by Steve Cox
Tuesday Conversation: Chad Reed
Tuesday, October 26, 2010 | 3:20 PM
Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for almost 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars. Welcome to the Racer X Monday Conversation.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintChad Reed is the biggest name not to have a ride for 2011. The former World Championship runner-up, Lites East SX champ, two-time 450cc SX champ, and 2009 AMA National MX champ finds himself sitting on the sidelines hoping for something to come his way within the next two weeks. Otherwise, he may be sitting out the SX season at minimum. But he’s motivated, he’s happy, and he was jet-lagged when we got him on the phone last night for this interview.
Chad Reed: Flown around the world a couple times!
What’s that like to have so much going on, with the series in Australia, the wife and kid down there, and then flying back and forth to California?
It sucks! [Laughs] It’s all right, I mean it’s one of those things you just get used to, you know?
For a long time, you pretty much stayed here and didn’t go home, didn’t you?
Yeah, at one point, I spent a lot of time here.
Well, what I wanted to interview you about is just the state of Chad Reed. What’s going on? Fill us in. You’re the biggest name not to have a ride so far for 2011. What’s happening with you here in this off-season?
Not much, I guess! [Laughs] I’ve just been trying to hang out and trying to take it day-by-day and let it happen, I guess. I put myself in this position and I just want to try to remember that what’s meant to be will be, and that’s the attitude I had when I decided to go this direction. I’ve had a few options, but nothing that’s really rang a bell like I wanted it to. Today, I did some riding at the Yamaha track. It was interesting to be back there after a few years away. It’s crazy how life works. You’re away for a while, and then all of a sudden you’re riding there, and after an hour or two, it feels like you’d never been anywhere else! [Laughs] It’s pretty crazy!
I assume you were riding the new Yamaha, and that bike couldn’t be more different than the one you rode before...
Oh, yeah, it sure has changed quite a lot since I last rode their bike. But I think it was good. It was different. A lot has changed on it, and it’s been two and a half years since I last rode one, so that amount of difference in and of itself is a big change. It was interesting to ride that bike and deal with the character that it has and all that – I was trying to learn that, and go through those motions a little bit.
You came all the way back out here for a reason. What’s that for?
Basically, I just wanted to do some testing with a couple of teams, see what fits for me, and that’s the goal – the goal is to, first and foremost, find a great bike that fits me and my style, and then work with a team that also fits my personality. I’m just trying not to make decisions based on fear. I have a great support crew behind me, and I’ve made it clear the feeling that I want to go racing, and like I said earlier, I brought this on myself and put myself in this position, and I’m totally okay with it. I’m prepared for the worst, which is to not go racing next year, and that’s not the goal. I feel like I’ve still got race wins and championships in me, but I’m fully aware of the whole global financial crisis that I keep hearing about. But I’ll be working away, trying to find what I’m after, and I’m staying committed to that and nothing else.
Chad Reed says he enjoyed working with Pro Circuit to set up his Honda for Newcastle.
Photo: Alex Gobert/Motoonline.co.au
What is it that you mean by saying that you brought it on yourself?
I mean, I brought this on myself because I had a two-year deal and opted out. I think what people need to understand is that 2010 has been a very, very challenging year on so many different levels. I’ve had highs, I’ve had lows, I’ve had career-worsts, and then I’ve had life achievements at an all-time high. It’s just so many different emotions, and it’s been one of those years. On a professional level, it’s been really horrible, but when you take everything into account about how it happened, where it started, and why I was in that position, I think it’s all fair. I’m not going to sit here and say the Kawi was bad or the team was bad; I think it was a great bike and a great team, but it just wasn’t for me. It didn’t fit me and my personality. It didn’t fit me and my riding style. When you look at the facts, facts don’t lie. I was supposed to have a signed contract in October, and I didn’t have one until late November. I was a little disappointed that it happened so late, so I missed out on a major part of the program working toward being happy. Racing in Australia last year was such a waste of time for me. That kind of sucks to say that, but you can’t spend two days on a motorcycle, and then have a team that doesn’t know me or understand me try and help with the biggest thing, which was that we were switching from Bridgestone to Dunlop tires. That’s a big change, and with a team that doesn’t know you very well, it’s tough to catch up when you miss out on three months of testing in order to fulfill a contract [in Australia] that I wished I didn’t have to stick to last year. I think if I’d have had three months of testing under my belt, this year could’ve been a whole lot different. I think when you put the facts out on the table, it’s only fair to say that it was just one of those years that we came in totally unprepared, and when you’re not prepared, shit happens, and it was definitely one of those years! I found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and then add the Epstein-Barr and all that kind of stuff, and it was a year that I learned a lot. I’d like to say that it’s a year that I’d like to forget, but I think, more than anything, I learned a lot about this year and a lot about what to do in the future. When you see red flags, you’ve got to listen to them and not just ignore them. It was just one of those years!
