by Steve Dye
450 Words: Millville
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PrintTwo things motocross fans rarely see: Chad Reed throwing it away huge, and Ryan Dungey making an aggressive pass for the lead.
Add another – and maybe the best yet – to the list of unforgettable Millville races.
The second half of the 2011 outdoor season launched with an instant classic.
Reed charged to a 14th place finish after a horrific second moto crash.
Photo: Brian Robinette
Launched? No one expects the heart-stopping spectacle of Chad flying 35 feet up, jettisoning from his motorcycle and bicycling through the air to impact. Even when he crashes, even without his motorcycle, Reed can time the downside of the landing. Amazing. And lucky. The only fortunate part of Reed’s epic flight was sliding in safe – relatively – on that downward slope of soft grass. Reed was so high in the air that Honda personnel and the 22 ground crew arrived on scene practically before he landed.
Shades of Ryan Villopoto’s first moto crash at the previous round in Red Bud, it did not look good for Chad. No one expected Reed to remount.
At the other end of the spectrum – and towards the other end of the second moto – maybe the Minnesota faithful didn’t so much expect Dungey to make the pass, as demand it.
Dungey had finished second – as he too often has this season, latching onto the rear fender of Villopoto, or more often Reed, without ever sticking a wheel in – nine times, including the first Millville moto when Reed was able to shake him. Riding a wave of spectator support all around the track in pursuit of Ryan Villopoto, the home-state favorite wouldn’t settle for second this time. In the final moto, Dungey finally took the ground someone gave him – and with it, his second overall win of the season and fourth consecutive victory at Spring Creek.
Dungey's second moto charge lead to his fourth consecutive victory at Millville.
Photo: Brian Robinette
Still, even on a day when the points leader's fortunes swung – winning the first moto going away, then making that early pass on Villopoto in the second moto to take control of the race just before losing control of his motorcycle – Reed retained the points lead. If Chad wasn’t able to duplicate RV’s feat of picking himself up from a brutal crash to charge all the way to the podium, his heroic 14th place ride for seven points might have saved his championship. Reed banged his levers straight, gassed it right around the concerns of Asterisk's Doc Bodnar and seat-jumped the uphill triple. He was on a mission, and no one who witnessed it could ever again doubt Chad's determination and resilience.
Just as with the pride of Belle Plaine, Ryan Dungey, cheers followed Australian Chad Reed all around the track as he fought his way back to a points-paying position.
Dungey made his fans happy, while Reed simply made fans.
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The CHAD is GREAT !
You just should have written CHAD REED 450 times for this article.
All repeat after me, "I will never again question the toughness of Chad Reed", "I will never again question the toughness of Chad Reed", "I will never again question the toughness of Chad Reed".
And, no, I am not, nor have I ever been, a Chad Reed fan, but I am now an admirer of his grit. That was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen! Although I will never actively root for you, Chad, from one rider to another you will always have my respect.
Good 450 words Steve! "Epic" sums it up. Great ride for Dungey and Reed is a SERIOUSLY bad dude.
Go DEANO!!!
Its amazing how one thing can make an athlete a hero or a zero in the eyes of the fans. Congrats to reed for picking himself up and fighting on. The last thing we need is to read about another season ending injury. Here's hoping for a 3 way dogfight all the way to the end of this championship!
News Report:
Reed logged A LOT more air time during his yard sale at Budds this weekend than Stewie did when he had a yard sale at the Daytona Supercross.
So Reed re-joined a race and finished in the points after a much bigger get off. But everyone knows that Reed has way more guts than Stewie.
I was standing over in the second turn area when it happened, I looked away when he was in the air - I could NOT watch him hit the ground. I'm more amazed at how he cleared that uphill triple with so little run. I just hope in the upcoming days, he is clear to race.
How many people in each class had no goggles at some point? Too many I would think.
ive become a reed fan myself this year but i remember when everyone was talking mad shit on him, kind of funny!
i was at millville, and @Kevin i did the same thing. i thought he was dead
Patty OHare has it right. 22 is the only story regardless of the outcome of this series. RD and RV had to have been breathing a sigh of relief when they saw Reed going down. (not that they wish any of their fellow riders ill will). Reed had them both covered. If only the motos were 45 minute + 2.
