Image: Foremost Media.

Raceline Husqvarna Tdub Racing Team owner/rider Todd Waters revealed that he sensed a ‘hunger to win’ in the rain-affected opening MX1 moto at Toowoomba, stalking defending champion Kyle Webster before a crash ruled the rejuvenated Queenslander out of the race.

The 2019 national champion displayed race-winning form during the early stages of the opening encounter, eyeing a pass on Boost Mobile Honda’s Webster alongside the mechanics area.

A high-speed fall down the notorious Matterhorn would ultimately spell the end of his charge, with both his FC 450 and the trailing Luke Clout (Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki) collecting him along the way.

Despite swelling in his wrist, the 35-year-old Waters would remount for the second moto of the weekend, registering a more conservative P6 finish to conclude the penultimate round of the season.

“In moto one, I got off to a good start and felt like my old self,” Waters reflected. “I was up the pointy-end, Webster was in front of me, and I was like, ‘Man, I’m going to pass this dude,’ like I had a good line around the pit board area. It was good fun – I haven’t felt that hunger to win in a while.

“I took a bit of a risk down the Matterhorn, splitting two lappers, [and] clicking fifth to set up a pass at the pit board area, and yeah, some mud grabbed my front-end and it just knifed me… I went over the bars, then the bike landed on me, and Clouty ran me over – it was all happening!”

Waters walked away relatively unscathed despite the impact, with a swollen wrist the extent of the damage for the veteran as an uptick in form continues to develop during the latter stages of the series.

“I hit my head and my wrist is super-swollen,” he added. “That last moto wasn’t for me, I just got myself into sixth with [Aaron] Tanti on my butt, and I was like, ‘I’m not feeling it aye’. I was just going to ride it home [laughs].

“Overall, together with the Raceline guys, we’ve been working on the bike, and I am feeling it. I’m feeling comfortable and now it’s up to me – I’m old, so I can’t quite wick it up like I used to, and it takes me a little bit, but we’re getting there.”

Waters sits eighth overall in this year’s MX1 standings, with one round left to contest at Queensland Moto Park this weekend. He has indicated that he plans to race-on in an outdoor-only deal within his own program for 2026.