger and faster. It was cool. The spirit in US in supercross is so different than here. In the United States, the supercross is like the football here. The riders are like gods for many fans. It’s crazy. I really like it. So it was good, but I was surprised to make what I made in Monster Cup. I was really scared to not make qualifying. The level was really high, and I was really not ready because I trained only two weeks with the 450 and I never ride 450. I went and rode two times at Millstone, go to Monster Cup, and I make sixth lap time at practice, so it was really good. I made three good finals, so it was cool.
Do you want to race in America one day? Is that something you’d like to do?
Yeah, sure. I signed a contract with Kawasaki for four years. Next year world championship MX2, and depends on my results, I can go in US for Pro Circuit. It’s really cool. It’s really my goal.
I saw you at des Nations too. Congrats on that. That was awesome. You guys had to have been so pumped. Next year in France you’ll be #1, #2, and #3. That’s pretty cool.
Yeah, it’s going to be crazy. I’m scared to be selected for this race because the French fans are so crazy. Always for the French GP, the guys are crazy, and for the ‘Nations, it’s going to be so wow.