Chad Reed Pushing The Age Barrier!

#22 Looked pretty good last night on his return to Yamaha. Has he got a championship in him...probaly not but he is fun to watch.

Reprint From MXVice

Vice Viewpoint: Chad Reed

 

Many people in the industry can empathise with Reed – our own James Burfield is one of those…

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Reading the recent announcement from Chad Reed, regarding the closure of TwoTwo Motorsports, not many will understand the personal sacrifices that he and his family had to make.

From 2013 until the end of 2014 I, James Burfield, had my own team, as some of you may know, which gave me a real valid insight into what goes on on the other side of the fence. I’m a great believer in sticking to your strengths, something that I have always championed since day one with everything I have been involved in. My mechanical skill reaches cleaning an air filter and my riding style would fit into the junior group, so asking me for line choice or whether we should be running a part would be absolutely pointless. I do know about marketing, digital, awareness, branding, social media for people, brands and companies of all shapes and sizes and I’m good at talking.

So when I teamed up with a team of engine tuners with a prolific car tuning business behind them, as well as resources and contacts, it was decided I should stick to what I was good at and concentrate on sponsorship and promoting the team. Let’s just say that story ended with three riders quitting at the end of round two of the British Championship. It’s also worth noting that, in life, there are two sides to every story and I’m sure I was to blame for everything if you hear the other side – that’s just how it goes.

I was left with a choice after three months of having a team. Both quit and watch three riders struggle through the rest of the year after selling them the dream, or support this with my own money personally and from our family business. I chose to support the guys and burnt through fifty thousand pounds in one year from April to October.

I’m sure you are all sat there thinking about what you could be spending your fifty thousand pounds on right now? That’s a few holidays, a nice car and some great nights out. I’m sure there are a few team owners reading this with some agreeing and others saying that’s peanuts compared to what I put in. For me I’m a man of my word and the only thing you have in life is that, so to not fulfill that would take away everything I stand for.

I’m thankful for my family who stepped in and said we’ll support you, because without them and Talon Engineering it would have been pretty difficult to run a race team on my salary!

What I didn’t envisage was the financial burden on my family and the emotional drain. I had a one year old child and for the next six months I spent every hour working on trying to keep current sponsors happy by working hard digitally on social and raising awareness, and also trying to find new ones that would benefit from our programme. It was tough and looking back I have no idea how I was able to get through it, I guess you don’t know how strong you are until you are put in these situations.

Having to balance a team, marriage, three businesses, three kids and a team of riders who all had their needs was tough. It was way too much for me and if it wasn’t for Rob Boseley stepping up and helping out for those two years, I don’t know how I would have got through it. So that was fifty thousand pounds on those two years and, with a few new issues in 2014, let’s just say I had tiny insight into what Chad Reed had to get through.

Now multiply the investment to five million a year with a team of employees, three kids, a wife and a worldwide brand. You’re also the rider who is tasked with getting the results and running in the most watched series in the world, with everything you do being in the public spotlight. Plus over a million fans want a piece of you and a further two million bench racers are all giving an insight into why you are losing it. Quite frankly, I have no idea how he was able to run for five years.

I would like to say I loved having a team and enjoyed it, but it was one of the hardest and unrewarding things I have done to date (a series is a close second). You will never win the game and the emotional rollercoaster is not for the faint hearted.

So Chad Reed, I salute you, as someone who had one percent of the sh*t you have had I understand how you are feeling right now, the dent your pride would have taken by having to let go to something you believed in and wanted to make a difference with.

It will take time for Chad to transition, but making sure the family comes first and you continue to have the lifestyle you have worked your ass off for comes way above having your own team. It’s good to have a strong woman next to you to guide you through these things, something I can relate to.

Words: James Burfield | Image: James Lissimore

Honda in Bolivia... Stage 7

Team HRC keeps options wide-open in Bolivia as a lightning Paulo Gonçalves claims 7th stage honours. Epic stage finish for Joan Barreda, who breaks handlebars in a fall and yet fights on to retain leadership

Stage 6 Dakar 2016

Dakar Stage 5

All five Team HRC bikes made it through the marathon stage which started out in the Argentine city San Salvador de Jujuy and finished in Uyuni, Bolivia. Paulo Gonçalves remains at the head of the overall standings with Barreda fourth.

