Racer X Online - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X Online

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X Online - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X Online

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
    • Racer X Rapid News
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • Teams
    • 2021 Numbers
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • The Mag
    • Customer Care
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Current Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Sell Racer X
    • Free Stickers
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
Supercross
Atlanta 1
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Eli Tomac
  2. Chase Sexton
  3. Cooper Webb
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Nate Thrasher
  2. Justin Cooper
  3. Cameron McAdoo
Full Results
Australian MX
Wonthaggi
Articles
Supercross
Atlanta 2
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Ken Roczen
  2. Chase Sexton
  3. Jason Anderson
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Justin Cooper
  2. Hunter Lawrence
  3. Cameron McAdoo
Full Results
Upcoming
GNCC
Tiger Run
Sat Apr 17
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Atlanta 3
Sat Apr 17
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Salt Lake City 1
Sat Apr 24
Articles
Full Schedule

Where Are They Now: Chad Pederson

March 30, 2006 9:10am
  • Home
  • Where Are They Now
  • Where Are They Now: Chad Pederson

 

Chad "Swap" Pederson in 1994 at Kenworthys
photo: Davey Coombs
He was known by his competitors as “The Flyin’ Iowan.” Chad Pederson, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was one of the baddest minibike riders in the country in the mid-1980s. While he may not have had a knack for creative slogans—the back of his hauler read “Run ye must, or eat my dust!”—he certainly had skills on a bike. As a factory Yamaha rider on a minibike, Pederson battled with the likes of Jimmy Gaddis, Jeff Emig, Buddy Antunez, Jimmy Button, Tommy Clowers, Brian Swink, and the rest of the minicycle elite. And Pederson (or “Swap,” as he was known) won his fair share of races. In 1988, Chad moved up to the 125 intermediate class with riders like Jeremy McGrath, Phil Lawrence, Ryan Hughes, and the rest of the 80cc graduating class. Injuries took their toll on Pederson for the next couple of years.

“I was just about to quit racing altogether,” Pederson says. “I was used to winning on minibikes, and once I moved to 125s, I just started getting hurt and it didn’t stop for two years.”

By 1991, things started getting better for Chad and he was a steady fixture at the front of the 125 class in AMA National MX, supercross, and arenacross. His top-10 finishes landed him a ride with the powerful DGY Yamaha team in 1993. Chad rewarded them with a win at the Tampa SX the following year and steady results in the outdoor nationals. In 1995, Pederson won the Skoal Top Privateer Award aboard a Honda. His results again paid off and Chad was called up to the Pro Circuit Kawasaki race team for 1996.

Riding a wave of confidence on the new team, Chad was poised to have a breakthrough year, but a broken wrist and a concussion at the opening round in Minnesota would end his SX season. Pederson came back strong that summer and landed on the podium several times, but it wasn’t enough to keep his ride for another year. He hit the arenacross tour the following year and became one of the riders to beat in that series. Pederson finished second and fourth in the next two seasons, then decided to hang up his boots from full-time racing.

Chad helps out with a Racer X Online test last summer
photo: Simon Cudby
“I was just getting hurt all the time and it was frustrating,” he explains. “Every year I would pull myself up by my boot straps and make another run at whatever series I was racing, and every year I would end up in the back of the ambulance. When I met my wife, it really helped me deal with getting out of racing. I just figured out that there was more to life than racing bikes. We moved back to Waseca, Minnesota, and here we are.”

Pederson still lives in Minnesota with his wife, Michelle, and their three little girls, Dallas, Callie, and Jade. He teaches motocross schools during the summer, promotes several big events in his area, and also does some construction work during the winter. He still rides regularly and goes as fast as ever … for three laps: He is also a regular test rider for Racer X Online. For more information about Chad’s MX school, check out chadpederson.com.
  • Racer X Films: Kevin Windham Racer X Films: Kevin Windham 10:20am
Read Now
June 2021 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The June 2021 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X Online

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2021 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios