Page 114 - ISSUE42

CHAD REED
450 SX / 22ND
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / ARMSTRONG DESIGN / WILSON
>> After being rejuvenated with the Factory Yamaha team, people thought that future hall of famer Chad Reed might have some more main event wins left in him. Since joining the team Chad has not won a main event but has shown signs that the speed is defiantly still there. Reed has one heat races and semis this year and battled with the likes of de- fending champ and points leader Ryan Dungey to do so. This weekend in Detroit started out well for the the factory Yamaha rider, who nearly got the holeshot in his heat race behind Cole Seely. Chad defended his 2nd place against the likes of Marvin Musquin for the duration of the race. A direct transfer to the main event out of the heat race gives you a good gate pick and usually signifies that you have a good feel for the track. That might have been the case for Chad but this sport can be a cruel on and Chad was struck with bad luck for the 4th weekend in a row. When the gate dropped in the main event, Chad got pinched off in the first corner and got tangled up with a handful of riders. By the time the Reed came across the finish line for the first time he was in dead last and near- ly a entire lap down from the leaders. Chad held on tough and continued to charge his way back to the field. Around the mid way point Chad made his way into 21st, but it didn’t last long. The #22 was just about to be lapped by first place rider Eli Tomac when Chad made a mistake in a left hand turn, throwing the veteran over the tough blocks and ending his night of racing. Only five rounds remain for the Supercross season, can the #22 get back on the box, can he get another win making him the old- est rider in the sport to take a main event win?
114 GRITMOTO • MARCH 26, 2017