Todd Waters will lead the Pro Open Championship into Toowoomba this weekend.

MX Nationals Pro Open Championship leader Todd Waters is hoping to continue his winning ways at the fourth round of the series in Toowoomba this weekend as the Queenslander prepares for the first event on the national calendar in his home state.

The Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing rider, who currently leads the Pro Open championship by 13 points, is staying with fellow competitor Ford Dale on the Sunshine Coast. The riders, who are also good friends, have been training and riding in preparation for the next event which will be held at Toowoomba’s Echo Valley Motocross Track on Sunday.

After spending much of 2009 sidelined with injuries Waters has enjoyed an ideal start to the 2010 season winning the second round of the MX Nationals in Canberra and the three-round Queensland State Motocross Championships.

The red plate holder said he took a few days off following Broadford to spend time with his girlfriend Jill on the Gold Coast and has spent the last week back on his Honda CRF450R in preparation for the hilly Toowoomba circuit.

“I took a few days off and caught up with Jill on the Gold Coast but I am now back on the bike, focused and preparing for Toowoomba,” Waters said. “I’ve also just completed the Queensland State Championships Series which was great for me in terms of simulating race formats between events. It really did provide me with the best possible trial run ahead of the fourth round of the MX Nationals.

“2009 was a hard year as I had to sit most of the MX Nationals out with an ankle injury but I am back fitter and stronger and I feel like I am recovering well after events.”

Pro Lites rider Michael Phillips, who has enjoyed success at Echo Valley in the past, has spent the past fortnight in Melbourne preparing for the event. Phillips is currently seventh in the series and is hoping a solid result this weekend will see him jump up the championship ladder.

“I remained in Melbourne between events so I could spend more time with the team and test on a few different Australian motocross tracks,” Phillips said. “This week has been a bit wet but I have gotten some riding in with Brent Landman, Cheyne Boyd and a few of the other local riders which has been very beneficial.

“Echo Valley has been kind to me in the past, it is quite similar to some of the tracks in NZ so I am really looking forward to it.”