For this week’s edition of Rewind, MotoOnline.com.au takes a look back at Todd Waters’ very familiar 2010 collarbone injury and speedy return to the track.

Following news that the Motorex KTM Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 leader suffered a broken collarbone last weekend in Townsville, it brings up a scenario that almost mirrors the situation he was in roughly three years ago.

The collarbone that Waters broke last week is the same one he injured back in 2010 while leading the MX1 championship, forcing him to get surgery fast and return to the track within one week.

“I was with Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing and I was leading the championship,” said Waters. “It was the year that Andrew McFarlane passed away, 2010.

“Coming into Toowoomba I had the red plate and I had a bit of a crash on the first lap then came through the pack with a flat front tyre.

“I ended up having a big crash on the start straight and broke my collarbone, so I went into surgery and got that fixed and the next weekend I raced at Raymond Terrace.”

Waters feels that he has matured since the 2010 accident and admits that he had already counted himself out of the title before he even raced one lap at Raymond Terrace.

“Back then I was 20 I think, so I was worried about was the championship and I was beside myself,” he explained. “It was pretty much lost to myself before I even rocked up to Raymond Terrace. So that’s what I’m trying to change this year.

“From then we moved on and got back to running top three’s. I fell back in the championship and I finished sixth in the MX1 championship overall.”

The Queensland native plans to take the complete opposite approach on return at Appin next Weekend, controlling what he can control and trying to maintain his points lead if possible.

“I’m just going in with an open mind and I can’t control what happens so I’ve just got to go and do what I can do,” he added. “That’s sort of what I did back then, I tried to control the uncontrollable and it didn’t work for me.”

Todd Waters was unable to maintain the red plate following his injury, something he will be hoping to change in 2013. Image: Alex Gobert.