Catching Up With Chad Reed
swapmoto
- January 25 2009
- 4,364 views
- 26 comments
Defending Supercross Champion Chad Reed struggled a bit in Houston, but even a horrible opening lap in the main event couldn’t hold him back. Reedy raced through the field and into second place at the finish behind James Stewart.
464Y6056.JPG
James Stewart said he didn’t feel too comfortable last weekend, but this weekend you weren’t too comfortable out there…
He said he didn’t feel too comfortable last weekend and he made a lot of mistakes. I guess in that aspect we had similar weekends, but the end result was not the same. For me to get second this weekend and be up on the podium was really good considering how I felt and where I had to come from. Though, I’d take last weekend’s track over this weekend’s track any time. I just didn’t gel with the track all weekend, and I struggled. I need to work on those things because I can’t have weaknesses, and tonight I was weak.
Describe what this track surface was like…it looked nice…
It looks great, but it’s really slick. It is really fine, but that fine dirt covers up the slick spots. You start grabbing a handful and then you end up going sideways. It was tough, but everybody had to ride the same track, so there are no excuses. I had an off week, but I will rebound next weekend.
Walk us through your wild first lap…
The first lap was really scary. I want to see some video, but I feel like I had a decent start and all of a sudden I got pushed wide. I was trying to weave in and out of people. I almost had a head on crash with [Tim] Ferry on the second lap. I passed somebody off the triple, and I turned down really early, and I think he was coming in to pass another person and I eyeballed him. I was like, ‘Woah!’ It scared me a lot. I just missed him and he just missed me, but it ended up working out. I was able to make up lost time on Ryan [Villopoto] and Shorty, and that was all I could do–hope for a podium. I could see Ryan in front of me, but I wasn’t taking too much out of his lead, but I knew I was going to be strong during those last five laps and that was all I was counting on. He ended up throwing it away, so he made it easy on me (laughs).
It looked like Andrew Short held you up a little bit…
I actually caught up to Short and got around him right away. Shorty was just riding really, really well. I think I put one good lap together, and I think he made a mistake that allowed me to jump up on him. As soon as I caught him I made my move on the inside of a turn and got around him. I was never really behind him because he had a good gap on me. I spent about four laps trying to chip away at his gap, but I really wasn’t make up any time. It made me a little nervous because I was in fourth, thinking how much it sucked (laughs).
Are you happy with your finish, considering how far back you were in the early going?
Yeah. After the start I didn’t even know what position I was in, but it was definitely tough back there. I worked hard on my starts this week, but to be honest I don’t think my starts are the problem; it’s where I’m at in the first turn. I need to stay clean and make smart choices in the first turn, because I think that is the key thing to a good start. All of James’ good starts have come from sneaking around on the inside. You just need to be in the right place at the right time.
How was the S-turn section after the start?
I think it was horrible, but that is just my own opinion. I got the holeshot in the heat race and just checked out. Those guys had no chance because I was able to get through there so clean and that’s what I don’t like about it. If you don’t get a good start, you should still be allowed to get through there. I don’t think there was any race tonight where there wasn’t a crash in that section. I don’t think it’s good to have a first turn crash in every single race of the night.
To upload photos or videos, 
»
January 25th, 2009 at 2:16 am
God!!, Reed is the biggest tool around. He’s a big baby, loves making excuses and blames others for his mistakes. He may have talent, but that’s about it.
January 25th, 2009 at 3:20 am
no dude ur tha biggest tool around,i didnt read any excuses just his opinion
January 25th, 2009 at 3:45 am
You responding to a different interview?
January 25th, 2009 at 8:16 am
i can remember reed crying on the big screen in atl got 2nd to Ricky i agree crying or making up reason bubba is better and im no bubba fan how about KW that is a classy rider.
January 25th, 2009 at 9:37 am
uhh…im pretty sure i he said something that went like this “everybody had to ride the same track, so there are NO EXCUSES.” and “but that is just my OWN OPINION.” So how could he be blaming others when he just gave his opinion and even said there was no excuses?? Geez people…
January 25th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Reed told it how it is. No excuses and gave his opinion. BTW - If Reed does get a holeshot he is going to win. His lap times in the mains for the first three races have been faster than Stewarts. Reed I hope you silene everyone who doens’ think you can win.