Yeah, like I said, I wouldn’t change this year for anything. It’s definitely been one of those years that I’ll look back on 20 years from now and still make life decisions and everyday decisions based off of what I learned in 2010. So, I think it’s one of those years that you just put into the back of your mind but don’t dwell on it. I truly and honestly believe that, if I can ride and have the feeling that I had in Newcastle a couple of weeks ago, I know I can come out here and do well and be competitive, and maybe surprise some people. It’ll be a fun season if I can get what I want, but I’m not holding my breath for it. I’m just trying to let it happen. If it happens... It needs to happen in the next two weeks, though, otherwise I think I’m over it. I don’t want to put myself in a position like what I was in last year, and maybe it’s a situation where I sit out supercross and try to put something together for the nationals. But we’ll just wait and see and I’ll keep an open mind to it, like I always do. I just want to stay positive and not make decisions based on fear. I think that’s what a lot of people do, and that’s when you get yourself in trouble.
It’s funny to hear Chad Reed say, "Maybe I’ll have to sit out supercross and focus on the nationals."!
[Laughs] Yeah, that’s something that I thought I’d never say! But racing dirt bikes is still something that burns really strong inside me. I’ve had quite a lot of time away from the racetrack, and winning in Newcastle was such a different feeling. It was a feeling that I’ve never, ever had before. There’s always pressure involved. It’s part of being who you are [who Chad Reed is], because people expect what they expect from you, and there are only two guys in the U.S. right now that I feel that can claim that. There are two other guys who are working on it, but there are only two solid guys who, every time we get out on the racetrack, we have a lot of pressure, and I think that’s for good reason. But normally when I show up for a first race, I’ve got a bunch of staff there, and a bunch of spare parts, and bikes, and just this big organization, and here I am at Newcastle showing up with a few bits and pieces in my suitcase and trying to find some people, and getting a friend to fly up and put a bike together, and then basically going racing. It was really quite a cool, fun achievement. A lot of work went into it, especially for just a one-off race, but my bike was unique, and I got a lot of press out of it in Australia. That one week leading up to it, I got more press than the whole series itself over the last two weekends. So I think we achieved some major goals in Australia for that one race, and that partnership with Vodafone was really, really cool, and it’s something that I’m really proud to have done – to have brought a unique sponsor into the sport. They saw a lot of value in the press we were able to get, and the excitement globally that it achieved was far bigger than I think we all expected.
Reed's Vodafone Honda was unique at his hometown race in Newcastle.
Photo: Alex Gobert/Motoonline.com.au
And you were obviously really fast. It sounded like you were heads above everyone. When you’re talking about showing up with a few bits and pieces, it sounds like that’s what it might have been like showing up to supercross races when you were 16...
Exactly, and I think a big part of it is that I’m in such a unique position – something that I’ve never been in – where I’m not acting on fear or trying to be forceful to make something happen. It has really allowed me to be very open-minded, ride a lot of different bikes, and just take it all in. I think that’s real important, and it’s been really refreshing to be truthful. My style fits a certain kind of bike, and it’s no secret that the Suzuki fit my style; it’s small, nimble, it turns... They’re all things that I want out of a motorcycle. Riding the Honda the last month and a half has really been enjoyable, and a lot of fun. And working with Mitch [Payton] and Bones [Bacon] at Pro Circuit has really been a blast, just to race and to work on such different levels than I ever have at a professional level. And it does bring me back to a lot of my Australian days of just doing a little bit of testing, and then going racing. Sometimes, having a truck or a manufacturer full of endless possibilities is as good as having no possibilities, really. You have to be smart, or you can get lost. Some of these teams are too smart for their own good, and they all get caught up in it and don’t really know a direction to take. So it’s been fun to see that side of the sport – to see it from a totally different angle – and see how positive Mitch and Bones are, and how fun they are to work with... It’s just been awesome!
