Queensland’s Todd Waters was able to battle to a top 10 finish in last weekend’s Italian round of the FIM MXGP World Championship despite struggling to gel with the Trentino circuit.

Waters made his European debut with the Red Bull Ice One Racing Husqvarna team, delivering a 14th place finish in the opening moto aboard the FC 450.

The current Australian MX1 number two improved immensely in the second outing, engaged in a four-way battle for position and eventually crossing the finish in seventh.

“That was one of the toughest tracks I’ve ridden in a very long time,” Waters commented. “It took a while to feel comfortable on it. Race one didn’t go great; I fell off on the first lap and then had a bit of work to do to finish 14th.

“I was more determined for race two and just got on with the conditions. That made the difference – I rode a lot better and I almost finished sixth.”

Waters now sits seventh in the world championship standings, with the fifth round coming up this weekend in Sevlievo, Bulgaria, on 20 April.