Reardon & Reed In A Class Of Their Own

In front of a full house at Barleigh Ranch Racetrack in Raymond Terrace, Kawasaki Racing Team Rider, Daniel Reardon, proved he has what it takes to challenge the worlds best. With determination, fast pace and uncompromising performance, the KRT Pro Open rider, took on Chad Reed head to head and demonstrated to everyone in Motocross why he is Australia’s next potential World Champion.

After Qualifying for the first race in third place, Reardon rolled onto the start line with a point to prove. Renowned for being the hole shot specialist, Reardon launched from the start line, to again win the hole shot. Onboard his KX450F, Reardon dominated the first half of racing.

Reardon laid down the challenge to Reed that if thought he was just going to waltz into Raymond Terrace and walk all over the Australian competition, he had better think again.

“Reed was going to have to earn his win. I am really happy with my racing performance,” said Reardon. “I didn’t have the greatest Qualifying session as I struggled to find a clean, fast run. I didn’t post the best Qualifying time, but I was feeling good, so I knew I would be right heading into Race One.”

“I really wanted to get the hole shot in the opening race, as I have been really strong out front all season. When I got the lead into the first turn, I just focused on riding my own race. I had a feeling Chad was right behind me, but as my bike was really fast, I was able to stay out in front for over half of the race. Chad really put pressure on me in the second part of the race and after two hard laps, he eventually passed me. We began to lap the field and I had to work really hard to stick with Chad whilst avoiding lapped riders.”

“It was good to get the first race out of the way and I felt confident heading into Race Two. I had a fair idea of how I could better my race pace in the second moto, as I had never raced Chad before and I now knew what to expect from him in Race Two.”

“I again jumped well from the start line in the final race and won the hole shot. I pulled a good lead on the field and rode fast, hard laps. It was a great race as we were always challenging each other and there was plenty of passing and banging along the way. I held onto the lead for nearly three quarters of the race before Chad got passed me for the last time. I again only finished seven seconds behind him, the same as race one and I was 42 seconds in front of Hurley in third.”

“Racing against Chad was great for the Team and for my confidence. We know we have a great Team and a great bike, but we have now had the opportunity to see first hand how we measure up to an international rider and his race bike. We may not necessarily have all the bells and whistles of an AMA Racing Team, but we were able to stick it with a world class rider and I am really proud of that.”

KRT Team Manager, Brett Whale, believes Reardon’s ride in the Round Four Championship Event will only make him stronger and faster for the remainder of the season.

“The experience Dan has gained from racing this weekend is priceless,” said Whale. “Dan did Kawasaki, the Team and Sponsors proud and he demonstrated that he is a class above the rest of the Australian field.”

“Dan was only seven seconds behind a World Champion rider, but he finished 45 seconds ahead of his closest Aussie competitor, Daryl Hurley in Race One and 42 seconds ahead of him again in Race Two.

” Whale is also pleased to have both Pro Lites pilots, Mitch Hoad and Cody Mackie placed in third and fourth place in the Championship onboard their KX250F’s. With Hoad finishing in fifth and Mackie in seventh place overall in the event standings, both riders are now focusing their efforts on preparing for Round Five in Murray Bridge, SA.

“Both Lites riders didn’t have the greatest of weekends, but it was enough to end up with two Kawasaki riders in the top four of the Championship.” Whale said.

“It has been a long time since KRT had such a dominating presence in both Classes of Motocross and we are really pleased that all three riders have committed themselves to getting Kawasaki back on top and staying there.”