Yeah, and I guess that’s the only frustration that I have, which is the fact that racing Newcastle was just so much fun, and I felt like the fire was burning stronger than ever, and it really made me realize that this is it. I mean, 2010, so many times I thought, "Man, I’m just not at my best. My body’s not letting me do what my mind wants it to do." So many things were off. It didn’t honestly come down to the bike and the team, I was just so far behind the eight ball... A lot of people think I bitched out of a contract and used the Epstein-Barr Virus as an excuse, and it’s just not true. That’s not the facts. That’s not true. The truth was that I was just off this year and I just really struggled, and I’m thankful that I had such a great team around me that supported my decision, I guess. And at the end of the day, I’m lucky that I’ve been fortunate enough through my career to be in a position that, in a worst-case scenario, I don’t need to go racing next year. I’ll be totally fine. I learned a lot over the years, and there are other opportunities for me. Financially, I’m okay, so obviously I’m very thankful that my career and my past years have put me in that position where I haven’t had to freak out and I have had the luxury of really putting myself in the position of going racing, and when I pulled off the track at Millville, I said to Ellie that priority number one was to get healthy and get back to 100 percent. Having people trying to dock your pay or to push you this way or that way wasn’t going to get it done, so I made a lot of very difficult decisions – decisions that aren’t advisable to make in this economy. I had a very, very good contract, and my agent, I think, [laughs] thought I was crazy when I told him, but I think you’ve got to make decisions that are best for you, and my priority was to be healthy. And I am. I flew into the States on Sunday, went and saw my doctor, and got some great, amazing results from that, and my tests were all very encouraging. I’m just looking forward to getting out there and making it happen. I’m confident that I’ll pull something off and I’ll be good to go by Anaheim.
Reed on his SX-championship-winning Yamaha in 2008.
Photo: Steve Cox
That’s our hope, too, because on paper, we’re looking at one of the most stacked fields in the history of the sport, and losing you from that field diminishes it quite a bit...
I learned a lot about myself at Newcastle. I don’t know if it was because I was in my hometown, but... I mean, to be honest, I’ve never slept in my own bed in my hometown and then went and raced at that level. Super X in Australia is bigger and better than it’s ever been, and we were in a full-sized football [soccer] stadium, so it was just a different level. But what went through my head, I was just thinking about how much riding I’d done, and how unprepared I was... But then I raced the next day, and I’m not wanting to sound cocky or anything, but I had complete control over the race. I never felt like I was ever going to be challenged. It all came very, very easily, and sometimes that scares me a little bit [laughs]... Sometimes, when it comes easy at your first race, there’s only one way to go... But I think I’ve been around long enough to understand why and how it all went down like that, and I learned something about myself that weekend, and I’m excited to take that into Anaheim. Like you said, this series is so stacked, and when you look at it like that, it’s like that, but I’ve been in many, many of these championships that have been as stacked – back in the days of the Vuillemins, Lusks, Ferrys... It’s the same old thing where there are a lot of people who can win, but there are a few people who will. We’ll see. I think it will be a new season, but I think it will be the same four guys winning. I’m enjoying being in this position, as stressful as it is not to know what’s going to happen. And that’s really the stressful part, just not knowing. Sometimes, I just wish they would cut through the BS and say "Let’s do it" or "Let’s not" and kind of make a decision on which direction to go from here. But there’s a goal, and there’s a feeling that I’m chasing, and I know where that is. I’m not going to put it out there or say it, but I think we can pull it off. I’ve got full confidence in WMG and my agent Steve Astephan and his people. I think we can make this thing work. Even on a level of not having any contracts, and getting free gear from a company like Fox has been really cool. They’ve been supportive in working on creative things. It’s been interesting and fun to see different angles of the sport that I’ve never seen before.
Thanks for calling, Chad.
No worries!
Did you like this article?
Check out ON TOUR
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
The Monster Energy Supercross tour is staffed by an intensely dedicated group of sponsors and support staffers. Here’s what life is like on the SX road. Page 136.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
Happy + healthy = wins galore (hopefully). Even with a bike he didn't fit, and health issues he was still top, er, I forget. But he was fast for the few races in 2010.
What happened with him and Thor gear? I've always thought of Thor = CR and MC. I hope he doesn't go FOX. Somebody needs to sign him stat.
Blah Blah Blah. "I just wish we could all be friends and talk about smiles and butterflies." Alot of word and nothing said.
Wha wha wha nobody loves me, true that burn1986 dude is full of excuses. I think dude is trying to get a big contract and then laugh all the way to the bank. Would be lucky to podium next year stewie, rv, DUNGEY, canard are hungrier.
