Reed hits Lead

A podium for Chad Reed at Anaheim has put him in the lead of the 2009 AMA Supercross series.

World/AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed has recovered from an opening lap crash at the third round of the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship, at Anaheim’s Angel stadium tonight to finish second and move into the championship lead.

The Australian, who won his heat race, went down in the first corner and was dead last when he remounted his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and rejoined the race. On the notoriously hard to pass track, Reed posted the fastest lap times of the race as he strategically picked off the competitors ahead of him. As Reed crossed the line to commence his final lap he was sitting third but not content to settle for the third step on the dais, he went after second placed rider Kevin Windham and passed him on the last corner of the race to claim second behind race winner James Stewart.

“I was somewhere in the top five off the start and someone took me out,” Reed explained. “Really, I just tried to go into damage control tonight and play it smart for 20 laps as it was an extremely difficult track to pass on. “We have the points lead now, so I am so excited. The entire Rockstar Makita Suzuki team has been working their butts off, and I am confident, especially after our recovery tonight,” Reed added.

The closely fought battle will resume on Saturday January 24 with Round 4 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series to be held at Houston’s Reliant Stadium.