Yamaha’s Chad Reed to UK & Italy MXGP | Wild Card Return

Chad Reed to Italy MXGP

Yamaha’s Chad Reed – a two-time AMA Supercross Champion – will return to the world stage of motocross racing this month to compete in the MXGP series.

Reed, who will pilot a Yamaha YZ450F as a wild card, rides as a wild card with support from Yamaha Motor Europe. He will compete at the Matterley Basin in the UK June 18-19, and Mantova in Italy June 25-26.

“I’m excited to come back and race in Europe. Over the years I’ve been here for Motocross of Nations, so I know what to expect, and of course I watch the MXGP rounds every week to see who’s winning. But these guys are riding at full gas in the middle of their season, and my Supercross season just ended in May, so I think we’re going to have a couple of great races together in the UK and Italy,” Reed said.

The 34-year-old Australian is a star in America with 44 AMA Supercross and Motocross career victories and two Supercross Championship titles in 2003 and 2008.

With multiple indoor and outdoor titles to his name, Reed recently finished the 2016 Supercross Championship fifth overall in the 450SX class, taking 14 top 10 finishes. The popular Motocross superstar last raced full-time in Europe in 2001, where he finished second overall to Mickaël Pichon in the 250cc series, Yamaha reports.

“A lot has changed in 15 years. What used to be just three classes and a single-moto format is now two days and five classes. It’s going to be nice to come back and see old faces and old friends, but the pace is going to be high and from a racing point of view I’m a competitive guy and I want to do well,” Reed said.

Reed will also make a full round of promotional and sponsor appearances for fans and media at Matterley Basin and Mantova. Stay tuned for details on a #ChatWithChad Facebook Live session with Chad Reed on Friday June 17.