Supercross needs him....if he REALLY does have the racing bug inside him still. Without him Stewart is going to run away with it-easily. Yes I said it...easily. I went to a few rounds last year and Windham was the only rider who could get through the whoops at any decent speed...not as fast as Reed & Stewart though. I'm a huge fan of Dungey & RV but they are no match for a healthy Stewart & Reed.
i used to be a Chad Fan till I woke up.... hes to into himself like that sh*& head Stewie i am wondering when the crybaby/washed up chad and james show comes out on fuel tv. neither one puts into their program like they showed , instead its pay me and maybe I will ride....****
Don't hate the guy because he put himself in a position where he can call the shots. Nothing wrong with that. I hope he gets it done... A1 will be epic!!
Still a cry baby, what happened to this guy, so much talent and a definite head case. Go back to kangaroo land.
he said in the interview that he didnt have a contract last year until late november and that didnt give him enough time for testing. and here we are in late october so that will be he's excuse when he does win anything this year. every podium interview(if he makes on the podium) will be so boring. dungey is the man to beat...
What the hell is wrong with people? No matter what Reed says a certain group will always bag on him. The guy is on the forefront of trying to make supercross blow up in Australia, trying to bring big outside sponsors like Vodafone into the big picture (which is good regardless of his 4-wheeled plans), and just admitted to 2010 being a mess on all levels, himself included. The guy is a champion who is more than capable of winning still and knows exactly what it takes to win. He is financially set, getting older, has a wife and child, so explain to me why YOU would go racing if you weren't confident in your program. If you honestly think it's all based on money you're out to lunch considering he will take no paycheque at all over a ride on a team/bike he's not comfortable with. He knows what it takes for him to win, you people don't (myself included). People seem to forget he's one of the best athletes this sport has ever seen and the only guy to ever give Carmichael and Bubba weekly headaches on a SX track.
And just for the record, I'm not even a huge Reed fan, I just don't have my head up my a**. Look at the big picture and get a grip.
****cross... couldnt agree more! I am a Reed fan though
i have nothing but respect for Reed...he has come along way...and he tells it like it is..it would be really sad to see him go and i don't blame him for wanting a solid bike and money...it's your life on the line at the pro level...he has shown he can do it...i know he still can...i i think he is more determined than bubbles is for sure.
I like Reed and this isn't meant to be bagging on him, but what exactly is he looking for? He's pretty much ridden every bike now, he's commenting on how he needs a certain team, it isn't about money.... I just don't know what he is looking for. He bagged on San Manuel after leaving there and seems to not have liked the direction Kawasaki took with him. Sounds like he is longing for the Suzuki days, bike and team. I say put your own Suzuki program together, find some sponsors and go racing! So you break even this year $$-wise......you have precious few years left in MX, Reedy. I gotta believe he's seen a bunch of offers and none were up to snuff for his bank accounts. Funny how the other big guy who is also without a ride right now was also looking for a big payday (Pourcel). Oh, and stop wasting your days with all the freaking Twittering!!! I don't even need to comment on the idea that it is still him and Stewart for wins as someone stated above....... and this field is WAY more stacked than with Ferry, Lusk and the rest back when.
I think Reed needs to wake up and finally realize, these companys are feeling hard times and they dont have the cash like the way they did a few years ago.
I totally agree with ****cross; He's one of the best the sport has ever seen, i dont blame him trying to find the right team/deal that fits him best....this guys wins and/or is always in contention for any c/ship he contests....why should'nt he be getting the big bucks. just because some random dude loves pouring concrete for a living does'nt me he's gunna do it for nuthin...
"I got a lot of press from it" Haha. No matter how much you think you are "calling the shots", no one is going to sign you if keep acting like the **** you've always been. Hang it up Reed.
I think "Carnage" needs to wake up and finally realize that it's not an interview of Cristophe Pourcel but an interview of Chad Reed! CR just want the good bike and the good team for him now, money is no longer an issue for the #22. sorry for my bad English
Sounds like at Newcastle Chad got a little feeling of what it was like for RC all the time, lol. I hope he gets what he's looking for, because we need a good SX season, and outdoors!
Form your own team!
Nothing Moon Rocks in box won't fix! roll um out, see what your future brings!
Not a fan that much but I respect the guy for sticking to his guns. It takes a bold man to do that.
Moon Rocks in box? what the hell are you talking about DR. Seuss
Motorcycle racing doesn't care about the past, just the fast right now. CR22 in or out, racing will be racing.
