Reed second at Anaheim II

January 19, 2009

Chad Reed (Suzuki) has recovered from an opening lap crash to finish second at round three of the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series in Anaheim last Saturday.

The Australian world champion went down in the first corner of the final, and then had to slice his way through the field in the 20-lapper.

His charge got him all the way back up to second, at the expense of Honda's Kevin Windham, right at the death knell. But Reed could do nothing about Yamaha's James Stewart, who won his second race in a row.

"I was somewhere in the top five off the start and someone took me out," Reed explained. "Really, I just tried to go into damage control tonight and play it smart for 20 laps as it was an extremely difficult track to pass on.

"We have the points lead now, so I am so excited. The entire Rockstar Makita Suzuki team has been working their butts off, and I am confident, especially after our recovery tonight."

Reed is now the only rider to have finished on the dais in all three rounds, and is now on 64pts, ahead of Josh Grant (Yamaha, 61), Andrew Short (Honda, 53) and Stewart (52).

Grant and Short were fifth and sixth at the Angel Stadium, with Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto fourth.

Australian Daniel McCoy (Honda) was fourth in the last chance qualifier, with only the top two going through to the final.

In the Lites, Suzuki's Ryan Dungey charged to back-to-back wins from Ryan Morais (Kawasaki) and Jake Weimer (Kawasaki).

Australian Dan Reardon was sixth, improving to ninth overall in the standings.

Round four will be held in Houston on January 24.

For full results and standings, click here.