Reed and McFarlane - Two Aussies

 

It was 2001, and two young Aussies had made their way to Europe off good performances at the Australian GP the previous year. Chad Reed and Andrew McFarlane. They arrive at the Bellpuig circuit in Spain not really knowing what to expect, Reed racing for the Jan De Groot Kawasaki team in the 250 class, and McFarlane for the Rinaldi Yamaha team in the 500cc class.

I still clearly remember catching up with them early on Saturday, they were walking around the circuit, and I decided to join them. Both were fresh and ready for anything. Reed the more confident and cockier, McFarlane a little humbler and more unsure.

Reed would finish eight and McFarlane ninth, solid performances, but nothing too special. Throughout the 2001 season the two impressed. McFarlane picking up a second-place finish to Stefan Everts at the Aussie GP, and Reed winning the GP of Holland were their highlights. In the end, Reed came home second in the World, and signed a big contract with Troy of Yamaha in USA, the rest is history.

 

As for McFarlane, he continued on in Europe after finishing eight in the World. He would win a handful of Grand Prix’s, maybe the most significant in Namur in Belgium, and he held the red plate in the MX2 championship in 2005, a season that there was even talk that his championship was lost after the team suffered many machine problems as the season folded, and the Aussie lost out to GP legend Antonio Cairoli, who would win his first World championship.

My relationship with both fellow Aussies would be great for many years, travelling to America to watch Reed win East Coast 250 Supercross championships, AMA supercross championships and many main events. In 2005 though, that changed, and it was more business than pleasure and our good friendly relationship more or less ended. I felt I had maybe overstayed my welcome.

I have to say, those years of 2002, 2003 and 2004 following my fellow Australian around America were some of the best in my working life, but Reed with the pressures of winning, and a bunch of new friends seems to lose interest in the old media guy, and I was getting sick of jet lag at the races in US and my kids were getting at an age I needed to be home more, so I made me decide to stop travelling to America (apart for a GP or MXoN).

As for McFarlane, I spent a few GPs with tears in my eyes as they played the Australian National Anthem. Andrew always remained a down to earth Aussie, liked a good chat, and after a solid GP and AMA career moved back to Australia with his wife and daughter. 

Unfortunately, just before retirement, nearly 10 years ago he lost his life in an accident, at the very same circuit that had given him his break in 2000 and saw him finish on the GP podium in 2005, Broadford. The Australian motocross World would mourn one of their best, and for many tears would be shed.

Two Aussies, two paths, but both legends in the sport down under, and both will be remembered for being so many opportunities to the current breed of Australian riders in both GP and AMA.