Australia’s Dean Ferris will make his official debut with ICE1 Racing in the MX1 class of the FIM Motocross World Championship this weekend at Sevlievo in Bulgaria.

Ferris was forced out of the season opener a fortnight ago due to a pre-season elbow injury that required surgery, however he’s confirmed that he’ll be on track for round two.

The event will mark Ferris’ return to GP racing, taking part in a number of races during the final stages of the 2010 season.

In the first grand prix of the season, held in the sand of Valkenswaard, there was a clear favourite in the MX1 class, the multi-champion Antonio Cairoli.

However, this weekend the races might be more disputed, as there are at least up to six riders who can fight for the win in Sevlievo.

In 2011 the title chase started in Sevlievo and the five-time world champion Cairoli had one of his worst starts of the season, finishing ninth overall and with a knee injury.

This upcoming weekend, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider will arrive at the Gorna Rositza track with the red plate on his bike and his goal will be to be on the podium and to keep the leadership of the championship.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Clement Desalle is second in the MX1 standings, six points behind Cairoli, but he is facing the Bulgarian GP full of great expectations to do well and close up the gap with the Italian.

Desalle went 2-1 last year in Sevlievo and he was on the top step of the podium, so he has some extra motivation to claim the overall victory this weekend.

In the MX2 class things were much the same, as Jeffrey Herlings didn’t have any real opponents in Valkenswaard, but this weekend will see the Dutch sand specialist defend the red plate on the hard pack of Sevlievo.

However, there is another clear favourite to claim the victory this weekend, in British standout Tommy Searle.