CR22 just needs to have the "hell with it" attitude and go race the SX series on that CRF 450 from Pro Circuit and show the world what he can do. Lets face it, at the worst he'll be a podium finisher and he could probably pull off a win or three on a privateer bike, just go out there and do it, hopefully Honda will see the light and give you a factory ride and the opportunity for you (and Honda) to get a outdoor title in 2011. That is my two cents and if you don't like it, you can send me a 12 pack of Miller High Life in bottles to SE Oklahoma...
CR is one of the few guys with some swagger. Screw the humble hard working crap that seems to be what the journalists want to hear. I'm over it. The sport needs some D-bags! Too bad Todd Potter can't race SX, he makes CR and JS seem humble. What's with the free gear mention? Does he really need it? Weird.
Incredible interview! Reed is a man who has class... How can you call him a cry baby? The man is a huge threat in the sport he loves. He isn't going to settle with a team he doesn't feel comfortable with. Last year is proof! Man wasn't comfortable, he opted out of his contract. That right there should show you he isn't in it for the $$$ everyone says he is. Trust me, if he was, he definitely wouldn't be on 2 wheels, but 4! Chad has a lot of fire inside, and he wants to win. He obviously knows he can (as do I) so he is going to take his time and find the best fit for him. All you **** a$s haters tell me if you go into a dealership to buy a car and buy the cheapest car you see? No, you find one that fits your style and that will suit you best for the years to come. Same thing here. As for James Stewart, who's that? I thought he was on some reality show? Dungey and Reed have the best personalities in our sport forsure. Remind me a lot of RC. Shorty too! Chad Reed will always be remembered as a winner, a champion, and a straight-up, no bull guy. He says it how it is, and I think we need a lot more of those in our sport.
IMHO, you've got to give the guy a credit. Facts are facts, and being on the top 3 all time SX Winning List for the past 3 decades would be a good statement that these guy can do whatever he wants on a bike in an SX Track. And like what everyone saw the last 10 years, CR22 is the only guy who gave RC and JS7 a run for their money. He might not be the all time best, but admit the facts that he is one of the best pilot this sport has ever had. Not a huge CR22 fan, but still wanting him to line up at A1. Ruling out JS7 & CR22 this 2011 season seems absurd. I guess RD1 (in which I am a fan of since his no. 62 plate) would be having a headache in the premier class given that these two are 100% healthy and determined.
I really hope he is out there at A1, but if he isn't asking for considerable money, wouldn't almost any team give him a bike and welcome him aboard for a couple hundred thousand? Apparently Townley was making several hundred thousand with TLD, for MX only!! Certainly Reed could go there, ride a Honda (which he seems to like), and probably get some parts from Honda. Then again, I bet Honda themselves would have a spot for that price. He even came up with that creative plan with Suzuki in 2009. Something like that could be done again as well...although those win bonuses won't be coming so much this time around.
I am not a Reed fan, but I agree he is classy and good for the sport...we all whine a little, so let's not be too hard on the guy. We need him around because he will win something.
And he thought he was behind the 8 ball before?! He'd better land on a team that's gonna run Hondas or Zooks or I think he's screwed (and Suzuki already has a fully team and is broke as a joke). I think some sort or privateer Honda deal (on Troy Lee or a totally private team) is the only way I see anything happening. The KTM is totally unproven in SX, Reed doesn't like the Kawi, and the Yamaha is totally different from anything he's ever ridden. I hope the star align, but I'm not holding my breath.
He's got a couple of Supercross trophies, an MX Title, bucks deluxe, a new babie and a wife who's stuck with him all the way (and she's hot). He did it all the hard way and had nothing handed to him. He's the s h i t any way you look at it.
I was a Reed fan until he went to L/M and lost his integrity. Every team he has ridden for in the past doesn't want anything to do with him in the future. After the way he treated Kawasaki and was paid huge bucks in this econemy it is no wonder why he can't find a top team to pay him big cash to quit when he he can't get on the box. Sooner or later what comes around goes around and it looks like it is catching up to CR22.
The Kawi deal was just bad all the way around, but I still think you're a little confused there TWK101. He parted ways with Suzuki on good terms and he still seems to have plenty of friends at Yamaha too (hello, he just tested a bike at the Yamaha Supercross track!). I'm sure you won't see him at L&M any time soon, but Yamaha supports several teams these days.
twk101, you should stop being a fan of other riders. "Fans" are the 14 year old girls that read "Teen Beat" and have a crush on Justin beeber. These guys aren't heros, just fellow riders that are way better than the rest of us. When you realize that, you will respect them.
