450 Words: San Diego
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Things change when you own something. Think about it, when you ask to borrow something from your buddy, do you really care about it all that much? Nope, you don’t worry about greasing that jack or making sure you completely scrape all that crust of that baking pan just to give you two examples for the men and women who are reading this.
The point of all of this is that on Friday night in Indianapolis, team owner Chad Reed was sitting down and signing autographs at the Indy dealer show for his fans and sponsors alike. Reed, now the owner of his own team Two Two Motorsports, had to be in San Diego the next day for the supercross. It’s not easy flying from Florida to Indianapolis on Thursday, and then to San Diego on Friday night all in the span of 36 hours, and then trying to win a race, but that’s exactly what Reed did this week to help out the team. His team.
Reed now does it all as a team owner.
Photo: Garth Milan
I worked on factory Yamaha with Reed from ’03 to end of ’05 and let me tell you that great PR didn’t always come to mind when thinking about him. For all his skills on a bike, the younger version of Chad was too busy trying to win races. Although he got really good at the racing (39 wins and counting), he didn’t always specialize in making the sponsors and media happy. He simply didn’t always care that much about that end of being a professional dirt bike racer.
That’s all in the past now. He’s gotten older, and today there aren’t too many racers in the pits that are as media and sponsor friendly as Reed. He’s embraced Twitter and has gained many new fans and turned haters into lovers. In talking to the Bel-Ray guys, they are so happy with their association with Reed this year, it’s ridiculous. At A2, I was waiting for him when I was distracted and missed him walking out to his car. When he saw me, he came back over and asked me if I needed an interview. Very few riders would come back just for an interview. In the rain after his win in San Diego, he was high-fiving fans, signing autographs, and generally hanging out.
That’s what this new Chad Reed is about. He’s been to the top, had the money, went to the parties, and sees that there is more to life now. A new baby, team ownership, delivering on what you say you will you do, these are the priorities now, and over the weekend, he was taking care of business both as an owner and a racer. Mission accomplished I’d say.
Mission accomplished.
Photo: Garth Milan
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got to give it up for chad reed, he had everyone covered that night
Great write up, great transformation with 22. I have gone from hating this guy to rooting for him.
I hope he can make the fairy tale happen both indoors and out. Would be quite a story to add to his book! hint hint lol
REED IS DONE HE WILL NEVER WIN AGAIN!!! Where are you people?? I laughed when people said that about Reed and JS. For Reed to put his money were his mouth is takes balls and to get a win must put some egg on a few faces for sure. The guy does not need to be doing this so he must love the sport more than most would have ever guessed. Congrats on the W.
I was a big Chad Reed hater! But since the guy started his own thing, Ive been reading all the interviews and listening to him on podcast and stuff. And man the dude has really changed the way I look at him. Maybe he was always cool but I just never wanted to see it haha, I used to love when he lost to JS and RC. But now im cheering the guy on. Even when hes beating JS!!! thats crazy!!! Even Bubba is giving him the respect he deserves. Great job CR!!!!! you are gonna win alot more races!!!!
Wow it looks like the old dudes are still ruling!!!!!!! JS and CR still giving these young guns some action. All the guys who said they were done, WHAT NOW!!!!!!???????
Its great to see Reed win as an entrepreneur. As Dungey would say "I'm super pumped" for CR and I think that this is just the start. Look out Stewart & RV. When Reed gets on a roll he is very hard to beat. Good Luck Chad!
there's plenty of chances for Chad to win if most of the races were mud...but,without these JS and RV will rule...
From Employee to Business owner changes a person, like getting married and having a kid.....Good on you Chad Reed, you now know happiness and it isn't just a huge bank account although that doesn't hurt.
Regardless on how people feel about reed, he has one of the greatest styles out there, or the most fluid/comfortable like windham but doesnt scrape ceiling over triples, ya heard
Even if this is the last win CR will ever see, he proved me wrong! I always liked him, but have to admit that I thought he would never win another race. As RC always says "you can never count the guy out, he's always THERE". Now I really understand what RC meant by that. Reed just keeps plugging away race after race. Whatever happens this season, it's going to be a blast from here on out. I still think James will take the title though. He just seems seriously relaxed and not worried as of late and everyone knows he will put the hammer down when he needs to. Either way, I wish the best to anyone and everyone who can make a main event in SX.
450 words, on the nose. Well played, Matthes.
Still not a Chad Reed "fan" but I've never disliked him either, just glad to see another face on the top step. The more guys who win, the more interesting the season. Is it just me, or does Matthes kinda look like a chunky K-dub?
