It's been a steep learning curve for Australian Chad Reed. The young Aussie produced what can only be described as three golden years on the international scene. Having left the security of his place as the major name in Australian supercross racing back in 1999, the young rider from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, took up the offer to race for the Jan de Groot Kawasaki factory team in Europe. After struggling to qualify for the opening Grand Prix of the season in Bellpuig, Spain, Reed made rapid improvement and finished the season in second place in the series point standings, earning a Grand Prix victory in Holland and showing amazing skills for a debutant in the FIM series. After a brief stint in Europe, Reed picked up a deal with Yamaha of Troy to race the AMA 125cc supercross and motocross season in 2001; and he led the East Coast 125cc series and finished third in the AMA 125cc Outdoor Championship.
For Reed it was not a time to celebrate his achievements, but a time to improve and move on to the next challenge-the 250cc class."I always wanted to be on a 250cc machine," Reed said. "I didn't come to the United States to race the 125cc class, though I never expected to just walk onto the 250cc factory team-I knew I would have to pay my dues on a smaller team. To win in the 125 class was great, but my goal is to be the best, and that means winning on a 250." Although many considered Reed's dream nothing more than another rider looking to do the impossible, the Aussie showed blistering speed at the U.S. Open in October 2002. He then backed it up with a win in the second round of the THQ World Supercross GP in Arnhem, Holland, leading David Vuillemin, Mike LaRocco and Jeremy McGrath in the process. However, Reed's nemesis, Ricky Carmichael, was absent."I won't be satisfied until I beat Carmichael," Reed said. "If I can win in the United States against all the top riders, then I will be satisfied, at least for the time being."
Entering the opening round of the AMA supercross championship, Reed was a bundle of nerves. This was what dreams were made of, and this 20-year-old rider from Down Under was about to shock the world. On a balmy night in Anaheim, California, Reed rewrote the record books, earning a victory and sending Carmichael back to the pits with a lot to think about."I was so excited," Reed said. "Although, at the press conference after the race, Carmichael mentioned that he would have won had he gotten a good start. That was the moment I realized it was time to stop the celebration and move on. I had worked my whole life to win that night, but already I was finding that I had to look ahead and forget about what I had done."Another aspect of Reed's win in Anaheim was the fact that Jeremy McGrath had retired a few days earlier. For Reed it was a matter of winning for his hero.
"When I heard that Jeremy was retiring I wanted to win even more," Reed said. "Sort of a show of respect to win it as Jeremy did back in the early 1990s. I watched so many videos of Jeremy when I was growing up and tried to perfect his style. He still gives me tips and to think he is watching out for me is a nice feeling. He's a great guy and someone I will always look up to." McGrath sat in the grandstands while Reed raced, and was so impressed that he began comparing the young rider to himself.
"It's just like when I won back in 1993," McGrath said. "It's sort of funny, because I won my first-ever 250cc supercross race in Europe, as Chad did, and I won my first-ever AMA supercross race in Anaheim, and Chad did that also. When I see him on the podium I really get a feeling that I've seen his look before-it's just like when I came in as a rookie." McGrath also has a feeling Reed will be around for a long time and enjoys seeing him challenge Carmichael.
"His technical skills are better than anyone's," McGrath said. "He is doing to Ricky Carmichael what I wanted to do to Ricky last season, and Ricky is struggling a little, he doesn't have the confidence he had last year. Chad Reed is for real, and I think he can do whatever it takes. I enjoy watching him race, and so many people have said he rides like I did, so it's nice to see how I must have looked."
The season will be long and hard for Reed-constant training and racing-though life on the road is something he has dreamed about, so he's not going to complain."I am where I always wanted to be," Reed said. "We have a great training program, and I am working with Jeff Spencer, who has trained people such as Lance Armstrong and several top motocross riders. I have a really busy schedule: Sunday is my day off, a day to recover from the race and have some fun; Monday through Wednesday, it's back to work and training; Thursday, we travel to the race; and Friday and Saturday are all business. Every morning I am motivated to get better. All the work I do during the week helps me ride better on Saturday night." Chad Reed is considered the highest-paid rider in supercross after Carmichael. It's a pressure Reed does not worry about. "It's an interesting path," Reed said. "Racing in Australia as a kid, my dream was to live on the other side of the world, and when I was 12 years old I felt my goal was close, but to be honest it was still a long way off. I learned how to ride fast in the United States and proved myself along the way. I try not to worry about money, that's just an added bonus, and I'm not here for that. My dream is winning races and being the best I can be. I don't even get a chance to think about what I am doing, it's just down to business and winning races. I was different from the other kids at school; I was working on being the best while everyone else was playing and having fun." Reed has great people surrounding him: his longtime girlfriend, Ellie; his trainer, Jeff Spencer; and his manager, former world 125cc motocross champion Bobby Moore. It's a team Reed is happy about."Those people are really important," Reed said. "Ellie and I don't have any family here in the United States, so these people help me and are looking out for me. I've known Ellie since we were in school. She is always around-I couldn't do what I am doing without her help."