Chad just needs a bike that suites his style or is it a paycheck that suites his bank account?? Either way nothing wrong with milk-in it! Collect the big money & than go ride around in 5th place! Or if Reedy "really really" wants to win maybe he should humble himself and go back to Suzuki and shut us all up! Or just go down under and shut up!!
"thanks for calling Chad" I've read every rag in the last 35 years from "Popular Cycling" to "MXA" and "Racer X" to "Cycle News" and I've never seen anyone that had such a needy ego like Cox to include a statment like that in an interview. Cox, we all are impressed that Chad Reed has your cell number.
Hey old school, why don't you dust off your xr 200 and shut him up?
Its amazing how much money these top guys get that i think they forget whats really going on in the real world. If you are that financialy secure then put up your own money and go race. There is a big disconnect from reality, times are tough. "but im fully aware of the whole global financial crisis that I keep hearing about".... WTF!!!. Where have you been Reed? There are people out of work and losing homes daily and things seem to be getting worse. Must be nice to fly First Class all around the world to entertain contracts that you find are beneath you. Your salary could probably fund ten privateers for the season. I think this sport has given Reed alot and sometimes its nice to give back. I could understand if the economy is booming, but its not. Just comes down to greed and being spoiled for so many years. Must be nice!
If your that financialy secure then you've earned it, protect your money. not that tough.
Riding @ the Yamaha track!?!?!? Where the heck is THIS going??? Sounds like he's scrambling to get something going. Kawis out, Suzuki's broke, he liked (or I misunderstood) the honda but, he's at the Yamaha test track??? Please let him (re)sign w/ L&M and forever redefine the term "Irony". Whoever typed something about Reed using the late start as an excuse, I really hope that isn't the case. Chad, it's me Carlsbad, Get a bike, gear and your S*** together and come out swinging. And stop looking over at those #1 & #24 bikes like someone stole your girlfriend.......
Ahhh, these FINANCIAL comments anger me. So I shall reply again. All you ignorant fools, do you guys not remember his outdoor deal with Suzuki? If not, lemme refresh you. There was no money involved. Suzuki told him, hey we will give you a bike to ride, nothing else. Remember his podium shpeel when he holstered that big red shiny plate above him? Yeah, very greatful! So, the BIG bucks is not a factor. Guy has plenty of cash from winning championships. He has no need for that great big ride nowadays. He's just a guy with a burning desire to win... resulting in a need of the best equipment. Toodooloo muthaaa Fasss. MONEY IS NOT A FACTOR, HE'S NOT JAMES STEWART :P
MXchristian if you think Reedy rode that Suzuki for free risking it out there..... you really are an idiot. If that was the case, dont you think he would have taken a privateer deal since privateers make some money.
MXChristian - that suzuki deal had money in it. It wasn't in the salary, but rather in bonuses. He was grateful of the championship because that was worth a lot of money. Why else would he be so happy? His gamble ended up paying off. He ended up making LOTS of money from suzuki.
The money he made that year for the outdoor title he made because he got a policy that payed him IF he won it. If he did not no big payday. I will ask this again in this thread... How many of you will work for free or do it at a place you don't like?? CR Owes no one... This is his life not yours so why do you think you know what he should be doing?? LMFAO... I am NOT a CR fan but some of you are out there.
Yeah, Reed got money from Suzuki, just not "guaranteed" money like all the rest of these contracts provide. Ironicially, he got all his guaranteed money this year from Kawasaki without doing squat! He got win bonuses and a championship bonus from Suzuki. As BillC stated, he also had an insurance policy that paid out IF he won. As for working for free????? Absolutley NO ONE expects anyone to work for free. If someone is going to pay you to race MX, even if it is only a paltry $250,000, is that free?????? Give me a break. If he can put wins and titles together he makes tons of money. I think that is the problem, he knows no wins or titles are there for him anymore. He's looking for something that doesn't exist (a team that thinks he is capable of winning and worth the money he wants).
I kinda sometimes see Chad as a bit of a sook. And I'm an Aussie. But I do respect what he's done for himself and what he's tryin to do for the sport here, I love the fact he's tryin. I understand why he asks the money he thinks he deserves and really he has earnt the right to demand good money. I hope he finds the deal he's after cos I don't want to see him retire yet, under these circumstances. I think the bikes that suit him best are Suzuki and Yamaha in my opinion. Money is tight for everyone but I've always thought it'd be cool to see a factory rider pay his own way and see if he still wins. Chad, whether we hate you or not, I'm sure everyone wants you to race, cos if nothin else, you offer a beautiful riding style, a style I don't want to see lost to a V8 supercar just yet.
