Chad Reed: Rewriting Record Books

Assuming Chad Reed makes the Main event at this weekend’s Round 8 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series in Florida, the two-time SX champ will finally break Mike LaRocco’s longstanding record of 227 premier-class AMA SX starts. So, what would the all-time starts record mean to the 35-year-old Australian in his 16^th consecutive season in the AMA SX Series’ premier class?

Well, back at the end of last year, when we spoke to Reedy about the upcoming SX season, he seemed to concede that he wouldn’t ever stand on the all-time SX win list podium (Reed sits fourth with 44, while Ricky Carmichael’s 48 wins puts him in third). But Reed certainly has two records – both held by Mike LaRocco – squarely in his sights: the record for the sport’s oldest-ever race winner, and for the most premier-class Main event starts.

“Of course, winning my 45th race would be great. And so would passing the record for the most supercross ever raced,” Reed told Transmoto. “But to be honest, becoming the sport’s oldest winner is something that would really mean a lot to me. When you look at Mike LaRocco’s career and my career, I feel that I out-punch him in every area. So for him to have something that I don’t right now … well, that’s something I’d like to turn around. I want that record,” Reed went on to say.

Sadly, the well-documented injury to Reed’s heel has literally put him on the back foot for the 2018 season, where he’s had to qualify for three of the seven rounds so far via the LCQ, and has barely been able to train in between races. But it does seem to have refocused his attention on the all-time starts record. And given the fact he’s racing on an ankle that doctors have said shouldn’t even be bearing any weight, 228 starts is a momentous achievement in anybody’s language. So take the time to tune into the Tampa round of the AMA SX this weekend, and pay homage to an Australian whose passion for the sport has made him one its most successful and enduring warriors.

Speaking of AMA SX records, Reed already has a few of them in the bag. Try these for size:

• 131 podiums – 1^st;
• 158 top-5s – 1^st;
• 200 top-10 – 1^st (tied);
• Winner of at least one main event in 11 different seasons – 1^st; and
• The first Australian to ever win an AMA SX race

Keep an eye on Transmoto’s social media channels and website early next week for Boost Mobile’s behind-the-scenes video content that’ll document the lead-up to Reed’s all-time starts record; a record that, fingers crossed, the gritty Australian will nail this weekend at a stadium just down the road from his Tampa house.

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