I as a fan of racing am glad to see Reed walk away from that, could have been REALLY ugly, but luckily it was not and we can move forward. Not down playing this at all, but many riders have taken a HUGE spills, remounted the bike and put in valiant ride to save points or just finish the race, I dont see why this is such a shocker...Just because it was Reed??..Yes, It does take grit, guts and courage, which 99% of those guys on the track have ... all these guys have heart...Canard, RV or Dungey would have got up and done the same thing if it happened to them and RV did it just last week.....I think Reed got a little too ansy/cocky after passing RV and going into that turn he looked to be riding a little bit over his head and he lost control of the bike once he hit the bumps......he was the only guy to crash there all day, so it wasnt the track that conditions that caused it...Reed was on it, but obviously a little too much and it cost him....sometimes those ego's will put you on the ground.....
So by Reed passing RV in the first few turns of the race, that means he had RV and RD covered the rest of the moto ......Yet, two turns later he was in the air and on the ground lucky to be walking...yeah, he had them covered
It is obvious that Chad Reed is not only one of the greatest, toughest and fastest motocross/supercross riders of all time but one of the most hardcore athletes on the planet! Can you imagine any other sport except perhaps boxing, where a competitor takes such a beating and just keeps going? Awesome! Legend. Oh and where's JS7 driving around in a police uniform watching races from the station...?
If the moto's had been 45+2 Reed probably would have lost 25 points instead of 18. After the reality of the crash set in and the adrenaline stopped the lap times showed it was a struggle and he was flat gassed at the end. No disrespect because I did not expect him to remount.
That being said, someone already pointed out, many of the guys out there and especially anyone in the championship fight or top 10 would have done exactly that. If you can, you get up and go. Thats what moto guys do.
GIve him props for passing all those guys with the doo in the drawers cuz that one had to scare the S%&T out of him when he was peddaling the bike in the air!
LUCKY IT had been raining and was wet, LUCKY he did not make it to the flat, and LUCKIEST of all he did not get pitched over the front of the jump where 30+ 450's were about to come storming through.
Good ride Chad, glad your OK even though I am pulling for the Ryan's.
From my couch the reed crash did not look that bad.stuff like that happens to me 6 or 7 times a day (when im riding .....) but thats another storrey.reMEMBER its all about me me me ..wow im hungry goin to taco bell
Man, RV didn't have this many people kissing his corn rows after his knarly crash comeback ride to 9th at Red Bud..HAHAHAHAA!.....His crash wasn't on film, but he was tossed 50feet down the hill after colliding with 3 guys ..only to climb back up the hill and ride a very damaged bike and still got 9th coming from dead last.... Reed passed probably 6 guys as quite a few dudes didnt even start the second moto at millville or eventually pulled off...Still respect the guy for getting back in the race....but he isnt a frickin super hero.....Stewart did the same thing at Daytona...these guys are all tuff.....
Oh if it was Stewart who wadded, everyone would be saying the same ol bull crap 'That guy is too dangerous.....win or crash is not racing...blah blah blah"
Your all a bunch of phoneys, i dont even want to hop on teh Chard Weed Band Waggon, with all you kooks.
He's always been tough. Remember in '08 when he went over the bars at the Detroit SX? Went to the hospital coughing up blood, came back and raced. He went on to win the title that year. Or what about Daytona '06.
He raced with a dislocated shoulder and finished in the top five if memory serves me correct. Austrailian Bad Ass.
Reed should now be refereed to as the G.O.A.T.
gnarliest of all time ........surely not the greatest
Thought about it cant call him gnarliest .....@ Jimmy Jones you are an idiot
WOW!!! and I thought that my team of guys going into a foriegn land, landing in darkness on an important mission for my country, night vision, guns drawn, praying for my comrades to survive and achieve our mission was gutsy.
I mean we captured, (killed our target, Osama Bin Laden) but what I saw Chad Reed do Saturday at Millville Minnesota, at Spring Creek MX Park,.............well that was just plain BADASS and all us at Seal Team Six are just in awe!
Chad all I can say is you earned our respect that day it it will be forever in our hearts.
