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Todd Waters wins MX Nats Rnd 1

Wednesday, 08 April 2009 23:30

In a spectacular day of racing Todd Waters (Honda) has taken out the Pro Opens class at the first round of the 2009 Australian Motocross Championship, with Jay Marmont (Yamaha) coming in second and Andrew McFarlane (Yamaha) wrapping up the day in third.

Despite wild weather on Friday, which saw flash flooding and several planes struck by lightning, the Albury Wodonga Motocycle Club track held up against the elements, producing conditions for a great weekend of racing.

In qualifying it was reigning 2008 Champ Marmont who clocked the quickest lap, less than one second ahead of McFarlane.

As the riders lined up for the first moto of the three race Sprint Format, it was Ford Dale (Honda) who scored the hole shot and an early lead. However after 20 minutes of racing it was McFarlane crossing the line first ahead of Waters, who after recently stepping up from the Pro Lites, came in second, and Marmont who managed to catch the leaders to finish in third.

In the second moto both Waters and McFarlane got off to a strong start but at the chequered flag Waters managed to hold off the challenge, securing his first Pro Opens moto victory.

The final moto of the day kept fans and riders on the edge of their seats when some of the starting gates failed to drop and the race was red-flagged.

When the race was finally underway it was Yamaha rider Cheyne Boyd who took a commanding lead ahead of Waters and his teammate Marmont. On the deeply rutted track, many riders struggled to stay on two wheels with Boyd and Waters both coming to grief and leaving the track open for Marmont to take the chequered flag.

Despite only one moto win, Waters rode strongly enough to secure the round victory in only his second outing in the Pro Opens class.

"I've been putting in a lot of hard work and so has the team," Waters said afterward. "Yarrive Konsky has been flat out with us every single day, so I'm stoked to come away with the win, this is like a dream come true for me."

(On beating some of the other Pro Opens riders) "It's an unreal feeling, it didn't really kick in until I got onto the podium and stood up there next to Jay and McFarlane; their posters are on my walls! They're amazing riders and running with them is unbelievable."

The second round of the 2009 Motocross Nationals will be held at ACT Motor Cycle Club Fairburn Park Pialligo Ave Majura District ACT