Quintanilla Husqvarna factory team’s fastest in Dakar stage 3

The 2016 Dakar Rally continued in Argentina on Tuesday with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Pablo Quintanilla as the factory team’s fastest rider in a shortened stage three. Quintanilla crossed the line in sixth place but was just over a minute behind stage winner Joan Barreda and Spain.

Quintanilla and teammate Ruben Faria of Portugal are well positioned in fifth and sixth place in the general standings where the top ten riders are only separated by five minutes. Tuesday’s stage took riders from Termas de Río Hondo to San Salvadore de Jujuy over a total distance of 663km. Originally it was to have a timed special of 314km but with track conditions still difficult as a result of heavy rain, it was reduced to just under 200km.

Quintanilla: “Today was better for me because we made some changes to the suspension overnight and I felt good. The stage was also better than yesterday, but the same kind of terrain and only basic navigation.”
It was a more complicated story for Faria who said he made a mistake at the refuelling stop and 80 km before the end of the timed special he noticed his front tank was empty. Having to rely on what was left in his second tank, he had to take it easy to finish the stage. “I rode at 50kmh for the last 80 km and I lost about 5-6 minutes,” he said. Although he is now four minutes off the leading time in the overall standings, Faria is one of the most experienced Dakar riders and will have the opportunity to make it up. Wednesday takes the competition into much more difficult territory with more navigational challenges and an average altitude of 3500 m.

Pela Renet, the third of the trio of Husqvarna factory riders and new to rally raid is increasingly comfortable with the competition format and the Husqvarna FR 450 Rally machine. He was just 4 minutes 36 away from the stage winner’s time and continues to move up the order.

The Frenchman is taking a day-by-day approach and trying to avoid any serious mistakes. He finished 22nd in the stage, just over four minutes behind the leader and is now 39th in the general standings. “It was better than yesterday,” he said. “I started more towards the front this morning so it was a bit easier with the dust. I was able to make up a few more places for a better starting position tomorrow. I don’t want to make any stupid mistakes and crash. I am taking my time to learn and I don’t want to go too fast.”

Husqvarna-supported rider Jacopo Cerutti of Italy is 19.34 behind the leader in the overall standings. He is contesting his first Dakar after winning the right to enter following a good result in the 2015 Sardegna Rally Race, A Dakar Challenge event.

Wednesday is a long 629km loop around San Salvadore de Jujuy and weather permitting they will contest a special of 429km. As this is the first part of a marathon stage, riders are not permitted any mechanical assistance from their teams, so caution will be required to care for their machinery and their tyres.

Stage 3 Results

1, Joan Barreda (POR), Honda, 2 hours 03 minutes 37 seconds
2. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, + 00.26 seconds
3. Paolo Goncalves (POR), Honda, + 00.52
4. Antoine Meo (FRA), KTM + 00.53
5. Stefan Svitko (SVK), KTM + 00.57
6. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI), Husqvarna + 01.18
…
12. Txomin Arana (ESP), Husqvarna, +03.11
…
22. Pela Renet (FRA), Husqvarna, +04.36
23. Ondrej Klymclw (CZE), Husqvarna, +04.48
26. Ruben Faria (POR), Husqvarna, +05.59
30. Jacopo Cerutti (ITA), Husqvarna, +06.36

Overall Standings after Stage 3
1. Barreda Price 6 hours 26 minutes 50 seconds
2. Svitko + 00.14
3. Benavides + 0048
4. Goncalves + 01.08
5. Duclos + 01.10
..
7. Quintanilla + 02.38
8. Faria +03.57
..
18. Arana, +10.25
23. Klymclw, +15:00
31. Cerutti, +19.34
39. Renet, +27.35

From www.mxdose.com

FLY Racing Teams Up with Rockstar Husqvarna Offroad Team

FLY Racing is proud to announce the signing of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Off-Road Team. Team riders Mike Brown, Josh Strang, Jacob Argubright, Andrew Delong, and Colton Haaker will wear FLY Racing’s professional racewear in their respective race series in 2016.

