Posts
408
Joined
1/15/2018
Location
Madison, GA
US
JT nailed it.
RacerX -
THOMAS: I know you said no waffling but man, this is tough. When push comes to shove, I think Chad's ability to not only stay relevant, but to repeatedly reinvent himself and rise to the very top of whatever era he was. In 2003, he had to find a way to deal with Ricky Carmichael and by the end of 2003, he did just that, winning the final six SX races. Over the next few years, he struggled with the juggernaut that was James Stewart but through those struggles, gave us some of the most intense battles in the sport's history. Then after 2010 he went back to the drawing board and re-introduced himself with his own team, TwoTwo Motorsports, in 2011. Those 2011 and 2012 seasons saw a rejuvenated, improved Chad Reed. He was able to take the fight to the new era, Ryan Dungey and Ryan Villopoto. Injuries would interrupt championship runs in those seasons but Reed wasn't quite done yet, even 10 years into his American jaunt. In 2014 and 2015, he would switch to Kawasaki and have to deal with yet more new guys, like Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen. His wins in 2014 and 2015 would dominate the headlines, shocking the sport yet again. So many comebacks, so many seasons, and yet here we sit. It's 2020 and he's coming off a top-ten finish at the age of 38! His biggest accomplishment? Proving everyone wrong over and over. He truly feeds off of his ability to defy the odds. For that reason alone, I refuse to bet against the 22.
Never bet against Chad MF Reed.
RacerX -
THOMAS: I know you said no waffling but man, this is tough. When push comes to shove, I think Chad's ability to not only stay relevant, but to repeatedly reinvent himself and rise to the very top of whatever era he was. In 2003, he had to find a way to deal with Ricky Carmichael and by the end of 2003, he did just that, winning the final six SX races. Over the next few years, he struggled with the juggernaut that was James Stewart but through those struggles, gave us some of the most intense battles in the sport's history. Then after 2010 he went back to the drawing board and re-introduced himself with his own team, TwoTwo Motorsports, in 2011. Those 2011 and 2012 seasons saw a rejuvenated, improved Chad Reed. He was able to take the fight to the new era, Ryan Dungey and Ryan Villopoto. Injuries would interrupt championship runs in those seasons but Reed wasn't quite done yet, even 10 years into his American jaunt. In 2014 and 2015, he would switch to Kawasaki and have to deal with yet more new guys, like Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen. His wins in 2014 and 2015 would dominate the headlines, shocking the sport yet again. So many comebacks, so many seasons, and yet here we sit. It's 2020 and he's coming off a top-ten finish at the age of 38! His biggest accomplishment? Proving everyone wrong over and over. He truly feeds off of his ability to defy the odds. For that reason alone, I refuse to bet against the 22.
Never bet against Chad MF Reed.
There's no denying that he's probably one of the greatest racers here in the States with the 3 National level championships or less. And he'd likely have more if he didn't have the competition that he had. But that could also be said about many racers.
It's his persona that seems to divide people in their opinions about him, not his ability or performance.
The Shop
Won an AMA 450 outdoor title
Won a AMA SX title in 250 and 450?
Won a world MXGP round
Won a race at the Des nations
Finished on the overall podium at the Des nations?
Plus all the other championship podiums, overseas SX wins and whatever else I've forgot.
Not pissing in his pocket to much, an actual serious question.
Different path’s different journey’s .....both legends
It puts Chad’s stellar career in perspective.
Edit: Actually, Dixon is 2 weeks short of 40.
There was a question asked and answered, somehow you felt it was worth comparing the paths?
Reed won 3 major titles, RV won 8. Was Reeds journey 3 times more difficult than Villipotos? No one was downplaying what Reed accomplished but for some reason it seems like people are doing that to the others.
If you had any idea how far away We are, how small the sport is here, how much travel you have to go for a shitty local race, let alone any level of comp as a junior. They were poor and from a tiny town, no real bike support like you guys have.... And it wasn’t like there were a bunch of international fast guys to check his speed and learn against.
I can’t stress enough how big an issue the comp is. He wasn’t winning GPs the second he got to Europe. He somehow managed to adapt and up his pace race by race, year on year in new environments, from winning on a tennis court in 2000 against guys who never sniffed much more than a top 15, maybe 10 at a major international to beating RC harder than anyone ever did or would in 2003. That’s beyond fuckin crazy.
No one is putting RV down. A list of accomplishments was put fourth. Two guys tick it. Dougy just pointed out the obstacles Chad had to pass to get near the list. And if the odds weren’t near insurmountable, how come every cunt hasn’t done it?
Pit Row
Especially with the training regimen these guys have now
I’d have loved to see how the 05 season plays out if he either doesn’t get forced on to the Yz Ali frame, or he signed the deal with Suzuki.
He didn’t adapt as quickly to the four strokes, but the Yamahas went from curve makers to behind pretty quick. Probably didn’t help. He was way more competitive in with James 2008 at the first couple races compared to 06/07 where he wasn’t close... and then 09 if he had decent starts it could have easily gone the other way.
Honda went from maybe his favorite bike to least with the chassis and Shows air suspension in 2013. Barcia And Chad seemingly left because of that. Once Trey got KYB his results flipped.
Post a reply to: To sum up Reed - great read and very true.