Image: Octopi Media.

As the 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season draws to a close, 450MX rookie Dylan Ferrandis is in control of the championship, which he could clinch Saturday at Fox Raceway.

Many expected Ferrandis to rise through the pack toward the front at some point during his debut season, but not many could have predicted just how well it’s gone for the Frenchman.

With Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha taking the reigns on Yamaha’s 450 program, which had been in a bit of a slump in recent years, it was unknown how things would pan out.

A podium in Supercross came early for Ferrandis, showing clear signs he was somewhat comfortable aboard the bike, then he launched into Pro Motocross with an overall win at Fox Raceway’s opening round.

Now, as the series returns to the Pala, California venue, Ferrandis has a chance to clinch his first 450MX championship at the spot where his success got started, adamant that he’s trying not to think about the title opportunity.

“I’m just trying not to think about it,” Ferrandis said. “I mean for sure it’s unreal like right now my position is so awesome. I just try to not think about it, because I could just cry thinking about how crazy it is and how good it is.

“I mean no, I really try to not think about it. I just want to take it race by race and try to do the best I can and we’ll at the end of the day. But yeah, for sure this motocross season has been a dream and it’s unreal what I did.

“I’m really happy and I don’t know, I don’t want to think about it, like I said we’ll see at the end of the season.”

Ferrandis now sits 50 points ahead of Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) in the championship standings, meaning he’ll only need one point to clinch the title on Saturday.

When asked if he planned to push and get it done this weekend, he maintained that he’ll continue to take it race by race and see how he feels on the day before making that decision.

“I will see how I feel next week,” he continued. “There’s still four motos and points to get so I still have to push and try the best I can and try to beat Ken [Roczen]. If at the end of the day next weekend I can get one point on ken it’s going to be done.

“But yeah right now I still need to get this point, so still a lot to work on and see what we’ve got next week.”