Chad Reed knew from a young age he wanted to be like Jeremy McGrath and race AMA Supercross in the United States of America. He first watched McGrath on a small TV back in Australia and would not stop at anything short of following in the footsteps of his idol. He would embark on quite the unique journey from Australia to Europe, without a true plan other than whatever it takes to get to U.S. AMA Supercross.
In 1999, Reed got his first taste of racing in the U.S. From there, he would return several years later and become a podium staple in the paddock full-time, for over two decades. When he finally hung up the boots from professional racing in June 2020, Reed’s name was spread all over the history books, just like his idol. His all-time premier class SX starts (265) and podiums (132) are marks that seem untouchable by anyone else. Year in and year out, every weekend, Reed was always there, and he was always competitive.
Last week, Reed made the final “start” of his career: he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025 on October 23, 2025. Now, Reed’s name, records, and memorabilia sit among the greatest in the sport, again, including his idol, Jeremy McGrath.
Related: Watch: Chad Reed’s Full AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Speech
If you have not caught on by now, Reed’s four favorite things in life—in no particular order—are AMA Supercross, Jeremy McGrath, his wife Ellie, and his three kids (Tate, Kiah, and Pace). Those that watch the sport know just as much as Reed was at the races, so were his family, often being part of opening ceremonies to kick off the night racing.
While Reed has been retired for a handful of years now, his passion for the sport—and skills on a bike—have not faded. He jumped on a supercross track at ClubMX just two days before his induction into the Hall of Fame and a quick Instagram video showed he still has it. But now, he is getting to share his love for the sport with his kids, as Tate is eyeing a jump into the SMX Next amateur program in the near future and his daughter Kiah is turning heads with her racing as well.
After the ceremony, I caught up with Reed to talk about the ceremony, his speech, his career, and his family.
Racer X Online: All right, Chad Reed, you're in the AMA Hall of Fame, congratulations. It's a couple hours now after the speech, and you've been inducted. Has it settled in yet that you're officially a member of the Hall of Fame yet?
Chad Reed: Yeah. I mean, I feel like I was really lucky, actually. You know, not many people can claim that they're in multiple Hall of Fames. And beginning of this year, I was inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame. And so, I kind of had a little bit of that initial feeling. I didn't attend the event, and so I missed that part. So, this part, you know, definitely brings up more emotions, like what it's about. And, you know, speaking of just things as an athlete or as a human, you suppress and keep those feelings all bottled up. And an evening like this, they all seem to come bottling to the top to the tears, I guess. So, just proud. Proud to be amongst a lot of...Yeah, I don't even...there's just no word other than legends. A lot of my friends and people that I, you know, spent many years battling. And for me, it's just a real honor to be a part of that group.
And so, I was actually here when James Stewart got inducted in. We know the rivalry you had with him and Ricky. James actually said you and Ricky had both texted him that night when he was inducted in. Have you heard from those guys? And kind of what's it like now that relationship?
I got a text from Ricky. I'm going to make sure that I don't have one from James, so I don't leave him out, but I do not. I do not have one from James, I don't believe, but Ricky texted me and [Ryan] Dungy texted me you know, as far as, like the guys that I raced. But James is not a texter, so I wouldn't expect that from him anyway.
Going back a few years ago, you and James had a photo together when just you were still racing. You mentioned those guys motivated you so much. What's it like that relationship now vs back then? Now there's no bad blood anymore.
Yeah, there really isn't any bad blood. I mean, honestly, for the most part. Like, there's few people in the world that can relate to the things that I experienced, the things that I did and all those kinds of things. James and Ricky are those two guys. I got to go play golf with them. You know, I spent a lot of time with his dad riding at the track and things, so it's a lot of water under the bridge. Somebody who I have just enormous amounts of respect for his family upbringing and everything is so much so similar to what mine was. It doesn't surprise me that we butted heads on the track because I think we really wanted the same common goal. We thought, you know, very similarly. And we're a lot more closer as individuals than you'd ever imagine. So, that's interesting.
You raced through so many different eras and that was something you were proud of. What was it like to watch the transition of not only the bikes but the gear, the riders, the eras. Ricky and James then the Ryans era now Tomac and Webb. What was it like to just watch literally the whole sport progress and be a part of that progression? Like you said, decades of racing, so many things changed.
