Image: MXN.

The 2016 Motul MX Nationals Murray Bridge round served as a highlight event in the history of the Wilson Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki team with returning MXGP contender Todd Waters capturing the overall MX1 victory.

The team, owned by Neale Wilson, toured the national circuit for a number of years before making the transition to being the factory Suzuki MX1 team in 2016 with Waters and Luke Wilson aboard RM-Z450 machines.

After years of hard work and dedication to the sport, the work has now paid off according to Wilson who ticked off a selection of his goals for the team during last Sunday’s event.

“This really was one of the best rounds since we’ve been in the sport,” said Wilson. “We ticked off a lot of the goals that we have set as a team today, and all in all we couldn’t be happier.

“Todd taking the win in moto one, and then doing exactly what he needed to do in moto two to take the round win makes all of the hard work so worth while. It’s a nice way to reward all of our dedicated sponsors who support us in doing what we do.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has believed in our program, and made becoming a factory effort possible in 2016. Without our sponsors and our dedicated supporters, we couldn’t do what we do, so it’s a credit to those who help us and we can’t thank them enough.”

After matching Dean Ferris on points at round three and taking third overall, just one point off the overall win claimed by Kirk Gibbs, Waters is relieved to get the monkey off his back and capture his first win of the year.

“It feels awesome to finally get a round win here at Murray Bridge,” said Waters. “We were close at Broadford but we got it done here today so I’m stoked. With a win in moto one, I just tried to ride a smart race in the second one – I knew that I just needed to get third to get the overall, so I did what I needed to do.

“All of the boys are riding very well so it’s nice to finally get a round victory under my belt, and now I’m just looking forward to getting in to some deep sand at Wanneroo next weekend.”

Waters currently sits third overall in the premier class standings, just five points behind series leader Gibbs with six rounds remaining.