Reflecting upon the Australian's six-career victories in the city.
This weekend will mark Chad Reed’s final appearance at the San Diego round of Monster Energy Supercross, a place in which he has enjoyed immense success at over the past two decades in the sport.
San Diego has always proven to be a fruitful battleground for the famous number 22, the Southern Californian location serving as the venue for his first-ever Supercross main event back in 1999. Each of his six wins came at Qualcomm Stadium, prior to the transfer to Petco Park in 2015.
Fast-forward four years and the Australian picked up his first victory in San Deigo, just five weeks after earning his maiden main event win in the premier class. He fended off teammate David Vuillemin for the top spot, while Ricky Carmichael locked out the podium.
It was only the beginning of what was to come for then factory Yamaha rider, as he went onto notch up two more wins in San Diego in the following two years. His 2004 victory saw him defeat a four-stroke mounted Kevin Windham, as Vuillemin was once again on the podium. He claimed his first premier class title that season.
Image: Garth Milan.
In 2005, Reed defeated Carmichael, while it was veteran Mike LaRocco on the box in third position. His reign of San Diego ended in 2006 – the era where majority of riders transitioned to 450 four-strokes – but he bounced back in 2007 with L&M Racing Yamaha to regain his dominance, scoring taking the checkered flag over Tim Ferry and Windham.
Reed continued that type of winning form in 2008, where he added a fifth San Diego win on his way to earning a second title after defeating Ferry for the second-consecutive year.
Reed’s next victory wouldn’t come until 2011 and it was a special one for two reasons since it marked his first win as a team owner and rider operating TwoTwo Motorsports and it would be his final victory in the city. That night he went up against Ryan Dungey and James Stewart to emerge victoriously.
This Saturday night he’ll head to Petco Park for the last time as a professional and, while a win is unlikely, you can guarantee a spirited performance from the Australian if he’s able to ride after missing the Oakland round last weekend.
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