Evan Ferry | Red Dog 2.0
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Just before the 2019 Monster Energy Cup, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing announced that they had signed a young amateur rider to a long-term contract that will carry him through the early part of his pro career. Evan Ferry, son of former professional and 125 Supercross champion Tim Ferry, will represent the Austrian brand in the competitive SuperMini division for the 2020 season and will advance to the big bike class at some point in the next year. That Husqvarna would sign a SuperMini rider was somewhat of a surprise, as the Bobby Hewitt-managed squad often goes after amateur riders that are at least in the B Class, but it proves how much potential they see in the 15-year-old Floridian.
Although the news came out just days before Ferry claimed the Supercross SuperMini Futures title during the Monster Energy Cup, the deal had been in the works for some time. Ferry apparently caught the attention of the team over the summer and cemented his spot at the sport’s biggest amateur race. “I’d known for a month and a half or two months. A week after Loretta’s I heard something about and got confirmation a few weeks after that,” he explained. Ferry had raced Husqvarna bikes on his own with support from brands in the industry prior to the contract, so there was already a connection made between both groups and that helped the transition. “It’s not that big of a change. It’s the same bike and I know everyone at the Husky rig because of my dad and Jalek Swoll, because I lived with him for a while and he rides for them,” he noted. “It felt great when I woke up this morning, put on the team shirt, and came out here.”
That the son of an accomplished racer is going to follow in the family path should come as no surprise, especially when you remember that he’s grown up with pro-level practice tracks in his backyard. But there was never a sense of force from the elder Ferry, as it didn’t even seem like the younger Ferry was interested in being a top-level racer until a few years ago. “My dad never pushed me to ride. It was basically my choice,” the teenager explained. But with obvious talent and the resources at hand, the family recently decided to dive in with a program that mirrors the amateur routine. “I decided to be really serious in the past couple of years, with homeschooling and training a lot, and it’s all gone really good,” Ferry continued.
What’s the plan for 2020? That remains to be seen, as Ferry is at the end of his minibike career and due for a growth spurt, but the team expects him to be on the SuperMini for a little longer. “I think we are going to stay on the SuperMini up to Loretta’s. I’m pretty sure that I’m going to have a 125, so I’ll start riding that soon. Wherever it goes it wherever it goes,” he explained. If Ferry does stay down on the small bike all the way to the summer, he’ll have a chance to claim titles at the Ranch, which eluded him in 2019. “I think the Mini O will be my next race, but I’m looking forward to the spring nationals and getting back to Loretta’s to get some redemption. I didn’t have that great of a year this year, I didn’t feel really well, so next year will hopefully be a lot better.”
Even with the newly signed deal and factory expectations, Ferry still sees the fun in racing and will keep that in mind going forward. “I try not to psych myself out, so I try to stay calm and have fun. If you’re doing good, you’re having fun so I’m going to try my best and see how it goes.”
