Image: Octopi Media.

Frenchman Dylan Ferrandis is preparing to move up to 450SX from next year and has been keeping tabs on former rival Adam Cianciarulo in order to gauge his own premier class potential.

Cianciarulo was exceptionally fast in his rookie season prior to being hurt, which bodes well for Ferrandis as he attempts to make an impact of his own in 2021.

The Monster Energy Star Yamaha rider made it back-to-back 250SX West crowns in Salt Lake City on Sunday, just over one year after a mistake from now Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Cianciarulo in Las Vegas handed him his first championship last year.

“The 250 is a little crazy and wild and I feel like it’s time for me to move to the 450 and we’ll see,” 26-year-old Ferrandis said after taking the title at SLC7. “I’m getting older also and I think I have what it takes to ride in front.

“I don’t know if I would be one day able to win a race, but for sure I’m working hard and I will give everything I have to do that, so I will try for sure. I really want to move, I mean, I want to move to 450 for next year and be ready to battle with these guys – that’s a dream to ride a 450 Supercross.

“I definitely want to do it and I hope to have a good winter, finish on a good bike and a good team to be competitive for next year in 450. It will be my first year, but I mean… I feel like I can do something great when I see AC doing what he did this year.

“I know we were battling together last year, so I kind of feel a little confident of what I can do on the 450, but I know also it is such a big move and difficult move, so we’ll see. But yeah, that was my last 250 race and I’m ready to move.”

During this year’s Monster Energy Supercross series, Ferrandis stood on the top step of the podium on four occasions across the nine rounds, beating teammate Justin Cooper and Austin Forkner to the title. He’s been linked to both Yamaha and KTM for next year.