Chad Reed to ride World MXGP
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since one of supercross and motocross’ greatest riders last lined up in a Grand Prix gate but 34-year-old Chad Reed is ready to wade back into the MXGP frame with two wild-card appearances on his factory Yamaha during the 2016 FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship campaign. The Australian has penned the British Grand Prix at Matterley Basin (Winchester) on June 18-19 and the Grand Prix of Lombardia – Italy at Mantova on June 25-26 to make his ‘debut’ in MXGP and first competitive run in Europe (Motocross of Nations outings for Australia aside) since 2001.
Reed, father of two, competed for a single year in Grand Prix at the start of the century for the team that is now Monster Energy Kawasaki and on works machinery. Then 19-years-old Chad shocked the establishment by finishing second in the world, won a (250cc) Grand Prix through the bumpy sand of Lierop and then moved to America to seek – and celebrate – fame and fortune on stadium tracks and through Pro National MX.
The veteran of fifteen seasons of supercross is approaching the end of the 2016 Monster Energy AMA term (only events in New Jersey and Las Vegas to go) and has identified the sweeping curves of Matterley Basin and the shallow sand of Mantova as the best settings to compete in front of his fans on the other side of the Atlantic.
“I have always valued my one and only year in Europe and I’m so excited to come back after all these years,” he said. “I briefly mentioned it on social media and many UK and European fans have shown lots of enthusiasm so that in return makes it a ton of fun for me.”
Reed will surely count on the backing of the current reigning champions Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing and will have a YZ450F prepped for his return to the fray. Fans of the ‘22’ will remember well his gripping duel with Tony Cairoli at the 2009 Motocross of Nations at Franciacorta in Italy. The old foes will renew their acquaintance but Reed will also have stiff opposition in the forms of Romain Febvre, Tim Gajser, Evgeny Bobryshev, Gautier Paulin, Clement Desalle, Jeremy Van Horebeek, Ben Townley, Max Nagl, Kevin Strijbos, Tommy Searle, Shaun Simpson and more.
Apart from any aspirations of results in MXGP, Chad is already thinking about the experience of a world championship stage once more. “I haven’t really given any thought to the racing itself I’m just excited to see old faces and new fans,” he remarked.
MXGP enters the Kegums circuit for the MXGP of Latvia this weekend and the first of three back-to-back events with visits to Germany and Italy ahead. Reed will join the circus for rounds eleven and twelve with many fans of the athlete and the sport awaiting his presence at the highest level international.
