How’s it going, Chad Reed?

Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed has been on the sidelines for two months now, and the AMA Supercross series really misses him.

After starting the 2014 season remarkably well, Reed had a big get-off in San Diego, leaving him wounded in the middle of the track. He tried to return a week later in Dallas, but ended up doing more damage, and would eventually require surgery.

As we sit today, he is busy training, albeit off his motorcycle. He is logging hundreds of kilometres a week on his bicycle, in preparation for an assault on the 2014 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, which is set to kick off at Glen Helen, May 24.

The big question is, how ready will Reedy be? With his reconstructed shoulder, most assume that he will need more time than he is allotted to be back on his KX450F. His injury turned out to be more extensive than most knew, and the recovery time from the surgery he underwent is generally fairly long.

As we all know, motocross riders don’t tend to listen very well, and CR22 is no different. One of the most stubborn dudes ever to swing a leg over a bike, Chad will be pushing the limits on every rehabilitation session he partakes in. Regardless, it really is going to be a time crunch to get in the necessary riding and testing time to show up ready for battle in Southern California. If he can soldier through the opening rounds and score decent points, he should improve quickly as his shoulder strengthens and he gets back up to speed.

The biggest keys for his success lie in his motivation and his perception of the motorcycle underneath him. He has always been very vocal about his bike – whether it be good or bad. He seems very happy with the Kawasaki he’s on, and that creates a very motivated Reed.

If I know one thing about the 22, it’s that a motivated Chad, is a dangerous Chad.