Yeah. No, it's crazy to me to think that I caught the back end of Jeremy's career. So, I got to race with Jeremy in '02. And then obviously Ricky, James. I hate mentioning names because you find yourself only mentioning the ones that won, but there's so many people that I looked up to: the Ezra Lusks, the [David] Vuillemins, Tim Ferry, [Mike] LaRoccos, the K-Dubs [Kevin Windham]. All those guys were people that I have so much respect for, but I am proud to claim that I was able to race Jeremy at the end, Ricky, James, the Ryans and then a little bit of Eli, even [Ken] Roczen. So, many of the guys that are still racing, you know, and to see Eli Tomac still win a supercross in 2025 it's one of those things that makes you really proud, because at one point you raced him and you were able to beat him. And you see that he's in his early 30s and he's still winning races and taking on the kids that are going to be the next greatest. So, it is it's a proud moment.
And then you mentioned Jeremy McGrath. Obviously, your speech, you said you wanted to be him. Like, what was it like being able to finally race against him because you had grown up watching him on VHS. What was it like to finally race against the guy you looked up to for so long?
Yeah. I mean, it was funny because I had so much respect for him, but I was a competitor too you know. Like, I wanted to beat him. A funny story that most people know and remember is first time I ever raced, Jeremy was at Bercy Supercross. And I was faster coming from the back of the pack, and I was coming up to pass Jeremy and, yeah, put a pass on him. I kind of dived to the inside at the same time he turned down really quick and caught me off guard, and we collided. I don't remember if I crashed or we both crashed or just he crashed, but either way, he crashed. I caused it, and he was not happy. But we quickly got over it and to this day, he's still one of my best friends. He created the platform that Ricky, James, and I took to another level. And I'll always be gracious and proud that that my goal in life was to come and race in America and he was the one that started that.
You have so many records. Start record, podium record. Fifth on all-time supercross wins. But you mentioned in your speech, your family is the most important thing when it comes to life now. But on track, what do you like most proud of that you're accomplished?
I'm proud of, I always showed up. You know, like no matter, what I was always there. Even when I wasn't at my best or performing at the level that I expected, I still was able to always find a way to get it done. All the way up until my second to last season, I was able to stand on the podium you know, when I was 37 years old. So, I think that for me, that's probably just my longevity, my passion for it like, that never went away. I still have that just racing at that level, the age it catches up with you at some point. And I just love to be a fan and be at it. So, I would just say, yeah, just the fact that I always gave it everything I had and most of the time I was able to, at the very least, be on the podium.
Obviously, a big part of your life was Ellie as well. You had a really well-done speech mentioning her. Talk about what that was like. You went through so many things in life, and you had that same person with you, your best friend, your wife. I know there were hard times, but just the one constant thing in your life was her, right? So, I'm sure that helped you through your whole career.
Yeah. She was the rock, the whole way through. And right from packing two suitcases, going to Europe with plans to come to America and then coming to the U.S. and, and just embracing it. She has never been selfish she's always allowed and supported me. Most people...Ricky, he retired at 26 years old. I went, what, 11 more years in age, no, actually, I think 12 more years in age. So, she was just patient through children, through everything. And again, I felt like I had squeezed the lemon, and I was ready to move on and do something else and it's funny, because she wasn't necessarily ready, it wasn't her decision to retire [from going to races]. She loved it and embraced it every, every step of the way, through the ups and the downs, the good days, the bad days we rode them together. And at times that was that was hard, like at times it was cloudy. It wasn't, just my girlfriend or just my wife. [At] Different periods, she was the motivator, she was the parent-like person that would be chewing your ass out and mad at you because you lost. Like, she wore so many different hats that that made it complicated, and I think that the fact that we're still here and we haven't ripped each other's head off during all that period is a championship on its own.
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Mitch Kendra ![Chad Reed]()
Chad Reed Mitch Kendra ![The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class 2025.]()
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class 2025. Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra
I think you're lucky because you said if you said you were going to race next year, she would have been all in, she wouldn't have questioned it. Thinking back, obviously, your road map was eventually to get to America. You didn't know how you're going to get there. But like when you guys first left Australia, were there any questions? It was just like, we're just going to pack our bags and go like. There was no, "This a rough plan." It was just eventually we're gonna get to America. We might have to take a couple years detour or whatever.
There was never any, there was no backup plan, there was no other decision other than we were just going to do it. And, yeah, I mean, she didn't know any different because I didn't let her know any different. [Laughs] It's funny, like, I don't want to speak on her behalf, but I've heard her talk about it, and it's like we always talked we dated two years before we left Australia. And even during high school, you know, we never dated during high school, but in our high school days, like she always knew, because I was always vocal that, "I'm going to America." Like, there was just no "ands," "ifs," or "buts." I was just, "I'm going to go to America." It was always my dream, and I just never seen it not happening. It was never not going to let that happen, I was always going to work my whatever off to make it work. So, yeah, it's funny. It's funny hearing her side of it.
