Chad Reed’s only motocross title? Really?

Andy Wigan

Simon Cudby

In the Ripping Yarn featured in Transmoto’s June Issue, we mentioned that the 2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship was Chad Reed’s first – and only – professional motocross title. Don’t believe us? Yes, Reedy has won a bunch of supercross titles in Oz and the USA, but until September, 2009, he had never won a motocross title. Not in Australia, not Europe, not in the States. And he hasn’t won one since.

We look back at Reed’s career to see who stood between Reed and that coveted symbol of grit and endurance.

2000

Riding a Yamaha YZ250, Reed runs third in the Australian 250cc MX Championship. Andrew McFarlane won, with Michael Byrne second.

2000

Aboard a Yamaha YZ400F, Reed runs second Outright to XR650-mounted Michael Byrne in Australia’s Thumper Nats series.

2001

In his debut year on the FIM 250cc World MX Championship circuit and riding a factory Kawasaki KX250, Reed runs second to Suzuki’s Mickael Pichon.

2002

Racing in America for the first time, YZ250F-mounted Reed finishes third in the AMA 125cc MX Championship after injuring his shoulder late in the season. KX125-mounted James Stewart won, with Brandon Jesseman second.

2003

On a YZ450F, Reed runs third in his debut AMA 250cc MX Championship, behind Ricky Carmichael and Kevin Windham.

2004

On a YZ450F, Reed runs second in the AMA MX Championship, again to Carmichael.

2005

On a YZ450F, Reed runs eighth in the AMA 250cc MX Championship.

2006

Reed runs sixth in the AMA MX Championship after a shoulder injury sidelines him midway through the season. Ricky Carmichael wins the class for the fourth year in a row.

2007 & 2008

Chad signs supercross-only contracts, fuelling speculation he’s let go of aspirations to emulate his childhood hero, Jeremy McGrath, by winning a premier-class AMA Outdoor title.

2009

Chad Reed wins the AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, and holds aloft the coveted 450cc-class No.1 plate.

2010

After parting company with Kawasaki midway the Outdoor championship, Chad stops racing and slips to 11th in the series standings.

2011

After winning four of the first six rounds of the Outdoor series, Chad has a massive crash while leading the Millville round (the “Chadapult”) and loses the points lead. He finishes the season in third Overall, behind Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.

2012

Reed is sidelined for the entire Outdoors series as he recovers from injuries received midway through the AMA SX season.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Transmoto’s June Issue and read about Chad’s 2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship title, and the way he collected a $4 million insurance payout when he secured it.