Chad Reed to Race in Australia

Australian dirt bike sensation Chad Reed will return home to contest a national motocross round for the first time in 3 years, today confirming his entry to race at Raymond Terrace, the fourth round of the Nokia MX Nationals on May 20 2007.
Reed has just secured the runner-up position in the World SX GP and AMA SX series, re-affirming his position as one of the global sport’s greatest competitors.A fan favourite and hero to millions, he last returned home in 2004 to compete at a sold-out Supercross event held at Gosford on New South Wales’ central coast.

Earlier this year, Reed set about exploring options to compete in a one-off event in Australia, choosing Raymond Terrace as it was closest to his home town of Kurri Kurri. The 25-year-old, recently listed as Australia’s 6th highest sports earner by BRW, still feels a close connection to competition at home and has been eager to fit in a race on home soil for some time.“It’s the first time in the past three years that I have had the opportunity to race infront of a Newcastle crowd and I am stoked to be coming out. My dad has a lot to do with the event and thanks to my friends at Yamaha Motor Australia I have the equipment to have a run on an Australian track again” Reed said.

Reed will pit with his former team, CDR/Nokia/Yamaha, headed by Craig Dack, for the event, but will have the majority of his racing equipment, including his YZ450F, delivered via air freight from his Florida base in the United States.

Yamaha Motor Australia Managing Director Steven Cotterell said that it was fantastic to see Reed returning to contest a race at home and was certain fans would witness a spectacular performance.
“Chad is not only a fantastic competitor and highly skilled rider but also a great ambassador for our sport and we are privileged to be able to see him racing in Australia again. His appearance will be a treat for spectators and riders alike as I’m sure many will enjoy competing against Chad at his local track. We expect a huge turnout and some thrilling action at Raymond Terrace”, said Cotterell.

After recording two consecutive Australian Supercross titles, Reed followed his ambitions and made the move to the United States for the 2002 season, having spent 2001 refinining his racecraft in Europe. Immense success and a number of titles followed, including his goal of being crowned AMA Supercross champion. Late last year, Reed jetted back to Australia to complete a serious shakedown in a V8 Supercar, with the test session proclaimed as both a natural and promising performance by many industry insiders.