Reed 2nd again at A3
Chad Reed has finished 2nd at the 2009 Anaheim 3 SX.
A press day crash that required a hospital check up and a rain soaked track both failed to put a dent in reigning World/AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed’s 2009 championship charge at the sixth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship event at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium.
The Australian remains the only rider to have finished on the podium at every round of the series after recording the fastest lap and finishing second in tonight’s 20-lap final.
After being given the all clear from doctors following his press day crash on Thursday, Reed familiarised himself with the track during practice then got off to a great start, taking the holeshot during his heat race.
While Reed opted to play it safe with his gate selection for the main event, it inadvertently became his ‘Achilles Heal’ in his quest for a round win as he got shuffled back in the order off the start.
The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider broke into the top three on Lap 5 and was second on Lap 7, he maintained an intense pace to close in on race leader James Stewart, but ran out of laps and had to settle for the runner-up spot.
“I was happy with that,” Reed said. “Second is second, but that did feel a lot sweeter than the past two weeks.”
“The biggest issue I had tonight was where I started. I made a bad gate pick but with the track conditions, I wanted to play it safe and it didn’t work for me.”
“My laps are definitely there but unfortunately my starts aren’t at the moment. I need to put it all together and make it happen,” Reed explained.
Reed retains the championship lead and will now turn his attention to preparing for next weekend’s seventh round of the series which will be held at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.
AMA Supercross Results, Anaheim 3
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
3. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
4. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
7. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
8. Josh Hill, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha
10. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
AMA Supercross Season Standings after Round 6 of 17
1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 130
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 127
3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 111
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 102
5. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 91
6. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 88
7. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 82
8. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 75
9. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 68
10. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 67
