Reed VS Stewart: 17 Epic Battles

Last year, supercross fans from far and wide purchased tickets to the highly anticipated inaugural AUS-X Open specifically to watch James Stewart and Chad Reed do battle on Australian soil for the first (and possibly last) time. That race never eventuated, but prior to the event, Transmoto‘s Jason Weigandt took time out to analyse 17 epic battles and mishaps (in chronological order) that have taken place between the two legendary riders since 2002. Enjoy.

ANAHEIM SUPERCROSS, 2002

Coincidentally, James Stewart’s first professional race came on the same night as Chad Reed’s US debut, and they’ve been locked together since. At Anaheim 1, 2002, Reed had a cameo ride in the (premier) 250cc class and ran second before crashing to sixth. Stewart started nearly last in the 125s and blazed to second. One night, and the birth of two stars.

LAS VEGAS SUPERCROSS, 2002

Reed would go on to dominate the 125 East Supercross division, and Stewart would crash and win his way to second in the West. They finally met head-to-head at the East/West Shootout in Las Vegas, where Stewart got out front early and Reedy couldn’t catch him.

UNADILLA MOTOCROSS, 2002

Reed, armed with Grand Prix experience and a YZ250F, was an Outdoor favorite, but Stewart soon proved mind-blowingly fast on his KX125. Reed mentioned he could challenge Stewart if he could start with him, so at Unadilla, Stewart slowed down to let Reed pass him, only to wick it back up and pull away again. The bad blood begins!

ORLANDO SUPERCROSS, 2005

Reed was the defending 250cc Supercross Champion when Stewart entered the class (only to break his arm in practice at Round 2). James then made a comeback in Orlando, where he led Ricky Carmichael and Reed for a bit. Carmichael crashed, Stewart crashed, and Reed pulled through for the win. The recipe for future James/Chad battles had been established.

SEATTLE SUPERCROSS, 2005

Stewart runs into Reed in the first turn, knocking Chad down and costing him valuable championship points. Stewart wins, Chad goes on the DMXSradio.com internet show and says he wanted to “rip his head off” for the move.

ST. LOUIS SUPERCROSS, 2006

The 450cc four-strokes are now the rage. Stewart and Carmichael are flying while Reed seems to struggle with his Yamaha. But on this night, Carmichael and Stewart crash out of a race, and Reed wins to take the points lead. Mr Consistent versus The COW (Crash Or Win).

LAS VEGAS SUPERCROSS, 2006

The closest supercross series finale ever, with Carmichael, Stewart and Reed separated by just five points. Carmichael and Stewart are in alignment in this one, as Stewart wins the race and collects the FIM World Supercross title, and Carmichael finishes second and wins the coveted AMA Supercross Championship. Reed takes a hit from Carmichael’s Suzuki teammate, Ivan Tedesco, and ends up third, while Stewart and Carmichael celebrated arm in arm at the finish, right in front of Reed.

TORONTO SUPERCROSS, 2006

The mid-December opener for the 2007 season gets crazy. Reed is much improved on his Yamaha 450 this time and leads for a while until Stewart catches him. They bump and Stewart goes flying off the track, then re-enters without looking and gets landed on by Travis Preston. Reed goes on to win, Stewart jacks up his ankle.

ANAHEIM 3 SUPERCROSS, 2007

Reed crashes days before the Anaheim AMA opener and limps out of Anaheim with a third, but he’s not on his game most of the season. With Carmichael heading to retirement, Stewart dominates most of the races. At Anaheim 3, Reed gives him a challenge, so Stewart gives him a shove into the hay bales and takes the win.

ST. LOUIS SUPERCROSS, 2007

Stewart tries to make a pass, Reed slices back inside and takes them both down. Reed gets up first, but Stewart catches him, then waits for the same corner to pass him back with some contact. Then the two argue on the track after the race.

ANAHEIM 1 SUPERCROSS, 2009

Team Kawasaki doesn’t want Stewart back (they place their bet on Ryan Villopoto) so he shacks up with San Manuel Yamaha – the team Reed has just left on bad terms! Chad goes to Rockstar Suzuki and wants revenge. He’s on the gas at the Anaheim opener and passes Stewart. James passes him back, bobbles in the whoops and Reed smashes into him. Stew’s night is done, Reed recovers for third, and the points chase is on. This season would be a back-and-forth drama-fest, as heated as we’ve ever seen it.

JACKSONVILLE SUPERCROSS, 2009

Stewart wins his way back into contention, but then crashes some, too, making this late-season race critical. Stewart makes a pass, Reed runs him high, Stewart applies more contact and rips the fork guard off of Reed’s bike. Stewart wins, but an angry Reed grabs the back of James’ jersey after the race and yells at him. There’s also the now infamous podium stare-down … and this wasn’t even the craziest moment of the season.

SALT LAKE CITY SUPERCROSS, 2009

Another big battle, but suddenly Stewart’s teammate Kyle Chisholm, a lap down, runs Reed high in a corner. Stewart pulls away from that point, and all hell breaks loose after the race. Stewart no-shows the next week’s season-finale press conference, so Chad is free to tee off with a ten-minute trash talk session. In the Vegas final, Reed passes Stewart and gives him a shove, but James stays up and holds on for the championship.

PHOENIX SUPERCROSS, 2010

Ready? Stewart crashes in his heat race and breaks his wrist, but races the main anyway. Reed and Stewart run into each other and both go down, Stewart’s bike lands on Reed’s hand and breaks it. Reed shoves Stewart off of him, and pulls off the track and heads to the medic trailer. Stewart heads to the pits and kicks Reed’s bike off the stand. Reed is suspended for a race by the AMA, until they realise his shove was due to the pain in his hand. It ends up a disaster of a season for both riders. Incidentally, the hand injury puts an end to Reed’s incredible record of not missing a race since his rookie season in 2003.

ATLANTA SUPERCROSS, 2011

Reed leads the whole way on his new TwoTwo Motorsports Honda until Stewart sticks a pass on him. Now it’s the last lap, so Reed slices deep inside in a bowl turn, they collide and both go down. Just like old times!

DALLAS SUPERCROSS, 2011

Reed’s the points leader on his upstart team, until Stewart gets buck wild in the whoops and smashes into him.

ANAHEIM 2 SUPERCROSS, 2014

Monster Energy Supercross hosts the annual retro night, and it sure is as Reed sticks a late pass on Stewart to take the win, his first since 2012. For these battle-hardened warriors, though, something is different on the podium: respect, as they shake hands. Reed would win another race before hurting his shoulder, Stewart would go on a run and notch five wins that season. The old warhorses still have it, and they still have each other.