Page 10 - Issue34

CHAD REED
450 SX / AZ
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Chad Reed is one of those riders that can never be counted out from any situation. The Australian has overcome more adversity in the sport than most people will face in a lifetime and he continues to do so in the latter stages of his professional racing career. Reed has made many resurgences over the years when the majority of the industry thought he was down and out, most notably the inception of TwoTwo Motorsports at the beginning of the decade. He won multiple races throughout his years as a team owner to the dismay and disbelief of his rivals and doubt- ers, and he continues to fight against the odds to prove that he’s in control of his own destiny. The Yamaha rider put together his best weekend of the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross season although he was a bit off the pace in timed practice, setting the ninth fastest lap throughout both sessions. The factory Yamaha superstar got off to a decent start in the second 450 heat race
of the evening as he fired out of the gate right around the top five. He was able to make some quick passes on the opening lap and come across the finish line in fourth position ahead of Ryan Dungey and Cole Seely -- a small sample of what was to come later in the main event. The Australian showed his notorious speed through the whoops as he made a move past the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM of Blake Baggett on the following lap, but he wasn’t able to make the pass stick. The Yamaha rider was forced into a mistake after the finish line due to the aggression of Baggett which forced him back to sixth place behind Dungey and Seely, therefore putting him out of transfer position. Adversity was present in the semi for the #22 Yamaha; he didn’t secure the best run into the first corner and found himself having to make hard moves to work himself into a transfer position. He came out in seventh position as the pack crossed the finish line for the first time with the Suzuki duo of Nick Schmidt and Jake Weimer right in front of him. Reed quickly disposed of Schmidt and began to tag along with Weimer as the two moved toward the head of the field, passing Tommy Hahn in the process. On the final lap, Reed pulled the pin in the whoops section and powered past Tickle to make it a factory Yamaha one two. Reedy pulled the start that he needed in the main event and found himself right in the mix from the opening stages of the finale. After the early antics of the 450 main event, he settled into about fifth position, just behind the man to beat, Ryan Dungey. The two of them progressively reeled in Cole Seely throughout the first half of the race, inching closer and closer to the HRC rider. The three of them were in- volved in an explosive battle throughout the midpoint of the race, but eventually the wily vet would come out the top dog and claim second place as his own. Reed gained time on Tomac in the latter stages of the race, but he had built a practically insurmountable lead. The Aussie eventu- ally took second place in a gritty battle that may be remembered as one of the highlights of the season, stockpiling necessary momentum heading into the fifth round in Oakland.
10 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 29, 2017