Reed resurgence brings second at Anaheim 3

 4th February 2007

  Australia’s most successful Supercross export Chad Reed has finished a close second at Round 5 of the 2007 Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium on Saturday night.

 After finally being able to complete a full week of training both on and off the track as he continues to recuperate from shoulder injuries, Reed looked promising from the start of the event with his lap times matching those of the Championship leader.

 Reed won his early evening heat race convincingly, never challenged as he led the 8-lap race from start to finish.

Second off the line when the gate dropped in the 20-lap Main Event, Reed started to reel in the championship leader over the opening laps. The two riders went wheel-to-wheel swapping for the lead before the L&M/San Manuel/Yamaha rider was controversially passed and sent into the tough blocks, bringing the capacity crowd to their feet in support of the Australian.

 Never more than two seconds behind the leader, Reed once again found himself hindered by lapped riders but continued to reel off lap times that were quicker than those of his nemesis.

With eight laps remaining Reed mounted a charge and consistently shaved tenths of a second each lap off the race leader until the exciting final lap which saw Reed give it his all. While Reed crossed the chequered flag in second place he did so within a second of the winning rider, giving fans and the L&M team a great indication he is nearly back to full fitness.

Extremely happy with his progress Reed acknowledged that the ability to get out and train on his Yamaha YZ450F this week proved the difference in his performance. "As well as my off track training we were able to do a lot of work at the test track this week and that's what it takes," Reed said.

"You need a team that's supportive of you and want to follow in your direction, everybody has an opinion and you put them together and make a good plan and that's what I was excited about, we made some good choices this week and I think it showed this weekend. That’s what it's all about."

"I felt if the start came my way this week I could be in the battle. I knew that I could follow James and try to match his pace and see what happened. James made a few mistakes and I was able to get close and make a pass, he passed me back. I was pumped to follow him over the finish line for 20 laps.

“This weekend was much more promising than it has been in the past weeks," Reed added.  

Reed will next compete at Round 6 of the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series which will be held at Houston’s Reliant Stadium in Texas on Saturday 10^th February