My Backyard with Todd Waters

For a guy from North Queensland who never intentionally set out to become a professional dirt bike rider, Todd Waters has achieved a heck of a lot in the motorcycle industry. From winning his first Australian Junior Motocross Championship at 12 years old to claiming the 2019 Australian MX1 Championship, and becoming only the third Aussie in history to represent Team Australia at both the MXoN and ISDE, Waters' list of accolades is long and well-decorated. Nowadays, Todd's focus is on his family and his businesses - as co-owner of Raceline (with Jason Waters), he heads up Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia's domestic motocross and supercross program, and is focused on the development of his young team rider, Rhys Budd.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Transmoto and VW Amarok and Vans caught up with Todd at his hometown on the Gold Coast, Queensland, to learn more about his history as a racer, his transition into business ownership, and goals for the 2024 season as a race team owner. This is My Backyard with Todd Waters.

[@genesis2187]

Todd you are an inspiration brother keep on rocking in the free world !

[@rossmcwatters2716]

Toddles. What a ride! I remember the first day in the office as the KTM racing manager in late 2006, the very first phone call I had was from Todd's Dad Steven..... asking what Todd's deal was for 2007 with the team. He had just turned 16 and the Juinor Race Team Manager had told him he would have a deal in the factory team for under 19s. I hadn't been to the JNR Championships in 2006 or any events Todd had ever ridden ..... because Liesky had just told me the team was going to be Ryan and Jay Marmont and we would help Tye Simmonds for the JNR championships event at Coolum and a few Supercross. So I told Stevo "Nothing buddy' ..... zero no no help here....but l would have a talk to Jeff about it. Rosco Holden who was the Jnr race team manager in 2006 hadn't quite set up a deal and unfortunately had left before it was talked about in detail or at all. With the Management reshuffle etc, Todd was left out in the cold. In a stroke of luck, Tye had made the decision to race in the USA for much of 2007 and I asked Jeff if we could do a deal for Todd in the Under 19s because suddenly Tye would be away for the whole Under 19s season ...... So like magic, and input from team Sponsor Bernie Ryan, he was back on the team. It turned out later into the season that Ryan Marmont who had broken his ankle in a preseason Photo Shoot Crash and Gutted out an awesome win in the 250 SX Championship decided he was out for some of the MX series getting that injury sorted so..... Todd got to do the Toowoomba round with Danny Apro as his Mechinc and a few key bits on his bike, magically winning that MX2 race..... he is a lucky bugga....... he was almost a full time Cabinet Maker up in Atherton and not the Rock and Roll star Mx hero he is today! I hope he still sends Leisky a Xmas card every year cause that deal came together because Jeff managed to squeeze that budget to fit him in!

[@genesis2187]

Ross I remember rocking up to Lakes and seeing his factory machine under the truck that year and absolutely drooling over it and being so happy he made it ! a longggg way from the purple rims Todd Waters smashing the SEQ's haha. great story.

[@rossmcwatters2716]

@genesis2187 Stevo should be kept out of any colour selection process....he spent too much time at the Kuranda markets....

[@Upthebroncos310]

Who property is that you are riding at?