Image: Spencer Owens / Pro Motocross.

After an up and down rookie season in the 450SX class, Dylan Ferrandis is looking to take advantage of the extended time to prepare ahead of his 450 debut in Pro Motocross this weekend.

The Frenchman notched a podium in just his second Supercross race aboard the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha YZ450F, but ultimately saw his share of rookie struggles throughout the season.

While the results sheet might not show, Ferrandis made progress throughout the year, and with three weeks to test between Supercross and Pro Motocross, he’s ready to battle at Fox Raceway for round one this weekend.

“I feel good, I feel really good,” Ferrandis explained. “Like I said in the past the transition to 450 was really tough, takes time to feel comfortable on the bike.

“Now we’ve had this time between the Supercross season with three weeks off testing before the outdoors and I feel ready, feel good on the bike so yeah I’m pretty excited to go into this season. We’ll see this Saturday where I’m at but I feel pretty strong.”

In terms of his expectation going into his first go in the premier class of the outdoor championship, he’s aiming for the top spot and expects to be in contention.

“The goal is always to win, I’m paid [to do] that, so that’s what I want to do,” he continued. “But if I can’t do that, I don’t know we will see this Saturday, but yeah I feel like I can ride out front, I don’t know if I can win or podium but I think that’s the goal.

“Today with the number of good riders we have in the 450 [class] being on the podium is really good today. So we’ll see, I will give my best, it’s hard to say it will be my best in 450 so I don’t really know.

“I think last year I had my best season in outdoors even with my MXGP experience I was riding really well and I think if I can ride with the same level on the 450 I think I can match the top three, top five guys so that’s what I will try to do.”

The gate drops on the first of 12 rounds this Saturday, 29 May, in Pala, California at Fox Raceway.