Monday Conversation: Chad Reed
Monday, May 30, 2011 | 2:55 PM
Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for almost 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars. Welcome to the Racer X Monday Conversation.
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PrintIt was a little (okay, a lot) fortunate but Team TwoTwo Motorsports Bel-Ray Racing's Chad Reed came away with his second win in a row (third if you count Vegas SX!) in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and combined with Ryan Dungey’s DNF, already has a healthy lead in the points. It’s quite a turn of events for a rider that wasn’t even sure if he was racing the outdoors a couple weeks before the opener. Before the press conference, I caught up to Reedy as he was signing autographs for his take on the day.
Racer X: Reedy, great ride today and to get the win is definitely fortunate for you, but you still rode pretty awesome today.
Chad Reed: Thanks. The first moto I had to be patient and this track is difficult to pass on for sure, because when it goes into the trees it’s always, no matter how hard they try, it’s always pretty one-lined. So I was patient and got into the lead and Dungey was on me pretty good and I went hard and kind of dropped him and rode smart from there. In the second moto, I was in position and thinking I was pretty good. I was taking a lot of roost and backed off, then put in a charge, got up to him and tried to take a smoother line. Unfortunately, it was smooth because there was mud underneath there [laughs] and I went down. I didn’t find that out until it was too late. I highsided a bit and was disappointed. I then laid down a couple of good laps but he stepped up to that and for me, I thought I’d play it smart and didn’t want to end up on the ground.
Unfortunately for him, he had an issue there. Looks like he ran out of fuel. Looks like there was a deeper issue than their fuel there, but we capitalized on the error and won. I was fast enough and strong enough to win but just thought I’d play it smart.
In the second moto, you and him were going hard and sprinting away from the pack big-time. It was impressive as both of you were pretty much matching each other’s times and going way faster than anyone else.
Yeah, for sure. You can feel it, you can feel the intensity out there. He was laying it down and I was like ‘all right’ and I knew that I was going to have to lay it down if I wanted to win this thing. So I stepped up, he stepped up, and we were going at it. Unfortunately, I went down and then I laid down two good laps and closed the gap but he still had five or six on me. I felt like that we had to do that; I felt like he was going to be able to match that and I would have to really go hard and maybe end up on the ground if I went that hard.
Reed is all alone atop the standings now.
Simon Cudby photo
Did you know he was out of it before you came up on him or was it a complete surprise?
I saw him there on the side on the track before I got to the pit board. I saw he was just sitting there and then the pit board said “Dungey out" and obviously that wasn’t going to change anything for me. I’m disappointed and bummed for him, for sure, but we’ll take it.
It’s early and I don’t want to sound too dramatic or anything like that but do you feel like this is something magical happening here with everything that has been happening?
I feel like I’m riding really strong and I’m putting good laps together for a guy that sucks outdoors [smiles]. I had Dungey on me in the first moto and I was able to pull away. I know the pace is there, the bike is really good and I would honestly say the feeling I have and the reason why I’m so excited is that the bike is awesome. It takes less effort to ride than other bikes and that’s why I’m having fun out there. It’s enjoyable to lay it on the line with a bike that incorporates and helps you do what you want. I feel like I’m riding the best I ever have outdoors and I’m excited for that.
Win or lose, I’m happy that it’s been this good so far.
And you’ll be the sole owner of the red plate for next week, which has to make you happy. What was with the white backgrounds in practice. A silent protest?
Yeah, pretty much. I stand by what I said and I thought it was lame that we shared it and I got into a battle with Davey [Coombs] over it and I think I won because he left the semi [laughs]. Whether he met his match or not I don’t know, it was just cool that we basically agreed to disagree. Actually no, we didn’t. He left thinking I won the battle so I guess that means I won! (DC left Reed's semi laughing, and he was cool with the whole deal).
All in all, it's a good thing Chad Reed decided to go racing this year!
Simon Cudby photo
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This was probably the hardest race of the year due to the harsh heat..... and now that its behind him i dont think Reeds going to have any problems..... that is untill the Green 2 gets his act together... which will happen.
