Features 22 May 2012

Race Recap: Todd Waters

MotoOnline.com.au recaps the Murray Bridge MX Nationals with Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s MX1 winner.

Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Todd Waters broke through for his first MX1 win of the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals season at Murray Bridge on Sunday, becoming the first Australian rider to win a round in the premier class this season.

It was a memorable weekend for the talented 21-year-old, winning the opening back-to-back motos before a second in the final moto clinched him the overall.

Waters is one of the sport’s nice guys, but with a clear desire to be the best he can be, it’s all coming together for him in 2012. MotoOnline.com.au spoke to him right before the podium celebrations on Sunday in South Australia to recap the weekend.

Todd Waters raced to his first win of the 2012 season for Motul Pirelli Suzuki in SA. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Todd, you’ve just picked up your first win for Motul Pirelli Suzuki and have become the first Aussie to win an MX1 round in 2012. How’s it feel to get that one under your belt?

Yeah, it feels good and is exactly what we needed to do. It’s that time of the year where we need to put down wins, so it’s exactly what we did today and I’m really happy.

I got two moto wins and a second, which gave us first overall, so I was pretty pumped about that. I had a ball in the last race racing with Brad Anderson, you know, it was pretty tight the whole way and I really enjoyed it.

These first two motos seem to be the key, setting riders up for good results overall. Once you got those two wins to start the day, was it a case of riding to secure the overall in the final moto?

Yeah, definitely. I moved myself into second place and was just playing it safe. I moved myself into second place and I was going for the win, made a pass on Brad and then we tussled for a bit. I was just making sure that I kept my head, rode upright and that’s what I’ve been doing this year.

I’ve landed four times on the podium now and I’ve worked out that you can get two fourth places and end up second overall. It’s a very mixed field this year, there’s a lot of good riders, so you just have to keep it on two wheels and try get in that top five every time.

Like you mentioned, you’ve finished on the podium four times in five rounds. Consistency is important, but just how vital is this win heading into the mid-season break?

Yeah, it’s good you know. I’m pumped, it’s definitely a confidence booster and I also look forward to the six-week break. I’ll do a bit of base fitness because I want to try and get to the next level, come out swinging and do this every weekend.

It’s something I’ll be working on during the break, definitely a bit of fitness and speed. Hopefully we can keep the ball rolling and keep doing what we have been doing to land ourselves on the podium at the end of the year.

Waters' win marked the first for an Aussie during the 2012 season in MX1. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

You’re second in the series now, 21 points behind Josh Coppins, so the race for this title definitely isn’t over just yet.

Nah, definitely not. We’re not even halfway and as I’ve found out previous to this, I’ve had the red plate and it just gets snatched away very quickly. Like I’ve seen with Jay Marmont, he’s won a lot of championships, and it’s not over until that last race.

That’s what I’m going for, just to get to that last race, keep chipping away and doing what I’m doing.

What is it since you hopped on this Motul Pirelli Suzuki… ever since you’ve been on it you’ve looked so strong, confident and just so good on the bike. Is it a case of gelling with the bike from the outset?

Yeah, the Suzuki is a very balanced bike and I love riding it. It comes down to the team, because Jay Foreman’s putting a great bike underneath me.

Plus I’m working with my dad now, as Simon [Reid] is unfortunately out injured at the moment, which doesn’t happen very often for a mechanic.

Everything’s just working at the moment and it’s where we want to be. It’s just such a relaxed, chilled team and that’s exactly what my personality is like – I don’t like to get stressed out. Everything’s going along great at the moment.

Well congratulations, a great result for you and Suzuki. Awesome job.

Yeah, thanks!

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