October 30, 2014 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to announce their official line up of riders for the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship.
For the coming season, Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing will again represent the brand in the MXGP category with Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing contesting the MX2 class.
In a revised line up of riders for 2015, Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing is happy to welcome Germany's Max Nagl as an exciting new addition to the team that will also retain the services of Australian Todd Waters.
At 27 years of age, Nagl has been one of the top performing riders in MXGP since 2008 and will be Husqvarna's main hope to deliver winning results and championship success in 2015. Runner-up in the 2009 MX1 series and a winning member of Germany's Motocross of Nations team in 2012, Nagl also claimed five MXGP race wins in 2014. Agreeing a two-year contract Max will compete on the FC 450.
Remaining with Husqvarna for 2015, Waters will put an injury hit 2014 season behind him. Arriving in Europe to compete in his first MXGP season with IceOne Racing, the 24-year-old Australian showed great promise during the opening rounds of the series. Scoring a sixth place result at the GP of Thailand and regularly placing inside the top 10, Todd was one of the top performing rookies of the series. In 2015 Waters is focused on making amends for his misfortune. He'll also compete on the FC 450.
Adding a third rider to the fold, Great Britain's 20-year-old Nathan Watson will compete in the MXGP class at all European rounds of the series.
After a solid season focused solely on the MX2 World Championship, Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing – managed by former 500cc Motocross World Champion Jacky Martens – will see a revised structure for 2015. The team – while continuing to act as Husqvarna's factory representative in the MX2 category with Aleksandr Tonkov – will also field Australian Dean Ferris as a supported rider in the MXGP category.
Always an exciting rider to watch, Tonkov – the 21-year-old Russian – has been impressive this year in what was essentially his first season of competition with factory backing. Knocking on the door of a breakthrough result, Tonkov has the ability and now the experience to become a regular podium contender in 2015.
Impressing Husqvarna as a last minute replacement for IceOne Racing's injured riders, Dean Ferris has been offered the opportunity to stay in MXGP with support from Husqvarna through the Wilvo Nestaan set-up in 2015.
Further strengthening Husqvarna's presence within the MXGP paddock, Ricci Racing will receive official Husqvarna support for 2015 with riders Rui Goncalves (MXGP), Christopher Valente (MX2), Michael Ivanov (MX2) and Filippo Zonta (EMX125).
Aleksandr Tonkov: "2014 has been a very useful season, we learned a lot also in terms of training. Together with the Team we modified many things and we found a good setting during the season, because we were a bit behind in terms of setup at the beginning. It was nice to feel that everything we changed started working for me; at the MXoN it was already a different story, it was the highlight of my season. I think it's better late than never, so we're really looking forward to 2015. Starting with this good knowledge-base will be very helpful to be where we all want to be".