January 25th, 2009 at 11:23 am
ya dude dont bag on reed he gave his oppinion about the track and said everyone had to ride the same track so dont bag on him.
GO REED!!!!!!!
January 25th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
oh come on, man. Reed was giving an honest recap of the night. he said he couldn’t find a flow on the track and that he can’t let that happen. he admitted it was on him.
January 25th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
reed`s going to wax bubba this weekend fo-sho
January 25th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
what a dumbass comment lol
January 25th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
I was never the biggest Reed fan in the past, until he changed his attitude. Get some Reed!!
January 25th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
even on a track he didnt like he was on pace. i thought the track sucked too.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Anyone who bags on Reed is a dumbass, you may not have to like him but you got to have respect for what he can do. The man is just flat out fast…so far faster than Stewie
January 25th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
yes, i agree. I watch the ama hotwire every sat night. with the exception of houston reed has been faster that james. But, one thing that we might need to consider, once james is out front he might click to cruz mode. The only real proof we have is phoenix. They are both awesome, cant wait to see that kind of racing again.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Reeds the man i like how he says it the way he sees it and doesent suger coat. Chads the real deal and got alot of heart hes also really fast this year hope they go at it all year may the fastest man win.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:02 am
reedy is the only guy who can keep it interesting with james being so fast but he realy needs to win some motos if he is going to have any claim to be faster than james. even if he wins the championship but hasnt beaten james straight up it will be an empty victory.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:56 am
g ravy train needs to get a life and learn how to read, but i guess just coming out of 8 years with Bush as your president, being illiterate is understandable. Reed didn make any excuses, he said he had an off night, but at the end of the day had the same track as everyone else, he got to second mate so how about you go back to doing what your wife asks and get a clue
January 26th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I hate fools who hate on riders…these guys are all talented..or they wouldn’t be in the main…i turned pro in 94…and never made a main event..but i still smoked almost anyone i rode with…give these dudes credit..they are better than you…(Gravy Train)…
January 26th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Reed please come and race outdoors this year!!!!
January 26th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
what races are you watching? its simple the gate drops at the same time for all the riders so no matter if reed gets lucky and sets a fast lap of the night the man who finishes on the top step of the podium has completed the race the fastests…period end of discussion! and reedy forgot that on stewarts bad night he still came out on top. well i look forward to more racing as well as reed coming up with more “i don’t want to make excuses, but…” for the rest of the season
January 26th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
he was just saying that so dumbas$ like you would say that! and intelligent people like me and the person that started this, can look past it and see that he really is making excuses..
January 26th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
he is not faster than james. his times in these races have been. james has been in first, and he has been going as fast as he has needed to be. however, Reed has been in last and he has needed to go as fast as possible to catch up. there was an interview a little bit earlier where james actually said to swap who asked him “reed was 2 seconds faster, can you run that pace” and he answered “i can go as fast as i need to” if james need to go 10 seconds faster than reed, he could. but if he doesnt need to go that fast, why should he push himself?
January 26th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Reed has been looking so smooth, he was a little tight at houston, however I think if he pulls a top 5 start it will be a battle royale with stewie. I can’t wait to see them dice it up, I just hope they don’t take eachother out by trying to push it. But if history rerpeats itself then they prob will.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:52 am
I love it how people can sit behind a computer and bag out on people! Reed is a super quick rider and no matter what people say about him he will always be fast. Reed gave his opinion simple as that! oh and next time you want to bag out reed why dont you go line up next to stewart! oh thats right to computer geeks don’t ride just talk crap!!
January 27th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
The only time Reeds won a championship is when his top competetors are out like last supercross season when stewart was out with knee sugery. Reed is fast, but not fast enough. Stewart used to get the same lap times as charmichael when stewart was still on a 125 and charmichael was on a 250. Stewart is the fastest dont doubt it. He goes as fast as he needs to, just like the interview said.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Reed is the most honest rider out their and is not fake. He will admit if he was not the fastest rider and will just work harder come next week. We all know he will battle with Stewart in one of these next few races, and plus he is in control of the championship right now.