Image: Alex Gobert.

North Queensland fan favourite Todd Waters will make a stunning return to Australian motocross and supercross in 2016 after signing with the new-look Wilson MX team with factory Suzuki support.

Waters, 24, has raced MXGP for the past two years, highlighted by a podium finish in this year’s Italian grand prix at Maggiora, but will return to domestic competition and Suzuki next year.

“After MXoN this year I started having some talks with Australian teams and Suzuki and Neale Wilson ended up being the ones who could offer me something that was the perfect fit for what I want to do back here,” Waters said.

“Neale is based in the Gold Coast and it’s not just me turning up to the track and riding – this team is a place I can really build on. There are a really good bunch of people involved in putting this together and that is what I’m looking for.

“I am just so excited to be racing in Australia next year. Dean Ferris is back, Kirk Gibbs has just won the championship and Matt Moss is always strong, so as far as I’m concerned it’s going to be an awesome year and I’m honoured to be a part of it all.

“It’s very exciting to now be able to announce it all; we’ve kept it under wraps for a while now, so we’re all pretty pumped for next year. I’m hoping I can give the team some good results and it’s shaping up to be an awesome season.”

The move sees Suzuki effectively backflip on its decision to exit the sport in an official capacity at the close of this year and it’s understood Jay Foreman Racing will have an involvement in developing the team’s RM-Z450 race bikes.

Suzuki Australia national marketing manager Lewis Croft also spoke today after the exciting partnership announcement at the Sydney Motorcycle Show.

“The focus for us is now on the 2016 assault with non-other than Todd Waters and his new teammate Luke Wilson,” he said. “We are so pleased to have Todd back on the RM-Z450. Todd raced for Suzuki in 2012 and finished runner up in the national motocross championship, so there’s some unfinished business to take care of.

“Todd is a world-class athlete and his decision of what machine to race and in Australia was naturally the Suzuki RM-Z450L6 which will be prepared and managed by Neale Wilson. Wilson brings six years of team management racing the national championship.

“With the collaboration of Suzuki Motorcycles and several key business stakeholders this has enabled us to once again form an Factory Suzuki MX1 Race Team. Jay’s experience will be a valuable asset to the team and we are very pleased to have his support and input. Wilson MX will also be continuing with their head mechanic Jason Corney, who brings years of experience to the table too.”

Wilson MX has been a high profile privateer effort out of Queensland for a number of years, most recently running with Penrite backing as an MX1/SX2 outfit fielding Luke Wilson (motocross/supercross), Geran Stapleton (motocross/supercross), Jackson Richardson (supercross) and Jake Williams (supercross).

“We are very pleased to have Todd returning from Europe to race with us next year and we are confident that with his previous experience on the Suzuki and also his recent experience racing the MXGP that he will be a championship contender in 2016,” said team manager Neale Wilson.

“Wilson MX has been very fortunate to have incredible sponsors throughout the six years we have been running our race team and this was the next step for us and our stakeholders, which we are very excited about.

“The new partnership with Suzuki Australia and Wilson MX is a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved, and both Todd and Luke are very keen to work together in 2016.”

Waters’ return to Australia coincides with fellow grand prix export Dean Ferris’ homecoming after he was recently named at the powerhouse CDR Yamaha team for the 2016 season.