In a shortened schedule that saw racing reduced to just one moto at Moree’s eighth round of the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals, DPH Motorsport Husqvarna’s Todd Waters emerged victorious while earning the points lead in the process.

Image: Foremost Media.

It was a really strong a performance from yourself in that first moto – and I guess the only moto – but you were able to come through with the win and points lead…

Yeah, the weekend worked out in my favour. I put myself in a good position off the start and chased down Gibbsy. I was able to get the win, and yeah, unfortunately for Clouty, he had a bummer of a race, but it enabled me to capitalise on some points and come away with the red-plate, which is exciting. My main focus was to be in the championship hunt coming into Coolum, and now we’ll focus on the next two rounds and go hell for leather.

The day was obviously cut short due to the local hospital reaching its capacity, what are your thoughts on the situation as a rider?

Obviously, Kev had to make a call for our safety, and I appreciate that and respect it also. It’s out of our control, and each of us have been in that position. I wish the best for the kids and guys that hurt themselves. I never take priority over something like that – that’s the call that got made, and I respect that. As a racer, I felt good on the track and was keen for moto two, but that’s just how it goes. We accept that and move onto the next one.

Image: Foremost Media.

Like you just said, you felt really good on the track, and you looked it too after hunting down Kirk in the closing laps. What clicked for you at the Moree circuit?

All tracks that are technical and have different line selections suit me – that’s the rider that I am. That showed at Maitland where we go to small, junior-style tracks that I don’t even think had a braking bump – I didn’t put myself in a good position there and I shot myself in the foot, and I couldn’t come through the pack because there were no differences on the track – we were all the same. Where as Moree, it was quite technical, and that’s why a lot of people were crashing. We saw a lot the unexperienced guys hurt themselves because you had to have your wits about you to go fast.

Each time you’ve earned the red-plate all season you’ve downplayed it, does that change now that we’re heading into the season-finale double-header?

This weekend, we have just gotta go and win. I’m just treating it as two rounds like at the start of the season, you know. I don’t care who’s winning it – or if I’m winning – just as long as we come away with it. As far as I’m concerned, I’m heading into this round and putting it all out there to go as hard as I can.

Going all out, is that something you believe you’ll need to do on both days, or is there an approach where you maybe take it a little easier on Saturday to conserve yourself for Sunday?

My main focus is to get Todd Waters to the races going good, healthy and focused. That’s my main priority this week – to get myself in a good position to allow myself to win. The most important part is my head – my main focus this week is to get my body relaxed and my mind focused. If I’m feeling good, I’m definitely going to be pushing. But, if there’s a time where I’m gaining points and can’t go for the win because of my ability, well then I’d obviously have to asses that.