The rivalry between Reed and Carmichael is not an easy one-the two are constantly saying something about each other in the newspapers or magazines-and for Reed it's personal. It's obvious he does not like Carmichael, and judging by their body language the two won't be going out to the movies together on a Sunday afternoon. Reed looks at what Carmichael can offer and what he lacks."His strength is he has won a lot of races," Reed said. "He has mastered the way to win, and that is about it; other than that, he's just the same as everyone else. I don't really want to say what his weakness is. It's pretty obvious he doesn't like me, and I don't like him. I think he is an interesting person; there are so many things I could say about him. It's fun to race with him. My secret is I have a great team around me-that might be his weakness." As for the other riders in the series, Reed thinks they lack the determination to run with him and Carmichael this year.
"They are really the other guys," Reed said. "I think they will be there at most of the races, but none of them seems to be able to do it week in and week out. I don't know why, but it seems as though it's just me and Ricky at the moment who are capable of winning often." Reed is looking forward to seeing James Stewart in the 250cc class in 2004. The two raced hard in 2002 in the 125cc class, and nothing will make Reed happier than racing with Stewart and Carmichael in the same class.
"It's going to be fun when he comes in," Reed said. "If we can have a good season without injuries, then it might come down to Carmichael, Stewart and me, which will be great for the sport. I enjoyed racing with James in 2002, and I think he brings something pretty cool to the sport." As far as returning to his homeland to race, the most famous racer in Australian MX history can think of nothing better."That's the plan," Reed said. "I love racing in Australia and I want to do at least one race a year at home. You know it comes with the job to take the time to race in front of the home crowd. I need to go when it's possible and the promoters have to agree on some terms, but yes, I want to race there. People are excited to see me when I go back home, so it's always interesting."
What does Reed expect to achieve in 20 years' time?
"Jeff Leisk is a big hero for many people in Australia," he said. "He was one of my heroes when I was growing up. I have never thought about how people will look at me when I am retired. I've given my all to this sport, and I hope people will look at me the same way I look at people such as Leisk and McGrath."
Chad's girlfriend, Ellie, has been by his side since the two began a relationship in school in Australia.
"He is always going 100 miles an hour," Ellie said. "I try and make things easier for him, get some things organized. This year is crazy-people want interviews with him, everyone wants to talk to him. I'm lucky to get any time with him at all, even at night when we are alone he's reading track maps, but it's all good."
Chad and Ellie recently bought a house on the East Coast, which makes traveling much easier. "We have a house in Florida," Ellie said, "just near Tampa and very close to where Tim Ferry lives. Chad rides a lot with Tim and I get on great with Tim's wife, so it's really a good place to be based."
Longing for home is something that Ellie tries not to do; instead she remains positive about their mission.
"I miss Australia and my family. But we have to look at what we have and not think about what we don't have, and it's important to enjoy what we're doing. I go to all the races and sometimes I think I would like to miss a race; it's so intense, and I get so exhausted."
Ellie has known Chad for many years, but there was not an immediate affection.
"When I first went out with him, when we went to school together, I thought he was cocky but cute. Seriously though, when you get to know Chad he is a really good person and a funny, relaxed guy. He was always different from the other guys, and he has such an infectious personality. He is really doing his best all the time, and motivates the people he is working with to do their best. He gives everything, and I think that is why he is popular with fans. He's a mess, but he is lovely."
If you don't know who Jeff Spencer is, then perhaps you've lived the past 20 years with your head in the sand. Spencer trained legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong for his Tour de France glory, as well as several of the best motocross riders of the 1980s and '90s, such as Johnny O'Mara and Rick Johnson. Spencer says he sees something special in Chad Reed.
"As in any sport a person's success is measured not only by his talent but also by his desire and what he brings to his career. I was asked last week who I thought Chad was most similar to of the people I have worked with, and I would say he is most similar to Lance Armstrong. They are really the same people in different sports. Lance is an incredible athlete, but he is so good because he is thinking about how to create a plan to move forward-not just with his will but also with his body. Chad has learned how to compress the learning curve to bring his career to its peak as quickly as possible; many riders have short careers because they don't think about that. "I also see that Chad and Lance think similarly-they have a strong work ethic, and they put together plans to take themselves to the top. They also have great people around them, and they let those people make decisions that will help them.
"I work with Chad on health management, body growth and repair, and how a body can absorb the weight of travel. It's a very intensive way of looking at every issue in a rider's career. It's a long job, but Chad and I don't think about the time spent, we work on getting the job done and we are committed to doing that. It's easy when you have someone like Chad who is so determined to do his best."
The greatest praise from Spencer comes from the attributes Reed brings to the racetrack. Having worked for the Honda factory team in the 1980s and '90s, Spencer has helped with the legends of the sport.
"I think Chad has the athleticism of Johnny O'Mara, the tenacity of Roger DeCoster or Bob Hannah and the physical skills of David Bailey. He really has a little from all the best riders-it's a special combination."