Reed will get dominated from high point on..once rv finds his groove its all over for chad.
@Reed.......He better find more than his groove. Reed and Dungey are on fire, and Villos bike looks like a handful set up wise.
RV 2 will end up on the ground
I hope RV finds his health and is 100% come High Point, but the haters just wont give Reed credit for nothing. He is a damn good rider guys face it. The Stewtards say he never beat Stewie, then he did and now excuses everywhere. My favorite one is the Yamaha sucks, thats a riot. Now Reed is outdoors were all the haters say he sucks, and he is still getting it done. I really hope RV wins this thing, but give credit where its due, Reed is a helluva rider guys.
Yeah I agree, great ride by Reed ! Is just me or does Villipoto look sick ? He is allot leaner but he just looks like the life is zapped out of him, you can see it in his face and he doesn’t have much muscle tone, just looks anemic or something.
I have to wonder if AB is doing the best for RV, well any way I hope RV gets up to par and starts battling these guys for a win making it a three way race !
Great Job Chad, Go 22 !
They're all good. Even, though I'm Australian, I've met both and Ryan Dungey was really good with my kids. I tend to like him just a little bit more perhaps, and I feel a mechanical is total crap at this level. He should've won.
Isn't this what Reed SHOULD have been doing for years?? Battling for the sx title as well as the mx title.....I mean he's been one of the top guys in the world since 2003.
Who, in Chad's opinion, should have worn the red plate(s) had Dungey finished first in that second moto? They would have been tied in points and tied for overall wins. Personally I think co-leaders in the points should both wear the red plate and Reed made a BIG deal about nothing.
I thought RV was on the monavie? The companies testimonials are filled with people that say they never get sick. Ha. If you ask me I think RV is underweight to be riding the big bike outdoors. I hope he can figure it out during this break and get back up to the front.
yzf125
I couldn't agree more! I thought the same thing, RV looks really ill when you look at him. His face looks lean and drained and he looks like he has lost weight. Looks like he needs to put some weight back on and get healthy again and then it will be on.
The thing is, Reed is having fun, can put in the best lap times on any given day, so it's not going to be a piece of cake for anyone. Now CR is up 19 points, motivated to have a factory Honda and to boot is having fun. It's going to be a very interesting season.
Yeah, this 'Chad doesn't get any respect outdoors' thing is ridiculous. He won in 2009, and there are what, at least a couple of years in the mid-2000's where he was 2nd, only to The Goat. That means he beat EVERYONE ELSE, and The Goat is The Goat. So it's not like Chad has never done crap outdoors.
rv was lucky to get sx title ,Mr baker gets em fit but takes it to far and dont allow the body time to recover.epstein bar? lol
JS7 Will be joining the boys soon .... SEE YA !
fitness and health are 2 different things, they get really fit, but let their health suffer. It happened to RC, CR, and now RV. I hope they figure it out, for the sake of their safety, and long term effects of over doiing it.
Chad Reed is the best he has ever been and dungey is also good but Chad has luck on his side and RV is just not on it Reedy has got this he will domonate the whole thing
JS7 will win the 'Sarah Palin " I can see Evgeny Bobryshev training from my house" Freedom' Nationional Championship for sure this year.
GO BUBBA !
Its Reed and Dungey out in front. I sure hope a few more riders hang around in the points so these 2 don't run away from the pack. I'd like to see it close all the way to the end.
I think Reed realizes that anything can happen (look at the Suzuki mechanical) and he is staying humble. I like the new and improved Chad Reed. Makes it a lot easier to pull for him.
Settle down people, Reed is fast and how you all don't know that 8 seasons later I just don't know... Also, RV has had a nasty, nasty flu and he'll be back in the groove in a few more weeks.
I hope RV steps it up & we have a 3 way battle. Good start to the season, lovin it!
Reeds really done a top job this year & no1 can knock that. What does he haqve to do to get rocognition that he has always been there & now he is battling & giving it to last years champ who had no1 but windham give him a run in 1 race last year... He's always been there & always will be there till he retires welldone if he gets this championship, whats every1's excuse gonna be then???
