Motorex KTM rider Todd Waters has moved to defend claims that he’s been riding ‘dirty’ in the race for the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 championship.

The talented 22-year-old Queenslander has come under fire this week from arch-rival Matt Moss, who suggested Waters put a “bit of a dirty move” on him at Swan Hill’s eighth round last weekend (click here for the complete story).

Waters dismissed Moss’ comments when contacted yesterday afternoon, himself suggesting that it’s Moss who has in fact sparked the on-track fireworks that have ensued at both Hervey Bay and Swan Hill.

“To me, and I’m pretty sure most people will back me on this one, is that I don’t ride dirty,” Waters told MotoOnline.com.au. “I’ve never really made aggressive moves on people and I always take my time passing and things like that.

“But you know, he wants to try run it up on me and try push me off the track in practice at a couple of rounds, so he wants to start something like that and then the next minute he tries to put the blame on me.

“It’s just funny because when you start a fire, as far as I’m concerned he’s starting a bushfire with me. I’m happy and I ride clean, so when he wants to start something I’m more than happy to go ahead with it.”

Entering Toowoomba’s penultimate round on Sunday, 25 August, Moss holds a narrow 11-point lead in the series after seizing the red plate at Hervey Bay, however Waters remains focused on regaining the type of form that carried him the three straight wins to open the season.

A string of injuries including a serious head injury and a broken collarbone that required surgery have been frustrating for Waters, however he’s since fought through adversity to keep himself in the title hunt.

“In terms of the championship, I’ve been chasing time,” Waters added. “I’ve got a couple of weeks up my sleeve to further recover now, but I’m out training and doing everything I can. Each week I’m getting better, I look forward to Toowoomba and Coolum.

“It would be nice if I had more time, but I just have to focus on getting good starts and trying to run it up front. I lost a lot of strength, but with that also comes confidence and belief. I put in a lot of hard work before round one and it showed.

“Now, I’m going to the races not being able to train the way I should be – there’s already that little bit of doubt. That’s why I’m keen for this next round, because these two weeks off will be the first time I can train hard and then recover in the week leading up to Coolum.

“That’s all I can do, that’s the card I’ve been given, so I just have to do my best and see where we end up.”