Like an ever-creeping tide, Team Pirelli Motul Suzuki’s Todd Waters clawed back some valuable points on 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 leader Josh Coppins after claiming round seven of the series at Horsham, Victoria, on the weekend.

MotoOnline caught up with one of Australia’s brightest your talents to get his take on what went down.

Todd Waters has been a revelation since joining Motul Pirelli Suzuki. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Congratulations on the win at Horsham, mate. This has really tightened up the title chase.

Yeah, definitely. We’re closing down the lead Josh has and it’s starting to get interesting. I think it’s going to be a tight championship that will go down to the final round at Coolum. I’m shooting to be there at the end and make it interesting for everyone.

What was your take on your win at Horsham?

You never complain when you finish the day on top of the podium, and to have my team-mate Cody Cooper there beside me equal on points made it a great day for Suzuki. I’m pumped for the team – they put a big effort in and mud races really make the mechanics work hard.

This is your second Pro Open overall this year. Does your second victory feel different to your maiden win at Murray Bridge?

I don’t think so. It’s always an amazing feeling being on the top step and I don’t think you ever get used to it. Our number one aim is to pull back the championship points we lost early in the season, but if that means I have to win races, then I guess I can handle that [laughs].

So there’s only three rounds left in the series, and there’s an eight-point difference between you and Josh. That’s less than three points you need to pull back every round.

Yeah we’re well within striking distance now. In a perfect world we’re aiming to keep Josh behind us, but you know what it’s like with racing – anything can happen. I’m going out there to race my own race, I can’t control what Josh does out there, but I’m really enjoying racing him at the moment.

Josh always seems to finish the season strong and he’s such a strong competitor, so I’m expecting this championship to be a fight to the end.

Waters has been enjoying his on-track battles with Josh Coppins so far during 2012. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

We’re about to head into the second hard-pack round of the series at Appin. What suits you more – the sand tracks or the harder circuits?

I don’t really know. I’m more about racing conditions where there are a lot of ruts and lines that lend themselves to more passing opportunities. If you get a bad start you can then come through the pack a lot easier.

But I’m really looking forward to Appin – I’ve never raced there before, so there’s going to be the added challenge of familiarising myself with a new track. I’m excited for it.

Thanks buddy, see you in two weeks’ time.

Thanks mate.