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Positioning himself to land a top-level 450 deal for 2021 is at the forefront of Dylan Ferrandis’ mind as he challenges for back-to-back 250SX West crowns in Monster Energy Supercross.

The Monster Energy Star Yamaha rider was able to extend his advantage to 10 points at SLC4 after finishing second, but has said he will take the series race-by-race to the end.

What’s significantly important to the 26-year-old is displaying his capabilities at the back-end of the delayed Supercross season, which will almost certainly lead to a factory 450 contract for next season and beyond. Reports have already linked him to both Yamaha and KTM negotiations.

“I just want to ride the best I can and try to win more races, because I’m at the point now where I’m more riding to show myself to the 450 teams,” the Frenchman explained. “Next year I will be on a 450 and I need to get the best bike, so I want to show what I’m capable of and find a good deal for next year.

“For sure, the championship is really important, but I mean, if I ride like I know how to ride… it’s possible. I just want to focus on the race and just try to win – we’ll see at the end. Last year was so crazy that I don’t want to look at the championship points. I try to take it race-by-race and do the best that I can every time, you make it count at the end.”

Ferrandis said yesterday was a tough outing at elevation in Utah following four months away from competition, however, it’s expected that he will further adjust over the coming days to come out stronger this weekend.

“I feel that was one of the most difficult mains I did in Supercross,” he recalled. “[Austin Forkner] won, so he deserved a congrats. I pushed really hard, give it everything I had and he still won, so that was good.

“In the heat I had the crash with Cameron [McAdoo], so I had a bad gate-pick. I was 10th, so had to go on the outside and that was not ideal. All day I just felt… not perfect.

“We had to change some stuff on the bike to adjust to the altitude and I had not enough laps to feel good on it. All day I was feeling a little bit off, but at the end of the main I was feeling more myself and look forward to the rest of the week with the team.”