JS7
JS7 who? GO REED! Been a fan since he landed here.
i got to hang out at freestone and check it out. Reed did well in moto one. Dungey pretty much ruled it in moto two. there isn't any denying it. even before Reed went down, you could tell Dungey regrouped during the break and figured it out. He looked so damn fluid out there. Reed accepted the victory like a gentleman. That was class. Sucks for Dungey though. I hope he kicks the yellow bike to the curb soon though. Too many stupid mechanical failures that should never happen to a champion. Deep inside I know he is steady PISSED.
After he fell in the second moto live timing said he was 10.something behind then 9.3 then 11.4 then 13.3 and so on. So how was it 5 or 6 seconds? He gained 1 second then Dundey BROKE him LOL. That's for Matthes. I know RD ended up breaking himself but I had to say it.
Reeds a scapper. Scrapping for every practice, every moto, even for the red plate. The guy is an inspiration to be doing this at his age, his stage of career; we're lucky to have him around and it will leave a BIG HOLE when he exits, enjoy him while he's here.
I've never been a Reed fan, but hey, he deserves his wins as much as everyone else. For the first time in his career, he's beating the good guys outdoors.
It would be great for all the fans to have Canard and Js out there too,
http://www.facebook.com/mattricephoto
Best place to see all your favorite riders at there best from the outdoor nationals so far!
for more....mattricephoto.com
Right-on Dad.
If he was not out there, we would be not seeing ALL the best riders on the planet.
Reedy will be strong all season - he has the Moto Mojo!
RV and RD will own Chad, Its just a matter of time
well, several years ago RX had a small pic of Reed that had a short caption saying that he was on his way to America and would be a real threat!! I didn't buy in to it....guess what? They were right!!!
I heard Reed as a privateer was mortified that he had to buy both red and white pre printed graphics for his number plates and ran white in practice out of protest :)
He even tried to "gift" Dungey the overall and laid it over so RV would catch up so he didnt have to splash out on more red number plates, but then Dungey ran out of gas and his plan was foiled.
Jokes
Can't wait until JS7 shows up...it will be fantastic to watch him battle for a top 5
Real men ride outdoors! Um, where is JS7? I'm a JS7 fan and I'm saying that - so all that want to hate... EAT THAT!
I just hope JS7 doesn't cause one of the "real" contendors for the title to crash. You know the typical landing on someone's back or just eating $hit and taking 2 or 3 other riders with him...Just sayin
Yeah, I really hope that Bubbles does not come back at all, for the safety of all the real riders on the track! Personally dont think he should be allowed out there, unless he is contending the whole series, as it doesnt have any effect on him if he wins or loses, but IF/WHEN he ends up taking out one of the Top 5, or any other rider for that matter, it has a true effect on them! Stay home Bubbles, you are a danger to yourself and everyone else on the track! Your name should be Black Flagged from the MXdN list anyway, as at this point you are a part timer at best, thus you do not deserve to be representing the USA Team! Here is to all the REAL racers out there busting their a$$es every weekend!
good on you Chad , good to see youbeing humble with not beating Dungy the way you would have liked to but a win is a win but i wouldnt beat yourself up to bad ......have a look at your results so far your not there because your half hearted about it supercross is tough but this outdoor series is where the hard bastards stand up and show what your got. SHOW THEM THE MONGREL WHAT US AUSTRALIANS ARE MADE OF
Note the holes in Reeds front number plate. Were holes there in both motos? Could Dungey have avoided his problem with the holes?
Where the hell is Hill?
I'm rooting for Reed to continue doing well but he is pretty ignorant about the whole red number plate thing. The red number plate has to do with the series as a whole and the current points. It has absolutely nothing to do with who won the last race. If two riders are tied for points in the series, they both run red plates, regardless of who won what or why or when. Nothing factors into the red plate other than the current series points. That's it. They were tied, so they shared the plate. Reed is confused.
Having said all that, I still hope he keeps on winning. That's the best way to avoid the need to share anything.
We will be testing vented number plates, front fender, and Rad and hose mods in Socal today and Wed. Need four pro level test riders. Call Yoshi shop
RV2 needs to go home and work on his starts - CR & RD are too fast for him to come from mid-pack.
