Husqvarna’s two official motocross teams – Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing and Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing – featuring Australians Todd Waters and Dean Ferris were both in action at the opening round of the Internazionale d’Italia, held at the Riola Sardo circuit in Sardinia.

With the vast majority of Europe’s top riders and teams participating in the event, the race unofficially marked the opening of the 2015 international motocross season. It was a hard test for all Husqvarna riders, whose strength and fitness was tested by the wet and sandy Sardinian terrain.

Waters crashed at the start of the MX1 race before finishing 15th and later was 16th in the Elite final as he re-acclimatises to the European sand following a summer off-season in Australia..

“It was a tough one for me,” Waters said. “I’m a little disappointed that things didn’t go better than they did, but I’m also pleased that the season has officially started. With all my training back in Australia done on hard pack it’s been a bit of a shock to the system racing in sand.

“The track was pretty rough, I did the best I could but with some mistakes, some poor starts and a crash. I wasn’t able to get the results I wanted, but I feel good, my bike is working great and now we’re back racing the focus is on getting ready for the first GP.”

Ferris, who competes this year on the FC 350, endured a tough opening race after crashing at the start. Moving forward during the closing stages of the Elite final, Ferris ended the event happy with his performances, especially in light of the fact that he has only been back on a bike for three weeks.

“It’s been a tough return to racing, but aside from going down in the first turn of my opening race to get the fastest lap in the combined MX1/MX2 Elite race was really good,” Ferris said. “I was lucky that no one hit me when I crashed at the start of the first race.

“Once I was up and racing again I felt really tight, not flowing at all. I had gate pick 28 for the second heat, but got a great jump from the gate. I was up to seventh a feeling good when I tipped off briefly. That meant I had to re-pass a load of riders, but I worked my way back to eighth, which I was pleased with.

“After three weeks back on a bike I can’t expect too much, but I felt good in the second race and already I’m starting to feel stronger and stronger on a bike. The team’s great, I’m really looking forward to the season ahead.”

The MX1 moto was won by Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin over world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM) and Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha), with Ferris 14th and Waters 15th. Cairoli won the Elite moto from Paulin and Tommy Searle (Red Bull KTM).