Australian professional Chad Reed will ride a JGR Suzuki RM-Z450 in this year’s Monster Energy S-X Open Supercross FIM Oceania Championship.
And he vows to put it all on the line to win in 2018.
The two-time US supercross champion from Kurri Kurri, in NSW, says winning the AUS-X Open Sydney and the S-X Open Auckland is what he needs to cement himself a place in the US Supercross Championships in 2019.
“I’m coming to Australia and Auckland to win both events and the S-X Open FIM Oceania Championship,” Reed said.
“As far as 2019 goes, I still don’t have a ride locked in. My plan right now is to do the best I can at the Monster Cup, Sydney and Auckland (at Mount Smart Stadium) and try to use my results there to lock in a deal for next year. I’m 100% aiming to line up for A1 (round one of the US supercross champs at Anaheim) ready to race for podiums and wins and will be doing everything I can to do that.
“My passion for riding is at a really good point right now, I’m really enjoying the fight and I’m really pushing hard to be a part of the team in ‘19,” Reed added.
Reed says jumping back on board a Suzuki brought back a lot of fond memories from his days with the Japanese manufacturer back in 2009 and believes Joe Gibbs Racing has created the perfect recipe to challenge the world’s best
“Immediately a lot of those feelings form 2009, you know getting into turns, getting out of turns, that stability of riding a Suzuki, I was just like wow,” Reed added.
“I feel really comfortable on it and feel like I’m really enjoying my riding again, which is great because the start of the year was tough.
“I’ve been training really hard throughout the summer here in the US and honestly feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve been in, in years.”
With four-time US supercross champion Ryan Villopoto, former MX2 motocross world champion Ben Townley, and the rest of New Zealand and Australia’s best, the 2018 Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland is shaping up to be the biggest motorsport event ever held in New Zealand.
S-X Open Auckland will feature pyrotechnics, live music and first-class concert like entertainment values, just a short drive from Auckland’s CBD at the world-class Mt Smart Stadium; with a pit party area accessible on the outside of the stadium for all motorsport fans to get up close and personal with their favourite teams and riders. It promises to be an amazing spectacle for all ages to enjoy.
Further announcements regarding the athlete line-up and more are still to come. Head to Ticketmaster via the link below to purchase tickets or for more information visit HERE or, for tickets, click HERE
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) will be supporting the event as part of Auckland’s Major Events Portfolio, which generates social and economic benefits for the region.
KEY INFORMATION ON S-X OPEN AUCKLAND
The Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland event at Mount Smart Stadium will be a stadium-based motor and action sports event combining some of the best riders in the world across both Supercross and Freestyle Motocross (FMX) international competitions and both disciplines in the one event. It will be one of the largest competitive action sports and Supercross event in the Southern Hemisphere and the biggest ever held in New Zealand.
Created by the founders of the popular AUS-X Open event in Sydney, S-X Open Auckland will bring motorsport fans more extreme action than ever seen in the city before, including home-grown talent.
KEY STATS FOR S-X OPEN AUCKLAND
- The S-X Open Auckland will feature the very best international athletes as well as New Zealand and Australia’s best for the first time ever in New Zealand
- The S-X Open International Supercross FIM Oceania Championship will be the most unique international Supercross Championship outside of the USA, and will be sanctioned by FIM Oceania – a region of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, the world governing body of motorcycle racing.
- S-X Open International Supercross FIM Oceania Championship will include the opening round, the AUS-X Open Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on November 10, and the final round the S-X Open Auckland at Mt Smart Stadium on November 24, with the Champion being crowned in Auckland.
- All new Triple Crown race format in both SX1 & SX2 classes will mean non-stop, high intensity action that will have fans on the edge of their seats, for the entire duration of the event.
- FMX riders will contest the FMX ‘Best Trick’ competition with previous winners throwing down such tricks as Double Backflips, Bikeflips and Frontflips with fans in absolute awe of what these guys can do with their motorcycles.
- 45% were from outside of NSW or from overseas and flew in excess of one hour by plane to attend the 2017 AUS-X Open Sydney event. It truly captures a national and international audience and is so unique, fans travel far and wide to attend every year
- Broadcast LIVE in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and replayed in the USA and Europe to over 300 million households in 2017
- Supercross is a newer, faster, action-packed version of motocross, the sport’s original form. Whereas motocross takes place on long courses built primarily on the dirt and terrain offered up by nature, Supercross races are made from dirt hauled into stadiums with bigger jumps, massive banking turns, ruts and bumps as amplifying the experience for both rider and spectator.
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