Rider                           Series                        
Mike Brown                 Endurocross
Josh Strang                 GNCC, National Enduro
Jacob Argubright        National Hare & Hound, Western Hare Scramble
Andrew Delong           GNCC, National Enduro
Colton Haaker             Endurocross, FIM Super Enduro

About FLY Racing

Established in 1998, FLY Racing is one of the fastest growing off road motorcycle riding apparel and hard part brands in the powersports industry. FLY Racing develops quality products for the competitive North American market and is distributed worldwide in 40+ countries. In the United States, FLY Racing products are distributed exclusively by Western Power Sports (WPS).

Yamaha & Chad Reed Reunite...Will take on 2016 SX Season

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., is excited to re-introduce its factory Supercross team, which is officially named Monster Energy/360fly/Chaparral/Yamaha Factory Racing. The team’s corporate partners include Monster Energy; 360fly, Inc.; Chaparral Motorsports; and Valli Construction, Inc.https://www.youtube.com/embed/6cr4A8p218U

With his signature #22 number plate emblazoned on his 2016 Yamaha YZ450F, legendary Supercross rider Chad Reed will, once again, race for the Yamaha factory Supercross team, beginning this Saturday, January 9, as the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season gets underway at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. In 2004 and 2008, Chad won two AMA Supercross Championships while racing for Yamaha.

Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., said, “All of us at Yamaha are proud to re-introduce our factory Supercross team. We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Monster Energy in road racing, and we’re thrilled to be able to expand our successful partnership to now include Supercross. We also welcome back old friends Chaparral Motorsports and Valli Construction, and we welcome new partner 360fly. Of course, we’re also very excited to have Chad Reed back with us again as one of our Yamaha bLU cRU riders.”

“There’s no place like home right?” Chad commented. “With Yamaha and the whole crew here, it definitely feels that way. I have amazing history with the Yamaha bLU cRU, but really, it’s about looking forward and what we can continue to build together that motivates and excites me the most. I’m thankful for all my sponsors, especially Yamaha, Monster Energy, 360fly, Chaparral Motorsports, and Valli Construction for bringing back the Yamaha factory Supercross team for 2016! It’s something special for 22, and for all Yamaha bLU cRU fans! One thing that hasn’t faded with age is my passion for racing and being on the gate with the best riders in the world. I’ve never felt more determined and excited to be a part of it.”

Monster Energy is a world-renowned, premier energy drink and global sponsor of action sports teams and extreme athletes. The brand has been a long-time sponsor of Yamaha’s factory Superbike team–Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha–which competes in the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship.

360fly creates unique, 360-degree digital products that inspire users to capture, share, and experience life’s greatest moments in 360 degrees. They offer the world’s only single-lens camera that captures stitchless 360-degree video with interactive and virtual reality viewing capabilities. Throughout the Supercross season, fans will have an opportunity to check out the innovative 360fly camera unit on display in the Monster Energy/360fly/Chaparral/Yamaha Factory Racing team’s pit area.

Chaparral Motorsports is not only one of the largest motorcycle accessory and vehicle dealerships in the U.S., but they’re also one of Yamaha’s top volume-selling dealers. The company has a rich history in supporting motorcycle racing. Led by Dave Damron, Chaparral was the first non-factory team in history to win an AMA Supercross Championship. In fact, the team won three Supercross Championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000 with Jeremy McGrath aboard a Yamaha YZ250.

Valli Construction is a full-service general contractor based in Pleasanton, CA. Founded by Chad Lanza, Valli builds retail facilities, industrial/office condos, parking structures, and high technology projects all over California, Texas, and Washington. Valli Construction has been a team partner with several Yamaha Supercross teams over the years

HRC at Dakar... A Little Wet!

The Dakar 2016 finally held its first real stage after yesterday’s cancellation. Paulo Goncalves pulled back positions finishing in sixth place and Joan Barreda, who opened the track, came home behind his Team HRC colleague.

Dakar a State of Mind!

An animated guide to the history of the Dakar

Join us for a quickfire video recap of what makes the Dakar Rally such an iconic event.

By Damn Fine Media, Paul Keith on 1 January 2016

# Ride Life / Fly Racing