I've crashed 19 times in 7 races for you guys, crashed 3 times alone at Redbud, broke my nose at Millville and came back 2nd moto and got 6th, and all you guys talk about is Reed being a badass, screw you guys.
Oh...........wait this is 450 words........OK, then tomorrow on 250 words I better get mentioned and all my fans can call me a badass!!
Reed is a bad mother fu(king Dude. When he launched, I screamed in my living room which probably sounded almost identical to how he prob screamed. I thought he was done, for good, and when I seen him back on the bike kicking that hog over, I have never in all my years of following moto seen anything in the pro class that made me gain as much respect for someone as i did him. That was Gnarly, and "The Chad" is fu(king bad!
CR did what he needed to do. He is vying for a title, he wants to win it, for himself and for those around him (probably makes a difference as a team owner). Have always been a Reed fan, but have to say if it's a Reed/Poto battle, pulling for Reed, Reed/Dungey battle, I'm pulling for the 1... Great race, great series, great sport!!! Moto is a great way of life!
I agree wth what someone else said before. All those riders are really tough just for the fact of finishing those brutal races, Reed is plain lucky not only to have landed on the absolute best spot to get uninjured but also because his bike was functional with no bent radiators, subframe, bars, etc. He may be having the lucky factor Dungey had in 2010 and could be winning the outdoor season. There are still many motos to be raced and anything can happen, as always the fans are the winners.
it was a gnarly looking crash for sure but I was there when Henry launced his bike into outer space broke his back in 5 places and was basically cut in half to put titanium parts in him and then I was there when he won the championship 2 years later and all with a smile on his face. That my friends is the definition of a Man! Thats Doug Henry for those of you who apparently have never raced AMA MX/SX
@Jlail34, what he said, couldn't have said it any better.
Except the "have always been a Reed fan"
The rest, yes
It sure feels good to look at that picture of Clark Kent, Villo and Canard on the podium holding their trophies up. Couldn't happen to a nicer group of guys.
Most of the comments on this site come from little skinny punk kids that can't even wipe face. Why event waste your breath. Chad Reed deserves anything he gets due to hard work and determination to start his own team and win.
I have yet to see any mention of John Dowd, the true old guy. Very disappointed.
@ reed. Yea we all know Reed has more guts than Stewie. Heck even Malcolm has more guts than Stewie. I see him at the races breaking top tens. Malcolm puts the RMZ250 on the map
@Navy seal. Yeah right. Then you woke up and your coffee was cold.
I bet you like going into a dark room to wank off while thinking about all those innocent civillians you killed for the ZOG and their cheap oil, in your dreams of course.
All these people saying that we're all hypocrites for calling Stewart a dangerous rider for crashing and not Reed are idiots. How often does Stewart crash? How often does Stewart take someone else out in the process? Now ask those same questions about Reed. Reed has gone down maybe 3-4 times all year, and two of those crashes involved (if not, caused by) Stewart.
Sorry to break up all of the man love for Reedy, but Villlo is going to take over the series and win the championship.
@ Villomoto ... You must have meant to say that DUNGEY is going to take over the series and win the championship.
2 reasons this article is sh8T. One, Reed had a huge bail just 8 or 9 races ago in seattle. Two, dungey's pass wasn't aggressive and anyone can clearly see that.
these spectators sure help those moto stars, keep mentioning it please. I wonder how much Washougal is going to help out Villopoto next weekend?! Oh yeah Villo has never won in his home track in his pro life, on any size bike. what's up now new guy?
stewart's done it.
stewart's done it better.
u guys r stupid theres only one G.O.A.T thats ricky carmichael not chad reed
Don't forget, Chad earned a reputation for embellishing injuries. He was really lucky to have hit the downside for sure. I wouldn't be surprised to hear him say he something rediculous like, " i popped an eardrum and it's so hard to balance but i'm gutting it out..." Just riding away from potential disaster has definitely earned him some points with the Nancy negatives like me.
He just did his job nothing more nothing less. RC finished a season and MX des nations with a torn ACL plus cut his boot and taped it over his extremely swollen foot to win Glen Helen when he had already won the championship. Most you dudes do not know motocross history at all just what you see and hear from TV.
No need to mention the other things the Goat did like Stewpot landing on him and his supercross ride in San Diego with injuries.