Thanks, good short article. I've always cared about stuff I've borrowed from friends/family, though...
great to see Chad get his win, I'm sure he will have more this year. He has the style and speed, plus he is mature in the way he lets the race come to him. Very impressed with the class JS7 showed on the podium. Very classy move by Stewey.
Sad but true! It's too bad that PR is more important than riding ability. But, alas, that's the case.
PR skills are not as important as the skill to win a race, but they can help get any athlete paid more from sponsors, extend his career and also build his fan base. Chad always had the riding skills and never really worried about the stuff that comes with all of those contracts besides winning.... Now he's obviously really focused on both.
Excellent work, Matthes.
DC
Chad was in the pits in SLC 09 way late with no one around being way cool and signing stuff for my kids, on a night where he had every reason to just bolt out. He and KW were the coolest then and now.
Way to go Chad !!! Alot of guy's thought you've lost the edge it take's to win(myself included) but you proved us all wrong !! Good job !!
I don't know what impresses me more, Reedy's win, or the fact that Mathes NAILED IT!!!! woot woot!!!
Chad Reed simply owns San Diego. No ifs ands or buts about it. Awesome ride by him. All you people slamming Dungey for his performance this year... He's 23 points down and had his chain not come off he'd probably be between 5 and 10 points down. Yeah he hasn't won a race, but winning races doesn't win championships. Awesome ride by Villopoto too, because this could have been disastrous for him. I would of liked to see his crash because losing a front number plate and a back fender just isn't that common.
BILLC. your right, it was said as much about Reed as Stewie, and they both are winning now. And the naysayers wont speak up and mention it at all now. I cant understand why they swould say either was done and wouldnt win, just because they had injuries last year. That usually makes a rider more eager and hungry for a win. And Reed couldnt have done it at a better place, than S.D. He kills at that track, always has. TDeath21, I have to disagree about winning races doesnt win championships. I dont think I have ever heard were a rider wins the big bike title without winning a single race. Dungey needs to get faster and more aggresive to have any chance now.
22's has been getting better every week, so has RD . He and Dungey will be there because they stay off the ground. Anybody remember CR's epic battle with RC at Daytona ? Villo does it indoors and TGO this year. How can a 1st place JS look so scary fast while a third place Stewart looks like hes in slo-mo ? We are only 1/2 way !
JimM
Carlsbad
CR will win again, RD and TC do the same. Stewart goeson a mini run but VIllo goes to the bank . Where are the doubters when its time to give props? Thank the Lord for a mini shot of the TGO at Daytona.
JD
Lotta people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting. - Steve McQueen
family has got to be right up there too.
racing and family....what else is there?
chad reed is the real deal.
Nice work Chad. Someone should give him an old school nick name. He's earned one by now. The top 5 were all on good form one way or another. It made for good entertaining racing. 5 seconds on 2nd and 28 secs on 3rd; 7 Second spread from 3 though 8th, nice margin of victory.
Two thumbs up on the article matthes!
Great post stacy kohut, period.
I was one of the 22 doubters last season, He didnt give me much to go on after earning my respect while at suzuki. And in a sense I was right,he was done. At least on a factory team,starting his own team to continue racing has earned back some of that respect. It was really cool to see another winner in stuporcross this early in the season,and way cooler that it was 22 as a privateer! Now come on M.C.,how's about hookin' up 22 with some of that factory unobtainium that's just sitting around off Grant's bike?
Where's SMEE113 probally hiding from all the money he owes people after taking any bet that CR22 wont podium again. Of all the top guys this season, JS7 RV2 RD5 only CR22 & TC41 have actually changed bikes so a slow start for these guys would be expected. Although TC41 did ride a 450 honda last year to great sucess.
Chad has proven to be within striking distance of every SX championship he has riden bar 1.
Ashman96.. And myself.. I did not believe Reed could pull it off.. Even though i did wish him the best in his endavour for 2011 starting his own team.. He rode well.. And as Reed's strongest point.. Is to adapt quickly in a situation.. As he did.. By following certain lines Canard rode.
TDeath21... Do not agree.. Nobody has ever won a championship without winning a single race, the entire season.. Some riders came close.. Like Weinert (in '76) and Ward (in '85).. By winning only 1 race.. And Bell in 81 finishing a strong second with no race wins..
I must admit that the silly and very stupid point system of the AMA, does reward consistency.. More over a win.. This could be done..
But honnestly.. Who would as, a rider, win such a championship?
I have not always been the biggest Chad Reed fan, I have always felt kind of luke-warm about him, but all season long I've been warming up to him- his "on-camera" attitude, and everything else. I'm not saying I'm on the bandwagon, but it was good to see him win, and he definitely deserved this one- he had amazing speed in the mud! Great Job!
when Chad grabbed James by the back of the neck that one night(?), and was mashing his helmet into James' I became an even bigger fan than before.
he is an animal, love him or hate him.
respect him.