Bubbles should stay home, the last thing he needs to do is come and disrupt this championship. He's a hazard on the track and will definitely do damage when he returns; and I'm not referring to winnning.
But if and when he does comeback, would love to see him take another dirt-knap up at the "WICK"...
Yes Reed is a claas act now days. I have alway respected his ability. that said. I am realy a fan of nobody and respect everyone, just hope for good racin. About Dungey' Suzi crapping out I too feel bad for him he is still young and during the time I raced (from 72 till 94) there were not enough hairs on Barceia's chiny chin, chin to count the nuber of times I should have either slowed down for the bike to last or slowed down so I would not crash and ended up loosing it all or crashing and getting hurt and being out for a while.
So I have enjoyed reading all of your posts some good some bad but I know most of us have to say our thing. Ride safe Ride hard but rmember your limits.
@suzukiusa, what will you pay them with? Suzukiscript? You guys (corporate) blew it SOO hard it's unimaginable. All you had to do was keep DeCoster, keep Dustin Wimmer (ATV Championship virtually garaunteed) and the ATV team on the track, and pay Dungey's bonuses. Wins (and titles) would have fallen your way. Arguably the best bike on the track (RC, Reed & Dungey can't all be wrong), easily the best race quad on the track and now this............ Biggest Epic Fail by any manufacturer since, I don't even know when.
Yeah, we all know the economy sucks, we all are living the dream (nightmare) but, you've got to maintain. Shootout winning bikes, title winning talent, (apparently) winning infrastructure and you are giving it away.......time for someone to fall on the sword & save company face......whoever lost DeCoster would be a great place to start.
Embarassed for you.
@Two Two Racing,,, "Here is to all the REAL racers out there busting their a$$es every weekend! "
Pretty esy to say that when Reed decides to ride the Nationals, isnt it ?? How soon Reed Fans forget ...
@Carlsbad...it's all about bike sales, not the racing...if people aren't buying, no matter how great their racing teams and managers are, they don't make the money to support anything. Pretty simple logic.
@mxmofo...so true, so true....it's crazy how fickle fans are...how about the hate for RC when he simply switched from Kawi to Honda...Pastrana for quitting racing...Reed for going SX only...Stewart for going SX only...and on and on
Oh yeah, great job Reed. Keep winning while everyone keeps saying "wait 'till RV this or that". Reed is waiting...........on the podium with big 'ol check in one hand, trophy in the other.
@ Slim473,, You are correct.. I also remeber Reed QUITTING the Nationals last year because he didnt like his Kaw.. But to reed fans, that has been forgotten about..
Let me make this clear... I'm NOT sticking up for JS at all.. It truly sucks he's not riding, and he better hope he has an awfully good reason for it.. Its just funny how all of the sudden Reed is a Super - Hero.
@Slim473, if bike sales were the base of factory race team budgets, we wouldn't have seen a factory team on the track since the late '70's, and that, is pretty simple arithmetic. Most on here know it takes big money to field a pro-level racing team but, there is fat to be cut elsewhere. Corporate bonuses for example, could put a team on the road for one season easily. Advertising, R&D, etc, etc, could've been pared down to keep title winning teams on-track.
The best & brightest @ Suzuki will be gone this time next year and that's a shame.
chad reed has been riding great and his looks really cool, i hope he stays healthy the whole series. and where is "the fastest man in the planet" js7??? if he really is the fastest he should be out there racing the outdoors. the outdoors is the real deal it is harder than the sx series. js7 is not a man, everybody had the same amount of time to prepare for outdoors and he is saying he is not ready yea right he is scared to comeback cause he knows he aint gonna have what it takes to ride up front, PLEASE stop calling js7 "the fastest man on the planet"!!!!!! chad reed is the real deal!!!! bring home that championship chad!!!!
TFMOTP ... Coming to a track near you ... Want to see how its done , Watch Js .
Chad looks like the man to beat. He surprised the hell out of me as I didnt' think he would be this strong outdoors. Dungey has his work cut out for him. At this point it's a Reed/Dungey showdown. It would be nice for Villy to come to the party.