So doing a full season of super x here last year in aussie was a waste of time, I thought testing in race conditions would be the best testing available.
Yes BKR $250,000 is not free, But when you have been making $5,000.000 or so per $250,000 is pretty much free right?? I love what I do running my own Bis but if I had to do what I do and only make what I pay my guys I would not do it either, I work to hard and to much to not be payed good for it. Either way people think he should pay his own way...He owes the sport... Prove he can do it on his own.... Come on...For what. This is a JOB like it or not that is what it is. At some point they all have had enough. He!! I bet RC got offerd a LOT to do one more year but he said NO he had had enough. So for Reed if he does not get what he thinks makes it worth it to risk his life and do all the work it takes to win he wont do it
Right on Bill C. Reedy is in a different space right now and he wants to step his game to the next level. Its more for what he needs to do it right and if he doesnt get it then its not worth for him to go racing.
I gotta admit tho Reed looked good on a Yamaha thane any other brand although he was faster on the suzuki. Anyone that got on the Makita suzuki got some wins or podium. Can you imagine if James was racing a Makita Suzuki SX? That would be crazy.
One of the "Big Three" Step Up (Yamaha, Honda or Suzuki) and put this guy in the SX Season. CR is Great for the Sport and most importantly the Fans. Kawi's are junk (though Villopotto is one of the Best!)... Let's get Reed into SX...Smart Business has CR racing one of the Big Three!
Reed to out an insurance policy on himself basically in the Suzuki deal. He got paid the money if he won, that is a big risk really. I think Reed is good for the sport because he is fast, and challenges the leaders no matter who it is. He pushed RC all the way to every title he won. He finished 2nd to RC outdoors as well. He pushed Stewie all the way also. What would supercross have looked like a few seasons ago without Reed there?? Very bad and boring. He has put himself into a spot where he doesnt have to race for a team he doesnt want to or on a bike he doesnt like. I think that is what he is talking about. Not money. He has plenty of money for 3 lifetimes. He wants to be on a team he enjoys and a bike he feels is competetive and he feels good on. No other racer is expected to pay to race, or ride for free, or on any team out there. Dont treat him any different.
Well put bd200, love him or hate him, he's been a big part of the growth of the sport.
This is one of the longest threads I've seen. People obviously care that this talent makes it to the gate. I would think any team wanting exposure has to take this into account. It's too bad there's not a spot on a Suzuki team for Reed if he likes them so much. I wonder if KTM has ever entered the equasion? some Red Bull bucks could make a difference.
He needs to Form his own team and bring in someone who is a proven winner for a team manager im thinking someone like maybe Jeremy McGrath whom has a TON of championship winning experience Or Ryan Hughes whom would make sure Chad was in the best race shape possible aswell as getting his team to the top of the podium. And a good mechanic would be a challenge.... becuase its well known that Chad is a hardcore tester.
some of the posts put on here are silly!! These guys risk life/limb, (Bailey, Magoo etc..) and their compisation is pathetic compared to ,say, Baseball , golf ,Basketball. I wonder if Lebron or A-Rod would compete for 250,000.00? They owe their spotrts right???? Sounds stupid huh?? I pray CR22 is at A1!!! He is my Fav!!!!
Chad Reed Factory Honda Pro-Circuit (Team CR-F Honda Pro-Circuit)! Chad Reed & Jason Lawrence!!!
Great interview. If I was Chad I would buy a van and hire a mechanic to drive it before I sat out another season. He belongs racing SX
On the Racerx poll Pastrana has more votes to win the SX championship than Chad, lol!
If Reed is as good as he thinks he is then why doesn't he take a contract based on performance. Title,wins,top 3s, and top5s. I think a lot of his problem is that he has been disrespectful to just about everyone on every team at one time or another, and always put the blame on his equipment for his losses. With the new talent and Dungey and Js7 he will rarely get a top 3 and maybe not get in the top 5s but 2or3 times. Why pay Reed top cash when he doesn't have a chance at a title. Plus every team he has been on he wants all the focus on him wich puts a bad vibe on the rest of the team.
RainboyX63..I usually don't respond to people that have their head up their A#% but just maybe you like the view from up there! Reed to TLD? We'll see A-1.
