World, US and Aussie Supercross Champion Chad Reed

Photos: New South Wales rider Chad Reed – Australia’s most successful supercross and motocross racer, winner of two World FIM Supercross titles and multiple AMA and Australian supercross and motocross championship winner (By Olivier de Vaulx).

Australia's first and only World Supercross Champion Chad Reed

Chad Reed, from Kurri Kurri in New South Wales, is without doubt Australia’s greatest ever supercross racer.

After winning both the Australian 250cc National Supercross and Motocross Championships in 1999, at age 17, and back-to-back National SX titles in 2000, he established himself as a potential motocross champion at the 18th Annual Paris (Bercy) Supercross in France, twice finishing on the podium in his first attempt at this world famous event.

This led to a contract with Jan DeGroot’s factory Kawasaki team to compete in the 2001 World 250ccc Motocross Championship, where he finished second in his first full season. He was a revelation that year aboard his KX250, winning the Grand Prix of Lierop in The Netherlands, as well as the 125/250 class race at the Motocross des Nations in Belgium – the International teams event for motocross.

He then signed a deal with Team Yamaha of Troy racing supercross in the States for 2002 and, together with his high school sweetheart, Ellie, they made the move from Europe to the US to fulfill his childhood dream.

Reed would go onto to become one of the World’s best supercross racers – winning three AMA Supercross Championships and two FIM World Supercross Championships (2003 and 2008). The 2008 title was the first time the 450cc AMA SX Series was given World Championship status by the FIM (Federation International Motorcycles).

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Reed - AMA's most consistent supercross racer

In the 2000 to 2009 decade, Reed established himself as the most consistent supercross/motocross racer in the world. He is currently the record holder for most main event starts in AMA Supercross history with 265 starts (as at 2020), competing at the highest level for over 20 years.

In 2002, Reed led Australia to victory in the World Cup of Motocross, with Michael Byrne and his cousin Craig Anderson. Reed finished 1-2-1 to be the highest individual points scorer at the event. Throughout his career, Reed represented Australia seven times in the Motocross des Nations, delivering our first ever podium finish at St Jean d’Angély, France on 17-18 September 2011 with Matt Moss and Brett Metcalfe.

In recognition for his outstanding achievements and contribution to the sport of supercross and motocross, on 13 June 2011 Reed was named a Member of the Order of Australia.

In January 2020, at the start of the USA Supercross season, Chad Reed announced that it would be his final full-time season. He did, however briefly come out of retirement in 2022, announcing a comeback with MDK Motorsports for the new FIM World Motocross Championship (WSX). However, a heavy heat race fall during the opening round in Cardiff (UK) left him with multiple injuries including broken bones and a dislocated shoulder from the impact.

Photo: Chad Reed celebrating with the crowd at an AMA Supercross event. Reed is currently the record holder for most main event starts in AMA Supercross history with 265 starts (as at 2020), competing at the highest level for over 20 years.