Ah, now I think I can read between the lines. What you're saying is that Tomac didn't stop what he was doing to grant an interview, so that's why he's being boycotted. This story about Reed doing the opposite is to drive a message home to Tomac. As suspected.
WOW Props to all of you who maned up and said you did not think he could do it!!! That is great to see ya do that!!! BD200 I am scared.... We have agreed a LOT the last 2 days!!! You sound a lot like me talking about RD now :). I think someone could win the title without winning a race but it would be very hard, also it would bug me to see that happen no matter who it was... It just does not seem right I guess.
people slamming Dungey for his performance this year... He's 23 points down and had his chain not come off he'd probably be between 5 and 10 points down. Yeah he hasn't won a race, but winning races doesn't win championships... wrote by TDeath21 comon does suzuki like him riding around waiting for someone to fall...what a pus@y..go james reed and villopoto and trey put it to dungey..............
I remember how fast 22 was on yamaha and even faster on the zook...
what the hell was going on with the Kawi? It just wasn't right for him at all...it looks like it is built for rv2 and js when he was 259...
CONGRATS to CR22...I take back all the * comments I made previously...no more shit talking...
RD5 needs to win soon...or he won't...
@didierlotseng 1 guy did win a championship without winning a single race but it was in the 125 class. Tim Ferry!
Awesome ride Chad! I'll admit I wondered about the new team, privateer, etc. But his times have been close all along and now he's got a win to back it up. Never count out how consistent this guy is...
Mr Matthes
When I borrow something, I treat it better than if I owned it myself, that way I may be lent other things. Maybe you should apply this yourself!
You borrowed Kenny's time, misused it & look what happened!
In the past I only cheered for Reed because he's an Aussie, I thought he was arrogant,*****y & full of excuses, Byrner & Metty are my favorite riders because they show true Aussie spirit.
I remember Chad saying on numerous occasions that the media didn't portray him correctly & he was a different person away from the races.
I think he is bringing that personality to the races now & it is great to see that humble fighting spirit.
Even the Chad hater's would have to respect the guy for having the balls to start his own team & to win in your first season is excellent.
Congratulations to all of team Two Two !!!!
Although I still think its too early to call JS7 a "old" guy at a ripe 25, Reed and KDUB are truley the real "veterans" out there....Reeds attitude in the past made it really hard for me to like him although he obviously knows how to ride a bike...But I think Reed especially and JS7 have shown some real improvement on their overall character...James more so on the track with his "settling down" and Reed off the track with his less egotistical*****y attitude....Reeds attitude had a big part of him being on 3 different teams in 3 years ....he did some soul searching, changed his ways and did his own thing and nobody can knock that....I am not his biggest fan, but I am not against seeing him pull it off either, especially since he jumped on a Honda....he should have long ago.....
chad reed wins one race FINALLY and yall jump on the bandwagon? hes soooo bad remember..shouldnt he be able to land a spot as a factory rider? shouldnt he be able to win more than a single race? especially this late in the season..chad reeds supposed to be a"legend" or whatever you would call him,woohoo,family man,owner and rider..that has nothin to do with motocross! hes not smooth at all! all he did was paced himself so he wouldnt fall like everyother human..he got lucky in one race,apparently he didnt get lucky enough to win a spot on a team..im just sayin,ill never root for reed,hes never showed me anything i like,if he wants to rep that australian bullcrap he can go back to australia,this is america..and nobody pulled the ear rings off like mcgrath..he needs to retire and run a team..the end..windham was thought to have a great season,god just had different thoughts this year,hes havin terrible luck these past races..im just statin that it makes me mad that after this long,he didnt get a full ride,comes through with one win,"due to canards fallin due to stupidity" and everyone jumps on the ol wagon..if your a moto fan your not gonna change over night due to one race
....however, I still dont think you can call Reed a true "privateer", that is not fair to the real privateers out there, guys like Ryan Clark.....He has spent alot of his own money to get things rolling sure,but there are other big contributers and he also gets the factory treatment from alot of folks like pro Circuit..he first people he thanked at Oakland was " the Honda guys".....still an awesone thing he is doing...but not a true privateer...
FoyBoy517 - I am not about to lick the sweat off his nuts or anything or jumpng on a bandwagon....just giving credit where credit is due....I think that is what most folks are saying here....he is a changed man whether he won a race or not, he is more likeable and paving his way as possibly another permanent team owner which is more oppurtunities down the road for other riders...Will Reed win more races this year? it is possible...but true, one race is one race.....Daytona should be an awesone race....so pumped it is live !!!