You right chadley75; Jeremy McGrath as team manager will be great for Chad Reed (also, MC was Chad's idol). … CR22 a bad vib for the rest of the team? really? Suzuki didn’t win a single title since RC, and in 2009 Reed & Dungey have won 3 championships, and Dungey said that having Reed on the team was very funny, and one more time again Reed didn’t care about money anymore (especially about the salary), he just want a good bike for him and the right peoples around him, it’s probably the best part for his motivation to continuing or not his mx career. sorry for my bad English.
I'll never understand how people compare MX to going to work 9-5 (or 7-8) everyday at some real job. So many of us work a job that we might enjoy as far as work goes, but if we didn't HAVE to be there we wouldn't. We'd be off racing MX!!!! Does Reed or any other pro go dig ditches, weld, pour cement, fix pipes, wire houses, or replace roofs in 100 degree summer heat for fun? Oh, and PAY gobs of money for the privilege to do so? We ALL go out and risk life and limb in MX for the fun of it! I drive I-95 in CT everyday to and from work, that is way more a deadly risk than motocross! Many of us also risk life and limb at our own daily jobs for a whole hell of a lot less than $250,000. Is it a lot less than what he made last year? Yeah, but don't say money isn't a factor then. Pourcel can't get his $2 mil this year, so I really doubt Reed got anywhere near $5 mil last year. That's all, how about $ half a mil then? Is that still to close to chump change for the likes of Reed? It's always chump change when it isn't our quarter mil we're talking about.
A lot of haters and jealous people on here. A lot!!!
The people that have written **** below just wish they were even in at 0.01111% class than CRtwotwo. Wake up you dead beats and respect what the guy has done for the sport not just in Aus but AROUND THE WORLD!!!
We're twisting for u Reed! Good luck dude!
Hoping something works out for Chad and family@@the TroyLee bike looks sick!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where to begin: What an unbelievably self absorbed control freak... Good god.. There are probably 10 incredibly disingenuine contradictions he's made here, and ALL of them are laughable. Perhaps none more than the Epstein Barr comment... Does he really think EVERYONE on this site is THAT naive' ? Apparently so... I guess the 2nd biggest diss is him counting JG out of the mix in 11' & him not being in the "4 hero" group he essentially mentions. It is my sincere hope that he DOES sign w/ TLD ( merely a business decision for TLD... they know he's an endless & very transparent/garden variety manipulator & sniveler... however they'll never get anyone faster in this cimate, for this price.. so i know they'll jump through hoops to find another "sponsor" or have him weasel one... you know, because he's just SUCH a great "value" & all) So i HOPE he gets this ride, so that he can't use bad equipment & no testing as an excuse for qualifying 7th at A1, then watching his VERY predictable and VERY tired manipulation machine start up for the year. If you think RD5 or JS7 are worried about this faux' new-age control freak, you are high. YES he's accomplished alot, i LIKE that he'll take a stand & has a voice, but interviews like this are EXACTLY why he's not connecting, and likely never will....
There are two kinds of people in the world: talkers and doers. Chad Reed is a doer and the rest of you dissing him are just talkers. Trust me he doesn't sit around talking cr@p about people because he is busy achieving something with his life, at a level 99.9% of us cannot begin to comprehend. If RC or JS had something to say about Reed, I would listen but the rest of us are not qualified to pass judgement on this legend. Reed, just get out there and win - it would only be good for the sport we all love to watch!
OK. Here it is, I've been a R22 fan for awhile. love his style totally MC. Loved his battles with RC,JS,RV, and RD but, this interview isn't good PR. Reed, you're from Australia so racing at home is Never a waste of time. It's good to give back to oldest fans. After RV signed with PC I met him at Horn Rapids and he was pretty kewl. You're a fast guy and a big name but your big EGO is screwing it up for you. Become grateful and things will probly click for you again.
Not a big fan of Reed's since his major league snub of me at Unadilla 5 years ago. Then I read another mag and found out not many people really like him. I admire his abilities but as he is quickly finding out, PEOPLE COUNT too, not just your racing ability. It doesn't pay to be a d**k Chad. Treat people kinder and you will go further.
Maybe not a lot of people reading this anymore, but reading throw these comments, mainly the "not so bright ones" talking about him not knowing what contract to get, or what team to choose.
As a champ. he figured it out, he needed to ride with the team he likes and 2011 half way Two-Two Motorsports and Chad Reed in front of the back fighting for the championship... i'd like to say how do you all feel now :D :D