Chad Reed is one of the best motocross/supercross riders that has ever lived. We knew that before the events at Millville, but his ride to fourteenth after his frightening crash will cement his name forever in the annuls of motocross history and his status as a legend.
Chad Reed has never been out of the top three (except for injury in 2010) since the start of his professional career in the top tier of the sport. Since 2001, when Chad came second in the 250cc World Championship (still one of his most impressive achievements in my eyes), he has always been in the top three of the US mx or sx series, and indeed 10 years later he finished second in the 2011 Supercross Championship and is currently leading the US national outdoor championship.
Maybe only the two greatest riders of all time, Stefan Everts and Ricky Carmichael can boast of careers that have as consistently been at the top for that long, and that is the sort of company Chad Reed can keep, because he is that good.
Add in three major championships and an Eastern Region Supercross title in his debut season, Reed has the titles to back up his incedible consistency. He is also fourth on the all time supercross win list, and top of the all time podium supercross list. The numbers dont lie, but it is not only the statistics that make Reed one of the best ever it is the way he has done it.
Chad's style and technique on a motorcycle can be matched by maybe only a handful of riders, he can ride at the top level and do it while in complete control, and ooze style while doing it. His riding style is perfect to show a young rider how to ride a bike, but more than that his mental strength, intelligence and self confidence are perhaps equally as invaluable to his success.
Chad Reed just doesn't know when he is beaten. Reed can get smoked by 30 seconds multiple times and come out the next race and believe he is going to win, this has been shown time and time again, even in 2011. This mental fortitude and fight is perhaps the key to his success, as is his intelligence.
Chad Reed is smart, on the bike and off it. He doesn't use too much energy when he rides, he doesn't push himself to the point where he will crash every week trying to win. His "You have to be in it, to win it"attitude has allowed him to compete his entire career without too many injuries, he pushed his rivals to their breaking point, but doesn't push himself to same risk, he allows others to make mistakes and he reads race situations excellently.
2011 has maybe been Reed's most impressive season. Proving people wrong has been one of Chad's greatest motivations, and many wrote off the Australian's chances when he decided at the last minute to put his own team together without factory support and on a brand new motorcycle he had never ridden before.
Yet again Reed proved he was smart, he got the right people in and created the best environment to win, he also had a hand in designing his team graphics and riding gear - team two two is one of the best looking teams in the pits.
Both Jeremy McGrath and Jeff Stanton doubted Reed's ability to win coming into 2011, but Chad proved everyone wrong once more, only four points from the supercross champoinship including two wins, it proved once again just what a shrewd and talented guy Reed is.
His crash at Millville bore testament to just how tough and how much heart Chad Reed has. Every aspect of Reeds qualities were tested, and he pulled through like never before. He wants this outdoor title, and he wants it bad , if he wins the US motocross championship against Villopoto and Dungey, it would go down as his greatest title ever in my opinion.
Chad Reed has come a long way from Australia, he doesn't have home country advantage, he never has, yet he is taking it too his American counterparts year afer year on ambition, talent and self-belief. It should never be underestimated what Reed has had to do and the things he has sacrificed to get where he has, and it makes his achievements all the more remarkable.
Chad Reed was already a legend, but Millville has turned him into an inspiration. Never give up, always believe, that is Chad Reed.
Thursday 21 July 2011
Monday 4 July 2011
Christophe Pourcel - is he ready for GP racing?
Christophe Pourcel is an enigma. Many have tried and many have failed to understand the Frenchman on multiple levels, When it comes to riding a motocross bike, most can't understand how he can go so fast and make it look so as easy, he creates the percetion that he isn't trying...but the best are renowned for making it look easy.
On a personal level he has been described as aloof and arrogant or shy and misunderstand depending on who you talk too. But nothing was as confusing as his decision to join Motoconcepts Yamaha for the US motocross nationals.
As that deal reached it's inevitable problems, and subsequent contract termination, the blame game went between Pourcel having to deal with a sub par team or Pourcel not putting in enough effort on or off the bike. Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between and it is better for both parties to go their seperate ways to achieve their own goals, their own way.
But now Pourcel has no more excuses, he is back on his beloved Kawasaki, he is back with a Mitch Payton backed team, he is back with some of the people that guided him to his world title in 2006, and he is back in the World Championship. This time it is MX1.
But can he win? On a talent level, there is no question.. even on the MC Yamaha he passed Reed and Villopoto. The main question is his comfort level and fitness. He has been riding the 450 Kawasaki since 2006, in fact, CP was still practicing on one during the US nationals after he didn't receive a Yamaha to his Florida home. So his adaption to the bike should be no problem. That just leaves the question of fitness, it is believed Pourcel had arm pump surgery after Freestone, and that, combined with feeling good on the bike, should alleviate some of his problems to complete a race riding a 100%.
Can he get fit enough however to ride two days of GP motocross everyday to challenge Cairoli and co? That remains to be seen, but his speed and talent are there and going by this video CP should be a contender for the MX1 podium in Germany this weekend... but he might be a little shocked at the depth of competition!
My guess is Pourcel wants to get his reputation back and have people talk about his talent and speed. Christophe will want to beat his GP rival Cairoli in the GPs and establish himself as the top French 450 rider by beating Frossard. If he does that he will get picked for the MXDN in his home country of France, and no doubt he motivation will be high to win the race individually and as a team. Pourcel will be motivated to put it to Cairoli, Desalle, Villopoto, Reed and Dungey to prove a lot of the naysayers wrong especially in America, who say he can't cut it on a 450.
Christophe Pourcel is back..and he looks good.
Don't write the mercurial Frenchman off, he has come back from much worse!
On a personal level he has been described as aloof and arrogant or shy and misunderstand depending on who you talk too. But nothing was as confusing as his decision to join Motoconcepts Yamaha for the US motocross nationals.
As that deal reached it's inevitable problems, and subsequent contract termination, the blame game went between Pourcel having to deal with a sub par team or Pourcel not putting in enough effort on or off the bike. Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between and it is better for both parties to go their seperate ways to achieve their own goals, their own way.
But now Pourcel has no more excuses, he is back on his beloved Kawasaki, he is back with a Mitch Payton backed team, he is back with some of the people that guided him to his world title in 2006, and he is back in the World Championship. This time it is MX1.
But can he win? On a talent level, there is no question.. even on the MC Yamaha he passed Reed and Villopoto. The main question is his comfort level and fitness. He has been riding the 450 Kawasaki since 2006, in fact, CP was still practicing on one during the US nationals after he didn't receive a Yamaha to his Florida home. So his adaption to the bike should be no problem. That just leaves the question of fitness, it is believed Pourcel had arm pump surgery after Freestone, and that, combined with feeling good on the bike, should alleviate some of his problems to complete a race riding a 100%.
Can he get fit enough however to ride two days of GP motocross everyday to challenge Cairoli and co? That remains to be seen, but his speed and talent are there and going by this video CP should be a contender for the MX1 podium in Germany this weekend... but he might be a little shocked at the depth of competition!
My guess is Pourcel wants to get his reputation back and have people talk about his talent and speed. Christophe will want to beat his GP rival Cairoli in the GPs and establish himself as the top French 450 rider by beating Frossard. If he does that he will get picked for the MXDN in his home country of France, and no doubt he motivation will be high to win the race individually and as a team. Pourcel will be motivated to put it to Cairoli, Desalle, Villopoto, Reed and Dungey to prove a lot of the naysayers wrong especially in America, who say he can't cut it on a 450.
Christophe Pourcel is back..and he looks good.
Don't write the mercurial Frenchman off, he has come back from much worse!
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