Went out to Freestone on Saturday. Awesome racing ! Like a few people here, I'm so over the Reed 'haters' (yawn) He's out there racing people. Are you 'armchair experts' good enough to compete on that level ?. He blitzed it in the the first moto. In the second moto, Dungey owned it, he was on fire. Reed came down, took chase and rode smart, go for the points. Unfortunately Dungey DNF'd. As they say that's racing, anything can happen. Reed knows, that...there's a lot of racing ahead. We're gonna see some fantatstic battles on the track.
Without JS it like seeing half the show ....
JS7 Should stay out of it for sure. I would hate to see someone get really hurt this year. Its been good clean racing and we don't need the drama he brings to the track.
Someone should but a bounty on his head if he comes out to race the nationals. The first guy to take him out hard gets the Money ( Under the table of course )
that bd guy cant post on here without bringing up james stewart...i think he secretly is in love with the guy....he just cannot stop bringing him up!! you are a weasel bd....you rv nuthugger, your guy is getting his ass whipped out there and you are making excuses...you the guy who always rips on people for making excuses. just admit it man, your boy rv is getting beat straight up.....and badly!! you weasel!!
Carlsbad.. The industry works in cycles... There are ups and downs.. Today we live in a very down period.
Understand your take on suzuki... As to letting DeCoster go... And cutting back budget wise... The consequences are visible.. But at the end... I reckon something had to be done... RC got lucky.. He's still getting paid decent $ to be a consultant to the brand.. A bloody consultant??? Of course, this is a corporate decision..
And for sure there can be some savings in other departments... But trust me... Any form of motorsport activity a manufacturer endeavours... It's a mere form of luxury to have brand exposure.
In the long run, the spendings shud in some way help recoup a % of it.
I am still surprised some manufacturers are still out there? I applaud yamaha's move by outsourcing all and just be a player in the form of a supportive role.
Didierlotsyeng, I'm just venting because frankly, I am not a big Suzuki fan, I just think they were on top of the off-road world and gave it away without a struggle.....or even discussion.
For me personally, Suzuki cutting RD loose was very fortuidous for KTM, they capitalized on Suzuki's ineptness and will reap the benefits.
Eventually, I see all the manufacturers going the way of NASCAR in just supplying bikes, parts, technical assistance, R&D, etc. and leaving the big dollars to be spent by private teams which, puts JGRMX in the catbird's seat.
Roush KTM, anybody? Hendrick Honda?
RV is 2nd in points. And he had the fast lap in the 1st moto this week, and the had the fast lap in both motos last week??? So things are not that bad and it would seem that the bike is not the problem. Works fine at the beginning of the race.
I does seem possible that he has over trained. Anybody that over trained knows that it is very easy to become sick and easy for the body to become exhausted in the extreme heat like this week.
Note that even though RV has posted the fast single lap times, his fans and red heads are not calling him "fast man on the planet" and claiming that RV should be declared he winner based on the single lap times. RV fans are not claiming that the sport of MX would collapse if RV was not setting the fasted lap times. RV fans and red heads are not claiming that those unwilling to worship RV as a demi-god and deserves special treatment are racist, haters, and anti-red head.
Note that RV cannot run the pace of the fasted rides RV bacsk it down and collects his points. RV does not try to maintain a pace he is not capable of sustaining safely and does not crash his brains out and does not take out other riders. If RV would try to keep pace when he could not and crashed he would be doing exactly what lil'Stew does. Would that make RV a "great" rider in the sense the lil'Stew fantards claim lil'Stew is great?
Sure lil'Stew maybe more "exciting", in the "minds" of some temporary ball sport fan types, but RV is the better racers, just as is RD and CR. And MX fans are concerned with racers, not entertainers.
6 points a race. Dungey will close the gap in the next 4 races, then look out the second half of the season.
I also think RV2 will be fine...long outdoor season, just coming out of SX, didn't race outdoors last year...I predict High Point will be where he starts lighting it up. Same with Pourcel, but with the extremely high expectations people put on him, he's a rookie in the 450 class, didn't race in SX, just got on the Yammy, and has a crazy inury he's working with...I say waiit until Red Bud, and everything will have shaken out by then...until then, I like the unpredictability!
