WHAT COLOUR WILL IT BE?

The silly season is now in full swing and it’s Aussie hero Chad Reed who is at the centre of things.

In the wake of GEICO Honda’s announcement recently that they’ve signed Eli Tomac to ride their CRF450R next season (despite huge-dollar offers from the Kawasaki, Yamaha and RCH teams), the AMA silly-season is now in full swing.

One rumour that’s gained momentum in recent weeks is that former American champion Reed will not only be returning to Australia later this year to race the 2013 Australian Supercross Championship, but that he’ll be aboard a Yamaha.

It is believed that Yamaha has offered Chad’s TwoTwo Motorsports team more factory support than Honda was prepared to give and the Aussie rider/team owner is seriously considering renewing his ties with the blue factory.

Given that Honda will have tied up big 450-class bucks in both Team Honda Muscle Milk and GEICO Honda for season 2014 (in other words, they’ve locked down Justin Barcia, Trey Canard and Tomac), it makes sense that the 31-year-old Reed and his TwoTwo Motorsports team might have been left on the outer to some extent when it comes to factory support from Honda.

Reed has always had a soft spot for Yamaha, having spent a majority of his time in America on blue bikes. It is also widely known that Chad has retained a very close relationship with Yamaha USA’s main man on the race scene, Keith McCarty.

Reed last raced a Yamaha in 2008 when he won that year’s AMA Supercross title.

Reed has also made it known that his Shift and Fox contracts are up for renewal. As Reed has played a key role in the revitalisation of Shift in the past couple of years, the talk is that he’s likely to stay with the brand.

Rumours are also flying hot that Reedy could be on board a Suzuki for season 2014, too.

Reed, who certainly seems to be finished with his three-year Honda run, never really got on with the 2012 CRF, and when combined with some physical ailments during the season, he had a miserable year.

After he pulled off and left the track at Utah, it got many thinking this will be his last year on a red bike. It will not be his last year racing, however.

Reed still has clout and is chatting with other brands. Rumours are also strong that the RCH Suzuki team (Ricky Carmichael/Carey Hart team) and TwoTwo Motorsports could be in for a merger. Since both Hart and Reed share the same agent and sponsorship, this could be integrated nicely.

Reed on a Suzuki? The combo has worked wonders before and could be the shot in the arm Chad needs.

Of course, Reed’s biggest weapon has always been his personal pride and general head strength – or stubbornness. The guy knows where he stands and what he’s capable of, and if he couldn’t cope anymore, he’d quit.

He’s not quitting, which means he still knows he has it. And since he still believes in himself, it means he might very well still keep the dream of his own TwoTwo Motorsports team alive.

He’s skipping the Motocross of Nations and the Monster Energy Cup and won’t race again until the US supercross opener Anaheim.

What colour will be his bike when he rolls to the line at Anaheim is anyone’s guess.