Motoracing: Reed wins 2009 AMA MX title

Australian Chad Reed has become only the fifth international rider to win an American motocross title, clinching this year's 450cc class at Budds Creek on August 22.

Reed's fifth overall victory of the season was enough to build an unassailable lead over Honda's Andrew Short with two rounds still remaining.

"I feel like (my career) is complete," stated Reed.

"I also feel like I got a lot more fight in me, but it's a step in the right direction. This is what hard work is all about. I want to thank everyone at Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki for putting this together.

"It was a last minute deal and just like in all racing, we had our ups and downs but came out on top in the end."
Reed's return to the outdoor title has been a massive success, although it took him a while to find his bearings at the start of the campaign. But once he found his mojo, and with injuries cruelling the hopes of fellow big guns Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) and Mike Alessi (Suzuki), Reed has been relentless.

Only three other riders have won the 450cc (nee 250cc) AMA motocross title: Frenchman Jean-Michel Bayle in 1991, followed by South Africans Greg Albertyn (1999) and Grant Langston (2007).

Langston also won the Lites (nee 125cc) title in 2003, and Bayle the now-defunct 500cc class in 1991. Pierre Karsmakers also won the 500cc battle in 1973, the year after AMA motocross championship racing first started.

After finishing behind Honda's Davi Millsaps in the opening moto at Budds Creek, Reed returned fire with victory in the second to claim the overall.

Millsaps (1-6) was second from Ivan Tedesco (Honda, 5-3), Kyle Regal (Yamaha 4-4), Tommy Hahn, (Kawasaki, 12-2) and Australian Michael Byrne (Suzuki, 6-5).

Byrne is fifth on 276pts, behind Reed (434), Short (330), Tedesco (322) and Yamaha's Josh Grant (280).

In the 250cc class, Australia's Brett Metcalfe (Honda) recovered from a lowly 18th in the opening moto to post a season-best second in the finale.

He still remains third in the standings, although Jake Weimer (Kawasaki, 2-1) has closed to within 10pts.

Christophe Pourcel (Kawasaki, 1-3) and Ryan Dungey (Suzuki 3-4) will fight for the title, sitting on 432 and 419pts respectively.

Click on the following link for full results and standings in the 2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, with two rounds remaining.

Once the championship concludes, Reed will return to Australia to defend his Super X title, which commences in Launceston on October 17.