Todd Waters signs with Suzuki

Suzuki Australia, in conjunction with Wilson MX, has announced an all-new partnership for 2016, which will see Todd Waters return to the Australian racing circuit, representing the newly formed 2016 Factory Suzuki MX1 Racing Team. Wilson MX Team Manager, Neale Wilson, and Suzuki Australia have confirmed that Waters and Luke Wilson will spearhead the all-new Factory Suzuki charge.

Wilson, who will manage the Factory Suzuki MX1 Racing Team in 2016, commented on the new partnership, and says he is excited for what the future holds for Waters and all parties involved. “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 series, that he will be a championship contender in 2016,” he said. “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.”

Suzuki Australia’s National Market Manager, Lewis Croft, also spoke after the exciting partnership was announced at the 2015 Sydney Motorcycle Show. “The focus for us is now on the 2016 assault with none 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 Australian 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-Z450 which will be prepared and managed by Neale Wilson.”

Former Team Motul Suzuki Team Manager, Jay Foreman, will also provide expert technical knowledge and assist with machine preparation on the RM-Z450 and will mentor the newly formed team throughout 2016. “Jay’s experience will be a valuable asset to the team, and we are very pleased to have his support and input,” continued Croft. “Wilson MX will also be continuing with their head mechanic Jason Corney in 2016, who brings years of experience to the table, too.”

Waters will return to Australia after a lengthy stint in Europe with the Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Racing Team, and hopes to wrap up his unfinished business with Suzuki Australia. “After the MXoN this year I started having some talks with Australian teams, and Suzuki and Neale Wilson ended up being the guys who could offer me something that was the perfect fit for what I want to do back here,” said Waters. “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,” Waters continued. “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.”