Image: Husqvarna Racing.

Australian Todd Waters finished sixth in the opening round of the Italian International Championship in Riola on Sunday, in his debut with Red Bull Ice One Racing Husqvarna.

The Queenslander was sixth in the MX1 moto, before later claiming eighth in the Elite final, which included the top MX1 and MX2 riders together.

“It’s been a bit of an up and down day, but it’s also been a good learning experience for my first race in Europe this year,” Waters said. “I struggled a little with my starts and that sort of held me back.

“Each race I had to come through the pack. In the MX1 race I worked hard to finish sixth and in the Elite Final I was running sixth until I tangled with another rider and dropped back to eighth.

“It was a rookie mistake and I’ve already learned from it. Overall it feels good to have the first race of the season under my belt – I’m ready to continue improving from here.”

The MX1 victory went to world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM), from Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) and Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha). The latter two traded places in the Elite final.

Kawasaki’s Arnaud Tonus won the MX2 final from Christophe Charlier and Pauls Jonass.

Internazionale d’Italia Motocross
Round one – Riola, Sardinia

MX1 results:
1. Antonio Cairoli
2. Evgeny Bobryshev
3. Jeremy Van Horebeek
4. David Philippaerts
5. Tyla Rattray
6. Todd Waters
7. Max Nagl
8. Klemen Gercar
9. Davide Bartoli
10. Samuele Bernardini

MX2 results:
1. Arnaud Tonus
2. Christophe Charlier
3. Pauls Jonass
4. Jordi Tixier
5. Ivo Monticelli
6. Romain Febvre
7. Aleksandr Tonkov
8. Kevin Fors
9. Lars Van Berkel
10. Alessandro Lupino

Elite results:
1. Antonio Cairoli
2. Jeremy Van Horebeek
3. Evgeny Bobryshev
4. Tyla Rattray
5. Max Nagl
6. Arnaud Tonus
7. David Philippaerts
8. Todd Waters
9. Romain Febvre
10. Davide Guarneri