Transmoto talks to Chad Reed

During the media onslaught that was today’s Chad Reed/TeamVodafone announcement, we had an opportunity to fire a few questions at the two-time World and AMA Supercross champion, back in Australia for at least the first round of the Super X series.

First things first, Chad, congratulations on the Vodafone deal. How did it come about?

I’ve been associated with Vodafone for four or five years now but I just haven’t really been public about it. A few years ago I had a drive in their car, and last year I did a Red Dust charity event with them. They have also painted up two helmets for me and auctioned them off. My passion for motorsports is as high as ever and we are just taking our partnership to the next level. It’s good experience to be involved with a team like that, so we’ll have some fun and see what happens.

You’re racing the Newcastle Super X on the weekend. Are there any plans to ride in any other Super X rounds?

At this point, it’s just this weekend at the Newcastle Super X and at the moment there are no plans for any other races. Everything I’ve been dealing with this year, being sick and all that, it’s going to be a big test, this weekend, to see how I go. I’ll be wearing a bunch of monitors, such as a heart-rate monitor, so I can present the data to my doctors and trainers in the US. I’m not ready to jump back in and do racing weekend after weekend, and it’s a long process getting back into it. I feel really good at the moment though, and I’m getting back on track, but I don’t want to push it too far and go backwards. Priority one is the US next year, that’s the goal. I need to get 100% ready for that. Hopefully in the next month, I’ll finalise the deal in the US and get back to racing. I’m at a great point in my career and life and have put myself in a position where I can wait for the right opportunity. This year was such a tough one for me. I gave up so much time to the US guys. People don’t know how much time, effort and testing goes into being 100% ready for January in the US. And I came into Super X last year not prepared, with poor results and starts. I don’t want to ever put myself in that position again. I just want to do it at the very top level and be totally prepared. I’m not going to get involved for anything less than that.

You say you need to be really prepared for racing. How much work have you put into riding the Newcastle Super X event?

I’ve been doing very little work in the lead-up to the event, which is just another reason I can’t commit myself to the full season. I’ve probably ridden 10 times in the last five months. This event will be all about having fun with my friends and family, and hopefully all my fans. I think it will be a good experience. As a racer, that need to win is obviously high, but I’m going in to try and have a blast and enjoy it.

The sponsorship opens up the doors to V8 Supercars. Is that what your ultimate goal is?

It’s what I want to do and I’m hugely passionate about it. I have huge respect for those guys and I love it. I’m not saying it will be an easy transition. It will be very difficult. There are so many things I’ll need to learn if that change to V8s ever happens. I feel I have the grasp of just how much commitment it takes and how important it is to be involved with the right people and the right teams.

And what better team than Vodafone!? Thanks a lot for your time and good luck this weekend.

Check out all the images from today’s launch.