Todd Waters will make his first trip back to Horsham in four years on 3 April 2016 for the season opening round of the Motul MX Nationals series. The last time he raced there, before the track was left out of the schedule for multiple years and Waters himself chased his MXGP dreams in Europe, the Queenslander claimed victory against some strong competition.

The then Motul Pirelli Suzuki, teamed up with New Zealand’s Cody Cooper was in fine form at the Victorian round, which at that time was the seventh event of the championship schedule. Waters began his day with a victory in the opening moto, setting himself up in the best possible position to claim the number one spot on the podium at the day’s end.

Image: Jeff Crow.

Waters then claimed third in moto two and went on to lead much of the final moto before coming under attack from CDR Yamaha’s Josh Coppins, who at the time also led the premier class championship. Just 21 years of age at the time, Waters was disappointed to have the experienced New Zealander catch and pass him for the final moto victory.

“I was a little bit disappointed Josh came past in that final moto, but I’ve got to hand it to him,” Waters said. “I couldn’t quite hold him off, but anyway that’s how it goes and the track was tough. To come away from today on top of the podium shows the work is starting to pay off, so I’m just stoked and it’s a great day for Motul Pirelli Suzuki.”

Waters’ teammate Cooper claimed the moto two victory and finished third in moto three which saw the two tied on points for the overall win, but it was Cooper who ended up settling for second place for the weekend due to Waters’ higher placing in the final moto. Coppins was third overall behind the factory Suzuki duo, as always remaining consistent and strong which eventually allowed him to claim the 2012 MX1 title at Coolum’s season finale.

Image: Jeff Crow.

The 2016 Horsham event carries a number of similarities for Waters who has now returned to Suzuki with the Factory Suzuki MX1 Racing this season. Although the team structure, formerly managed and run by Jay Foreman, has changed completely, Waters is back on a machine that continues to offer a similar feeling four years on. Heading into 2012 the track had also been left off the calendar in previous years, meaning Waters will enter his second Horsham event in four years with minimal time on the circuit overall.

In 2012 CDR Yamaha had Coppins right there battling with Waters all year long, this year CDR Yamaha has enlisted the services of Dean Ferris who we’ve already seen battle consistently with Waters in the pre-season New Zealand Motocross Championship. You can expect Ferris to continue giving Waters trouble at this year’s Horsham event, not to mention fellow CDR Yamaha rider Dan Reardon who is sure to be up there mixing it up with the front-runners.

After multiple seasons in Europe, now returning to Australia with factory Suzuki, a team he was very successful with in 2012 claiming the runner-up MX1 overall position, can Waters return to his former Horsham for this season? Luckily we’re only weeks away from finding out!