So, we saw you on the supercross track this week. You can just jump back on it. I'm sure you're a little bit out of it, but you went through the whoops pretty damn good! Like you still have it.
Yeah, I've been wanting to ride supercross. I love supercross. Like for me, I could ride supercross all the time and never ride motocross ever again and I would be happy. Don't get me wrong, motocross is cool, but for me, supercross was always my jam, you know? Like, it was my thing. And I'm thankful, but, I don't know, I can jump right back in, and it doesn't really feel like I left, you know? Like it feels normal. It feels natural. Yeah, I mean, I hadn't rode it in a couple of years. And I was able to get right back up to speed. The whoops are just like, I don't know, just like riding a bicycle once you know how to do it the correct way. The bikes have changed a little bit. The balance has changed a little bit. And so, it kind of takes a little different technique, but for the most part, it's all the same. I love it, and I will. My goal is to ride a lot this off-season. Obviously, we're based at ClubMX, and I want to ride with the guys. And, you know, my kid Tate is eligible to go pro racing in 2028. His age, with the new rule, he won't race supercross in '28, but he can obviously do SMX Next pretty much as soon as next year. So, with that said, as a dad to share the supercross track with your 15-year-old kid on a big bike was really special. You know, watching him hit the triples and all the jumps. He's on a tight leash. I haven't let him hit the whoops and things like that. I really want to teach him the real way. Like, I want him...his last name on the jersey. He needs to go through whoops badass, you know. [Laughs] So I really want to, you know, teach him and give him the best platform to learn in a safe way. But yeah. No, it is fun as a dad to ride supercross with my kids.
You raced so many different brands, so many different bikes, podiums on the bikes. I think you're the only guy to win on four different brands at supercross. When you think of your career, which bike do you think of? Like, for me, I watched you as a teenager growing up on Yamaha. So, to me, I always think Yamaha. What do you think personally, is the one brand or one era?
It's funny because, yeah, I didn't realize that I was the only person to win on four different bikes. I saw that stat this morning actually. I think of it as different in different times, different eras. And I have different love for different bikes and brands and years. I believe if I was to go into the Hall of Fame let's say like the NBA does, or football I would most likely go into the Hall of Fame as a Yamaha rider. I'm the winningest Yamaha rider still to date. All my [SX] titles were there, and the majority of my wins and a lot of the early memories of the hard yards is when you're at the youngest version of yourself, the most pure version of yourself. So, those were really cool. But it's hard because I could counter it in every other era as well. And running my own team was really special. Outdoor title with Suzuki. Yeah, it's hard to pick. I really, I'm glad we don't have to pick. But, yeah, I mean, it's hard to not think of Yamaha and then also my 22 days with the with the Honda early on. [My] '08 bike was really good. My '04 two-stroke was the best two-stroke. It was always fun because everyone was envious of that bike. You know, like, even today I have that bike still, and it still sounds better than any two-stroke. And you know, if you ever want to flex hard, you just fire that thing up and you're always good. But, yeah, I've many, many different loves for different bikes for different reasons.
A lot of things happening today, a big career, everything. Congratulations. Anything you'd like to add about the event or the night or your career or just life?
No, I think for me, I just feel proud and I guess to echo some of the things that I mentioned in my speech is I'm proud of the people that make my story so fun and cool, you know? Being so involved with the sport, with my kids and going racing. It's funny because it's the parents that were fans, not the kids. The kids are more watching the Two-Two TV YouTube, and they look up to Kiah and Tate, and I'm just kind of like the YouTube guy, which is really funny and weird. But then the dads and sometimes the parents will geek out on because they were fans during that era. And a lot of them some are big fans and some kind of just like, "Oh my God, it's crazy how I wasn't your biggest fan, I didn't root for you," but they're always proud to, you know, share the start line as a dad and, obviously, my dad hat I'm a different person. As a racer, you wear a different hat and you're a different individual and you're there to do a job. That's it. I would say just really proud. Thankful for everybody that contributed over the years. And for me, I still get to do it. Like I love it. And that was my speech is just how much I love motorcycle racing. And I would sign up for all 17 supercross however many outdoors and SMX races there are. If I wasn't so busy with my own children racing, I would so happily be amongst the crowd, the teams and contributing in some shape or form. So, I mean, again, not many people have wore a jacket like this, and, you know, tonight I'll go to bed and then tomorrow morning at 9:30, I'm back here for the AMA you know, competition meeting. So, sitting on that board and contributing everything that I possibly can to continue to make motocross and supercross the best sport in the world.
Watch the full interview below:
