TODD WATERS: OZ’S THIRD DUAL INTERNATIONAL

When two-time Australian MX Champion (1986, 1987), David Armstrong, was selected on Australia’s International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) team in 1992 (when the Six-Day was first staged in Oz), he became Australia’s first dual international. Huh? Okay, by ‘dual international’, we mean the first Aussie to ever represent the nation’s ISDE and MXoN teams (Armstrong had previously been selected for Australia’s MX of Nations team three times – in 1984, 1986 and 1987).

This dual international feat was repeated in 2019, when former Aussie MXoN team rep, Luke Styke, was selected on the Australian ISDE team.

And now, having been selected to replace Wil Ruprecht on Australia’s 2022 ISDE team – which is taking place this coming week in France – Husqvarna’s Todd has become Australia’s third dual international. What separates Waters from the other two is that he’s the only one to be actively racing the Aussie MX Championship when the ISDE selection came. Which is quite the feather in the 31-year-old’s cap, right?

“Man, we didn’t get much warning with this, but racing the ISDE – especially when I get to do it while representing my country – is an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” the 2019 MX1 Champion told Transmoto from the airport earlier this week, just before jetting out. “It has been a real juggling act to get a bike sorted for myself in Europe at late notice – and everything else we needed in preparation for France – while simultaneously focusing on the final two rounds of the 2022 ProMX Championship. But here we are, just a day after running second at the ProMX final round in Coolum (and climbing to third in the final Championship standings), and we’re about to board a plane for what’s going to be an incredible experience. I’ve got limited experience in enduro-format racing, but I did alright at the A4DE down in Victoria back in May. Plus, I’ve got some experienced Aussies in my corner at the ISDE to get advice from. Honestly, I can’t wait to get over there and get into it!”.

MORE STATS ON THESE BLOKES..

There’s a reason these three guys are the only dual international dirt bike racers Australia has even produced: because they’re all very competitive animals. Which is why we feel almost duty bound to point out another milestone each deserves recognition for:

• Dave Armstrong was also the first guy to win the Finke Desert Race on debut (in 1987). The feat wasn’t repeated until Toby Price – who was born in 1987 – won Finke on debut in 2010.

• In 2018, Luke Styke became the first Australian ever to win a national motocross, supercross and enduro title.
• Todd Waters is the only active Pro rider we know of who’s got his own riding gear (TDub) and bottled bike wash (Dirty Steve) businesses. No, Waters is no cookie-cutter Pro racer!