TODD WATERS CALLS TIME ON CAREER

Some riders get a highlight reel. Todd Waters gets a soundtrack – the ear-splitting drone of a Husqvarna FC450 held flat on the rev limiter, burning the last drops of fuel in a Coolum Pines burnout after he’d just delivered Husky its first Australian motocross title in 40 years. That was 2019. Seven years, a Husqvarna dealer network, and a junior racing team later, Waters has called time on his professional career at Queensland Moto Park – fittingly, still flying the same brand’s colours.

Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing Team’s Todd Waters has called time on his decorated professional motocross career following the weekend’s final round of the 2026 Australian ProMX Championship at Queensland Moto Park (QMP), with the former national champion concluding his final season fifth in the MX1 standings.

Upon announcing his retirement on Sunday morning, Waters completed his final ProMX weekend by qualifying 10th and then posting the 10th-fastest time in Sunday’s Pole Shootout aboard his Husqvarna FC450. An emotion-charged race day was followed by a challenging opening moto, before the ever-motivated Queenslander rebounded with 10th in Moto 2 to finish 15th overall. As a result, Waters was able to maintain an impressive fifth in the MX1 championship for 2026.

Fourth position to open his 2026 campaign at Wonthaggi in March was met with another top-five result at Canberra’s second round, before Waters again claimed a P4 finish at Round 4 in Toowoomba. Additional top-10 results were scored at Gillman, Appin, Traralgon and Conondale during the season.

“Today was very, very difficult,” commented Waters. “I’ve never felt it before, but I was choked up all day. Before Moto 1, I was choked up and they came and did an interview with me on the start line while I was trying to get it out of my head [laughs], but yeah, it was a tough day for me – very emotional. We’ve won championships and things, but today was bigger than that – it was the end of an era. I don’t think a lot of people understand, but doing this professionally, we put everything into it, and to cross that finish line and celebrate with the people there, that was an extremely special moment for me.”

Waters’ professional career spanned two decades, during which he competed against Australia’s best before spending two successful seasons in the MXGP World Championship on board Husqvarna machinery in 2014 and 2015. Returning home in 2016, he went on to clinch his maiden MX1 title with Husqvarna in 2019. Following that, the now 35-year-old Waters fittingly founded the Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing Team in 2020 alongside the Raceline Husqvarna Junior Racing Team, continuing his career while working to help develop the sport’s next generation in Australian motocross.

The Queensland Moto Park finale also saw New Zealand prospect Phoenix Van Dusschoten line up with Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing Team for the second week in a row, in collaboration with CML Racing. Equipped with the Husqvarna FC250 in MX2, he recorded consistent 14-14 moto finishes for 14th overall.

THROWBACK: THE NIGHT IT ALL BEGAN

For anyone who wants to understand exactly what Waters just walked away from, rewind to Coolum Pines in 2019 – the night DPH Motorsport became the first team to win both the MX1 and MX2 national titles in the same year, and Waters delivered Husqvarna its first Australian motocross championship in 40 years. He crossed the finish line, jumped straight into a synchronised burnout with teammate Wilson Todd on the back of the team truck – and ran out of fuel less than a minute later, by the barest of margins. Relive that night, the DPH family, and the 300ml of fuel that stood between Waters and history, in our throwback feature: Red Plates in Siberia.

Two decades, one Husqvarna title, and a legacy that’ll carry on through the team he built. Thanks for the memories, Todd.