ADB Magazine columnist Chad Reed discusses his plans for 2018 and whether we'll see him on a Yamaha or another brand.
We know his contract with Yamaha is done and dusted but Reed has left everyone guessing what colour he’ll be riding in 2018, or even what he’ll be riding at the AUS-X Open. He’s been spotted riding a Honda and a KTM but nothing is confirmed.
This is Reed’s column for ADB Magazine issue #457.
I’m still working on my plans for 2018 but, at this stage, it is looking unlikely I will remain with Yamaha.
I’ve represented the blue team for a total of nine years, with the 2002 and 2004 seasons being by far my favourites.
I am proud to say I gave it 100 per cent every time I swung a leg over a Yamaha. I have some great memories with some great teammates that set the bar high for a rookie like me to learn from.
Although it wasn’t always in first place, I stood on a supercross podium for Yamaha more times than anyone else, which is an incredible achievement and one I am especially proud of.
While I continue to work on my deal for next year I have made a little more progress with #Project 04 and finally got to kick the engine over. It sounded just as sweet as it did in 2004, which was pretty impressive as it hadn’t run in 13 years.
This project is a labour of love which I am chipping away at and slowly getting closer to that first ride. I hit a couple of hurdles with parts I thought were back in Australia which has slowed things down a bit.
I want to congratulate Dean Ferris and Craig Dack at CDR on another Australian motocross title. I was also pleased to see Dean’s name in the Australian team to compete at the Motocross of Nations in England in October this year.
I think Motorcycling Australia has done a good job selecting this year’s team. All three riders are achieving exceptional results. Aside from his title win, Dean has a lot of experience, having raced in Europe in MXGP. Kirk Gibbs, who will join him in the MX1 class, has had a great season and was the only rider to beat Dean.
Hunter Lawrence, who will ride in MX2, has spent the season riding in that class in the world championship. Last year he qualified first and won both EMX250 motos at the German MXGP.
I wish them the best of luck for the event; let’s see if they can better our third place result from 2011. It was also great to see the Australian Junior Motocross team finish fourth overall at the Junior Motocross World Championship in Estonia.
I won’t lie, I am getting restless and can’t wait to have my direction for 2018 set in stone. In the meantime, I have been spending time with Ellie and the kids and even got to do the soccer dad thing.
Reed contributes a column to every issue of ADB. For the latest on his plans for 2018 check out issue #458 of ADB, on sale now!
Photo: Simon Cudby