Honda - sign Dungey !!
good bye to josh grant...you better enjoy ever minute you can ride the factory honda, it is almost over...
Hey "reedit"......to say Reed's crash and subsequent charge to 14th is any better than Stewarts crash and charge back to 7th is ridiculous!! Stuffit Reedit!!
I hope Honda will dump the wannabe thug josh hanson. RD would be a great boost for Honda if they can sign him.
Two names that should come out of this weekend's race are Dungey & Reed.
Dungey has done what many said he couldn't in overtaking RV and sealing the deal. I think he is in better shape to take the title than RV. I hate to bring up the DNF but (I will anyway), he would be handling #2 AND #22 without it.
Reed keeps making a believer out of the skeptics. The (Outdoor) racer that he has become is quite impressive. I still think it's his title to lose.
I asked BillC and even though he hates to admit it, he says I'm right.
Josh Grant will be on a factory team next year, according to MX “expert” Brian Bosworth, or whoever the British guy was that was with Emig and Weigandt on the CBS coverage at Red Bud. Other pearls of wisdom from him were “It’s good to go against doctor’s orders”, “What you do the week before is the most important thing when racing in the heat”, and “Of the 2 (RV and RD), Dungey is the one more likely to crash”, These must have been based on all his prior national MX experience and his extensive interviews in the pits with Brett Metcalfe and.. ah..
OK , I am a RV fan but RD did not put an aggressive pass on RV, RD was going much better than RV late in the moto and RV made a mistake going onto the left corner and RD simply took the inside as he was going faster and he was ahead of RV before exiting the corner. They didn't even touch, RV's tire sunk in the soft sand on the outside of the corner and that put him over the bars. RV was pissed at himself for the way he rode the whole day ( excluding the 1st half of the second moto). So far all of the top riders have been racing really clean and hauling butt, I still say RV takes the series !
Man nothing would make me happier than to have Carand and Dungy on the same team but I do not see it happening. Great ride by Canard for his first race back !
oh ya -- i still think bubba is the awesomest ever -- no one can ride as fast, smooth and stylish as him. Go bubba! Luv u brudda
@Dgizzy, quit tooting Malcolms horn he got beat by girls at Milleville.. the top two women had better lap times than Malcolm did, and you say he puts Suzuki on the map!!hahahah!!!
JD805...on #22...." i popped an eardrum....." .....LOL, classic !
As an official Navy underwater basket weaver I have never seen such a gnarly crash. Chad has the support of everyone on our team. Thank You.
Does anyone else want to know about my personal accomplishments and their relation to motocross and associated commentary?
If you go to Chad Reeds website, there is a youtube clip from a fan with the crash from another angle. It's obvious that Reed came down hard and honestly, I just don't know how his body did not snap in two. He must be made of steel or something. He's proven he is on any given day one of the fastest outdoor racers in the world, but after this get off, just wondering if he is still going to go all out next race. My guess is he will and may even win it as that's the type of guy he is. He wants that title more than anyone else. I hope he retires after this season on a high note and smell the roses from there on after with his family as he sure deserves it.
I was only kiddin. Bubba sucks, big time, and he ain´t a brudda. He´s always hanging with crackers an stuff. Yo Bubba, you be racist cos yo don´t share yo sheet wit yo bruddas
What Reed did was amazing, but we've seen many riders many times do amazing things. If he had landed just a bit differently, we might be talking about how badly he was injured. Good for him to not be injured and even better to get up and score those 7 points. But let's not act like he rode off with a broken arm or something because he's so tough. He is tough, most of them are. I've ridden a local enduro where the perennial champ fished a severed toe out of his sock (smashed on a rock) after winning the race. Most champs at ANY level are pretty badass. I'll say one thing about Reed though, it sure is amazing how having to EARN your dough makes you stand up and work your ass off. If he had the same attitude with Kawi last year, we might have seen similar results then. We have NEVER seen Chad so committed to working it and in such great shape. Not when he was 22, not when he was 25, not when he was winning the 2009 outdoor title. It shows all of us the difference that extra effort makes. It also shows how most aren't putting in the amount of work it takes.
Good write.
Why is JS7 even being mentioned here? He is useless and not racing.