Lake Elsinore-Based Frenchman Wins Pro Motocross 450 Crown

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Motorcycle racer Dylan Ferrandis, who is from Avignon, France, but lists Lake Elsinore as his residence, captured the 2021 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross 450 class championship Saturday with his runner-up finish at the Maxxis Fox Raceway II National in Pala.

In the next-to-last event of the season, Ferrandis, a 27-year-old rookie who rides a Yamaha YZ450F , became the first French-born rider to win the premier AMA Motocross National class since 1991. Ferrandis, who went 1-2 Saturday's events - finished the day with 486 points, giving him an insurmountable lead over second-place Ken Roczen (424).

"It was such an awesome season," Ferrandis told Racer.com. "I never really tried to think about this championship, because for me it was something I never believed I could do. I always train and try to be the best, but my first season in 450, new team… I never really expected to win."

Ferrandis added: "All season it was a big surprise, and to finish like this, one round before the end, it's so unreal. Honestly, it's the best feeling ever. I think tomorrow morning when I wake up, I will really realize what happened. It’s just great, great for me, great for all the people from Yamaha and all the people involved in the program. It was just really awesome."

According to his bio on Thormx.com, Ferrandis came to the U.S. before the start of the 2017 Supercross season, hoping to join the list of other successful French riders.

Ferrandis won back-to-back AMA 250SX West Championships in 2019 and 2020. Alex Campbell, who is Ferrandis' mechanic, said the Lake Elsinore-based Frenchman's success is a result of his work ethic and determination.

"When you have Dylan as a rider—he literally moved here for this, he lives, breathes and dies for this," Campbell told RaceXonline.com "Every single thing he does is based on what will make him better on the weekend. Dylan is hardcore like that—you're either fully in the program or you're out. When you have someone who is putting in 120 percent like he is, it's tough not to do the same."