Well BILLC. I try to give a rider a few weks or so to let them get things together, in case they made big changes in the off-season. But Dungey is running pretty good really. Just not quite fast enough to get the top of the podium. Nothing to serious really, he is getting podiums and 2nds. Which is a great ride. He just cant seem to get aggresive enough to win. Its like he is missing just a little bit of something. But he is a world class rider to be getting podiums in this stacked field. And barring the chain coming off, he would be pretty close to the top 2 or 3.
FoyBoy517.....what's the problem with giving props to one of the best racers supercross/motocross has ever seen rebounding for a win after a season like 2010? Especially seeing how he has made everything happen this year by himself ultimately. And did you really just say Reed isn't smoothe at all and follow it up with how good Windham is? They are the two smoothest and calculated riders of this era if you ask me, and I find Reed one of the best guys to watch ride as far as making things look easy.
Yeah foyboy517... Who has crashed out of the most races this year??? K-Dub!! Who would have bet on that one??
Redbeard65.. Disagree... Reed has to buy all the parts or let's say most of the parts.. Ranging from stock Bikes.. To all the pro-circuit parts from Mitch... And other related stuff.
The semi truck.. Personnel... Spare parts... He shelved them out of his own pocket.
All he is trying to do with the sponsor money he has gathered so far, is to recoup as much as possible on his planned budget for the SX season. And even that.. He will never recoup everything unless he wins the SX championship..
Only difference between the so called "true privateer".. he has deep pockets, when it comes to money...
And the help he has been getting from Honda, so far.. The parts he might have gotten are not the expensive parts.. And most is advise, most probably on the engine's management system.. Or related to it.
And maybe add as well his stature in the business.. Mitch and company are giving him preferential treatment.. Knowing Mitch's character as a business man.. he is NOT giving any parts from pro-circuit away for free.. Even if you are called Chad Reed.
Unlike MC's days where he created his own team... MC's yamaha's came straight from the yamaha factory... And he did not even have to pay a nickel for them.. Hell.. Yamaha was even paying him a base salary.. (He mentioned this in is book)
So.. Calling this not a true privateer's effort? Just because he has more $$ than a Ryan Clark.. Is total BS.
I do understand that the average privateer with way less $$ to spend on their endavour as a pro.. Will have a harder time achieving the same results as a Reed.. Well.. Blame this on the sport for not encouraging the privateer's effort more.. (SX wise.. IN the MX, it is a entire different ball game)
NikolaTesla.. Thanks.. I was too lazy to check out on the 125 class... So it is possible to win a championship without winning a single race... Wow.. And Tim Ferry won this one?
"At A2, I was waiting for him when I was distracted and missed him walking out to his car."
No doubt distracted by the smell of food, or possibly Tim Ferry.
Though I'm no hater. Matthes is about the best thing to come out of Canada since the coffee crisp. This makes up for sending us dolts like Keanu Reaves.
Didierlotsyeng - I understand what you are saying and its a glass half full or half empty, but come on man, as a former racer....MONEY, which Reed has is the #1 ingredient next to the rider talent...TWO TWO is a company now paying some of the operational expenses but the rest is all freebies I am willing to bet and other privateers do not get paid $$$ by SHIFT, FOX , BEL RAY, etc to offset costs for their team..You think Bel Ray is only giving him free chain lube in exchange for all those logo's Reed is running...The Bel Ray logo is just as big as the TWO TWO logo..They already said he is getting parts and infromation from Honda and his suspension/motor work costs from PC is probably picked up by Honda and I am sure Honda and Reed have a little side deal as well......Dont forget his mechanic is a former Honda mechanic too....all in the family....I like what Reed is doing, but I dont think he even considers himself a "privateer"....
Redbeard65.. True.. Besides the talent.. Reed has a lot of $$ in his bank account..
And yes, a lot of behind the scenes we will not know, unless Reed writes his memoires a couple of years from now..
Compared to the other privateers.. Reed is in no doubt in a privilege position..
But in the interviews.. He more or less convinces himself as a team owner / rider and HIS team made an effort blabla.. And hey.. He and the other team members can be proud of their achievements...
But as you mentioned.. Maybe there is a side deal we are not aware about.. And knowing Honda.. Anybody riding a Honda and achieving good results is a marketing tool they will gladly oblige to use for their own benefit...