Carlsbad... 22 motorsports will be around for some time!!
白龙.. Good point on your last post. Maybe he is overtrained.. But that is mere speculation.. I think, A.Baker knows very well what he is doing.. And RV is a sensible kid.
The last bit... You lost me... Who cares about JS? He's not riding... Nothing much to write about.
I agree with the comment that Reed having difficulty with the outdoors seems to be a bit of a media cartoon....not to say that he doesn't have to work for it but just because it might not come as automatic as supercross doesn't mean he's a weak outdoor rider....take away RC and Stewart at different times and he would have won a lot more.
And don't think that he's not still a strong competitor.....he may call RV and RD "kids" but I don't think he's not above trying to get a mental edge on them....so to play along with idea that he's not "strong" outdoors and then beat them is a mental game with the "kids", I think.
That said, Dungey is not going away.
Hey guys I was just reading threw these comments and had to say I was thinking the same thing about RV2 He looks sick or at least to light to be on a 450 outdoors.I hope he gets it worked out!I like the guy.That being said being a TX boy go TH12.
Oh for you JS7 fans dont hold your breath not going to happen!
Bubba is the best
Yeah the best at taking people out...
I was enjoying reading that artical untill the Alpinestars ad gave me an epileptic fit...
the best at talking sh!t, crashing, making up excuses to not race, doent know how to loose, come on people js7 sucks big time hate him. he has to grow up and go race for real. if he keeps on crashing he aint gonna be in motocross for long and i dont think he is going to have many fans either. he is a dirty rider he cant win straight up. and hes dad has to let him grow up, he always and still yeilling at him for doing bad. BUBBA SUCKS BIG TIME!!! JS7 is BULLSH!T!!! HATE HIM!!!
Reed didnt quit because he didnt like his bike MOFO , he was sick. Epstein-Barr is the real deal, and he had it. Reed has always been a great rider, and he is showing it. He beat all odds to ride, unlike your wet dream Stewart. that is why he has fans, He cares about the sport, and Stewart cares about himself. Nobody has forgotten anything, Reed earned back the fans by showing dedication to the sport. Something Stewart has never done
JS7 fans are the stupidest ppl in the sport!! JS7 had just the same amount of time as everyone else to get ready for outdoors and he said he "needs more time." WTH He said hes never done outdoors on a yamaha(which is true) and needs to test, are you freakin serious, hes been on a yamaha for three years and needs more time on it for outdoors????? He has the craziest MX track AT HIS HOUSE!!! Are you telling me hes never riden it?? His the biggest p***y! If hes the "Fastest man on the planet" why isnt he out there with everyone else huh??? He isnt racing outdoors cause he knows he will get straight up beat. And for all the Stewart loving homos out there that think Im making this stuff up, go look it up your self. Hes a loser! And for the tards that say when Stewat comes back, NO SH!T, if he has hella more time to practice than everyone else no duh he'll have an advantage. Stay home Stewart, you suck and dont deserve to be on the same track as the REAL professionals racing when the season starts. ps. I wonder how many ppl Im gonna piss off with this comment:) Ahhhh good times
Mxmofo, you fool
JS is not there, that says more about him, than it doesn't
Whoever won the overall should wear the red plate, that's a no-brainer.
RV will get better for sure, that's a no-brainer too.
D135 is the fan that no one wants, and gets ignored the moment words come out his mouth.
One more thing, why was the April Fools joke by RacerX canned? What was it that happened, causing this? Anyone?
hang in there aleesi the bad luck will pass
love the comment on stewart he would plow into the leaders and i do think he is scared to lose and cr rv rd kw can i honestjy think they can beat him straight up reed isnt scr@@@ around man he is on his game and he is happy with everything on and off the track he loves his bike and guys u no that means everything on the track my god he has honda behind him now i say good luck race hard reed u r the man right now u do deserve a thousand pats on the back and a that a boy lol good luck bro see ya at the races