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The Monster Energy Cup returns to Sam Boyd Stadium for the sixth time. The supercross only rider Chad Reed usually uses this race to shake off the cob webs and get back into the swing of racing, but this year was a bit different. Reed looked much more aggressive and passionate on the track than we have seen in years past. Launching off the steel grate for the first time of the night, Reed crossed the white line hovering around the top 5. Dicing back and forth with HRC Honda’s Cole Seely and Redbull KTM’s Ryan Dungey,
Reed looked solid and on the pace. 7th place in the first Main Event on paper doesn’t look as great as his ride actually was. Reed was very relevant in this race as 3rd-7th were all quite close. The Factory Yamaha rider just missed the holeshot in main event two, getting just edged out by HRC Honda’s Ken Roczen. Reed was shuffled to fourth quickly as Ryan Dungey and Eli Tomac fly by in a sprint to try and stop the newly crowned Motocross champion Ken Roczen. Chad hung tough in fourth keeping Ryan Dungey honest throughout the race. After a big get off from Ken Roczen and a pass from Redbull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, Reed finished the race in 4th place. Stepping it up yet another level, Chad Reed rockets out of the gate in race number three and grabs the holeshot. The excite- ment was short lived as Chad made a costly mistake immediately after the start, jumping into the tough blocks and going down. Reed would charge back from last all the way to 12th before the race ended. With combined scores of 7-4-12 Chad Reed finishes the 2016 Monster Energy Cup 8th overall. Using this race as a gauge for the upcoming 2017 Supercross series, Reed has to be feeling confident after being able to see the reigning champion Ryan Dungey and the rest of the heavy hitters throughout the three 10 lap main events.
words/MICHAELLANG
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