I reckon.. Knowing Reed's mentality.. He is gunning for good result to hopefully gain some official backing from a manufacturer.. In the same manner MC did it back then.. And work from there on
What is this "Reedyx"? get it? i put Reedy in for Racer... Congrats to Reed but Mathes, dude... 450 words to talk about the 450 class and you don't mention anyone else. How about Villipotos ride? To me that was just as impressive as Reed's ride. To go from falling down and being in last to come all the through to 7th in that sloppy mess of a track and sketchy riders is rad. also if you watch the last lap he was really close to shorty and millcraps so who knows what woulda happen with 1 more lap but that's neither here nor there. Come on bud, pick it up...
this is what js should have done for the 09 MX season mainly to see if he could match RC with 2 perfect seasons.
Instead appeared to be holding out for another $10 mil
oh well, guess we'll see if js will race this summer.
Congrats Reed
Indeed, its a similar situation... The MC and HONDA ties were severed just before 07 season I beleive when MC was asking for a huge sum of money (which they later exceeded with RC) so he ended up doing his own thing on Suzuki cause all the other teams who would have loved to have MC were full...then he moved on to Chapparal Yamaha, then KTM (for like 2 weeks) and finally back to his roots on the Honda....Reed has ridden for every manufacturer so Honda or KTM were all that was left.....nothing like saving the best for last!!!
the stadium looked empty. any idea what the count was?
redbeard im not being hard on you but MC deal with honda was end of 95 or 96 whenever the alloy frame came on the 250... & MC hated it cause it was to rigid compared to the steel frame he used prior which was always a 93 or 94 frame because thats what he liked .... dude dont rip me a new one for this im just adding my bit to your comment
MC used his old steel frame until he left Honda at the end of the '96 season. He went to Suzuki of Troy for '97. He said Honda insulted him by offering him next to nothing for a contract. And when they got word that Suzuki signed him, they said well match it, by then it was too late. He went to Yamaha in the '98 season and after. In 2001 he rode the KTM until he blew out his hip. It bogged over a jump and he came up short.
Matthes. Reed has rode an impressive race no doubt but all that nicesness of the track is cause now he needs the press and become more popular among fans and haters. He does not have a big tent covering him anymore taking care of marketing and relations. Anyway, he is doing a good job on and off the track. The dude is not stupid for sure but his change it's for a good reason and that's ultimately called money. Now don't you try to cast him as the new good guy, stop licking every winner's balls.
Redbeard65.. Reason why MC left Honda was not really the money.. According to MC's Bio (Book, wide open) the deal was there.. Verbally then.. And MC knew he will have to try out the aluminium frame Honda's.. Even though he did not like it.. Remember that MC rode the chassis of 93' from 93-95'.. And only the 96" frame was ok.. He did contest overseas sx events, where he performed miserably... Then the copntract arrived.. It had many restrictions.. (He was not allowed to do BMW, jet skis, and many more).. And the deal arrived late in the year 96'.. So he contacted Decoster.. And they arranged a late deal for 97'..
bd200.. The contract was ok.. Money was never the issue at Honda.. What I recall reading was he would be getting a million per year as base salary.. (Not bad at the time)..
Suzuki.. Had he won the championship.. He would have stayed on at suzuki... But he did not win it.. So, at that time, Chaparral was looking to become a decent team.. Larry Brooks was the manager at that time.. Things came into place.. And he would be earning even less than what he would had he stayed at Suzuki.. But MC made good deals to increase his income.
He left Yamaha, because they offered him a lousy deal.. And that was the insult he felt from yamaha for bringing them the championships and the reward he got from them.
Had he stayed at KTM.. He would have earned good $$.. But you mentioned it.. He could not adapt to the bike and crashed many times.. which prompted him to retire...
He signed the KTM deal end of 02'... Tested it and rode some overseas supercross's..
i honestly juist see people jumpin on the wagon,yea he needs credit,but hes won one race this season..apparently hes not all that smooth..kdub came out kickin butt there for a little bit,this just isnt his season,we dont expect kdub to take a title..but reeds so hyped up and everyone thinks hes so good..but he won one race,nobody ever considered talkin about reed in any other room..but now instantly hes the best and has a room full of fans that never even considered postin about him before..he wins,yall worship him..stewart!! he freakin obviously was thinkin smart,not fast..he slowed back to keep his point standings from fallin too far,no he didnt win,i know,and reed deserves props or whatever..but stewarts faster and more likely to win than reed..but nobody is gonna give him props.you cant change riders and crap over one season win..yes billc..windham went down,but dangit hes at the age now to where he needs to retire but hes streadily placin above reed too!but youll fight this..not this week,i know he went down,last week,i know..but windham is ready to retire,but hes pushin harder and farther,and still placin top 5 to ten
i never really liked chad reed but really he ain't too bad after all