Image: iKapture.

Reigning national MX1 champion Todd Waters was unmatched in the weekend’s inaugural King of Capricorn event in Rockhampton, an event that he believes should set the tone for the future of Australian motocross.

Waters, who formed his own Berry Sweet-backed factory Husqvarna team for 2020, has had limited seat time this year, but won both the MX1 and MX2 categories in Queensland.

With Motorcycling Australia (MA) to bring in a revitalised Australian Motocross Championship from 2021 following the cancellation of this year’s series, Gold Coast-based Waters said it’s an ideal opportunity for the sport to make improvements, including adding the connection between professionals and developmental paths.

“They need to take this time – they’ve got maybe four months until we get going again – and use it to think how they can build a good championship, where they can improve from where it’s been in the past and that will be a good step to take,” Waters said. “One of the highlights for me was to work with the kids, I enjoyed that side of it.

“I know it’s a pro national, but what it’s about is trying to get people involved in the sport and wanting to be like us as professionals at the top of our game. The way it’s gone, a professional rider for a junior is just someone they might see on a poster or at a signing – they haven’t had access to us whatsoever.

“Now that COVID’s hit, it’s kind of been the best thing ever for me – not for my business or racing – but it’s allowed me as a person to get out, do some coaching and be involved in different stuff that I wasn’t able to before. We’ve just been the dudes that sit inside trailers, put our helmets on and come out to race our bikes.”

“It was busy to race MX1 and MX2 while fitting in other commitments over the weekend, but for me, the King of Capricorn event was really good and it’s something that I would like to see Motorcycling Australia take on-board to try and factor those interactions into our nationals.”

The King of Capricorn was hosted by the Rockhampton and Districts Motocross Club with $20,000 in prize money on offer, featuring Waters, Kirk Gibbs (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) and Jay Wilson (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) as ambassadors for the race weekend.

Waters was won MX1 overall ahead of Aaron Tanti (Serco Yamaha) and Gibbs on return from injury, plus impressively topped MX2 over class regulars Jesse Dobson (Serco Yamaha) and Tanti. The King of Capricorn crown went to Waters from Gibbs and Tanti.

“It was super-exciting to get back on the bike because I haven’t done too much, so I guess that showed with my racing that I was really excited to get out there and go racing again,” he explained. “I rode the 250 and 450, so it was cool to get on track with the boys and the highlight for me was probably that 250 race, to be able to win.”