Queensland’s Todd Waters will be twice as busy in 2020, the reigning Australian MX1 champion defending his crown and opting to race the Australian off-road (cross-country) championships as well.
So, just like Taupo’s Brad Groombridge – who races at national championship level in New Zealand in motocross, cross-country and enduro (not to mention dabbling in superbikes in recent times too) – Waters will need to show he has the versatility to match his undeniable motocross prowess.
Waters is well-known by Kiwi race fans, the likeable Aussie having raced several seasons of motocross nationals in New Zealand in recent years and he has also represented his country at the Motocross of Nations.
Having competed in his first off-road event in 2019 – the Transmoto 6-Hour at Nabiac – Waters says he will not only defend his MX Nationals motocross title but he’ll compete in the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship and the Hattah Desert Race in 2020.
Waters raced in the second-placed three-man Chris Watson Motorsports team at the six-hour race in Nabiac and he set the fastest time overall at the event.
“I will be racing at all 12 rounds of the 2020 Australian Off-road Championship on a Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia supported program,” said Waters.
“There has been a lot of speculation and gossip that this was going to happen. I did my best to make sure I didn’t let the cat out of the bag before it became official.
“I’m not one to shy away from challenges, and having ticked off racing a few rounds of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship series (in the United States) in 2019, I needed something extra to fill up the 2020 race calendar.
“When the calendars were released and finalised at the end of last year I saw an opportunity to commit to the AORC. I am super stoked to receive the backing of Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia to attempt this new venture.
“I will be competing in the E2 category onboard an FE450. I was given an FE501 last year to race a Transmoto 6-Hour at Nabiac and fell in love with the thing. I grew up riding in the hills behind my parent’s property on the Atherton Tablelands, so the transition to off-road feels really natural. I’ve taken my brand new FE450 out for a few rides and test days and it feels really comfortable and similar to my FC450 motocrosser.
“It’s been really refreshing to add in a new discipline. I’ve been having a ball getting out into the bush. I’m excited for the first round of the AORC in Toowoomba this weekend (February 22-23). Hopefully in the next few days, I can get a bit of insider knowledge on what to expect in this off-road adventure.”
© Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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