Image: Foremost Media.

The role of Todd Waters for 2023 in operating Husqvarna outsourced factory motocross and supercross efforts through Raceline Performance is a ‘natural progression’ for the MX1 mainstay, according to KTM Group Australia motorsport manager Kyle Blunden.

A staple in the sport at a national level, Raceline Performance led KTM’s official team through 2019 and 2020 – also operating as the official MXD program before that – with an illustrious background under the ownership of John Tisdale.

Waters was set to manage Husqvarna’s motocross effort in 2020, himself riding in MX1 with Regan Duffy at the helm in MX2 to form the Berry Sweet Husqvarna team, before the MX Nationals were cancelled altogether that season due to coronavirus. Husqvarna then reverted to in-house management for its factory operations across the last two seasons.

Queensland-based Waters has a rich history with Husqvarna, part of its MXGP World Championship team in 2014 and 2015. He achieved Australian MX Nationals MX1 title success in 2019 with DPH Motorsport, the outfit which was running Husqvarna’s official team at the time.

Last year Waters became a joint owner of Raceline Performance – also a Gold Coast-based WP Suspension dealership – and set the wheels in motion for the new team partnership with Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia. Blunden said it’s an ideal fit while both KTM and GasGas will remain based out of the KTM Group’s Australian headquarters in Sydney.

“We’re very excited to be working hand in hand on this project with Todd and look forward to many successful years together,” he explained. “It is a natural progression for Todd – he and I have been discussing this for a while now and the timing couldn’t be better.

“With everything Todd has going on in his professional life outside of racing, we are simply bringing many facets together to help create a high-performing environment where riders will no doubt thrive. With Todd at the helm, you can be guaranteed maximum effort and a lot of fun along the way. It’s a very exciting time for us all and we look forward to what the future holds.”

The past year has seen Waters continue to experience success, finishing third in the ProMX MX1 standings with Husqvarna Racing Team, claiming round wins in the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC), earning second in the E2 class at the Australian Four-Day Enduro (A4DE) and representing his country at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE). He was also runner-up in the Hattah Desert Race on debut.

Waters will continue to compete in the Penrite ProMX Championship this year in MX1, with the team’s MX2 rider/s and Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) line-up to be confirmed. The brand’s off-road commitments – which were managed by Waters last year – have yet to be confirmed and it’s not clear which events the number 47 will contest at this point.