AMA Analysis: Bouncing back
Chad Reed did it again! The gritty Aussie was having a terrible season and many began to think his age had finally caught up with him – even Reed admitted he was starting to have doubts!
But deep down Reed knew he still had it in him to win, and when got the holeshot in Atlanta he wasn’t giving it up for anyone! Reed had a bit of pressure from Dungey late in the race but the wily old veteran refused to let the championship leader get close enough to make a pass.
Reed took the chequered with a big whip to let everyone know that he still has what it takes to win supercross races. Reed’s self-belief is pretty amazing, it doesn’t matter how many times he gets beat, he still believes that he can win the next weekend.
Reed has an air of arrogance about him, but it’s good arrogance and you need that to win races. Reed still believes that when he is on, no-one can beat him. Despite all his problems this season with bike set-up and black flags, Reed always believed he had the ability, when everything was right, to beat the young kids.
Chad has been the villain in the USA during his time there, but now I think everyone appreciates his determination and self-belief to win at 32 years of age. The very characteristics that some people in the USA disliked initially when he took on RC and Stewart as a brash Aussie in his early 20s, is now what allows Reed to win on his own team and become a fan favourite.
His legacy has been secured as one of the greatest supercross riders ever but the last couple of years have really cemented his place in supercross history, despite not winning a title! You just can’t beat down Chad Reed mentally and that for all his success and style on a bike, that is probably his greatest and most impressive talent.
Jeremy Martin didn’t qualify for the first round of the East Coast supercross last year but in 2015 he made it through and got a solid fourth, but he was well off the pace of race winner Musquin.
But last weekend Martin stepped it up big time and had the best supercross race of his career. He came from behind to win an epic four-way battle for the lead and passed, Davolas, Bogle and Musquin to take a brilliant win.
Martin admitted that he just wanted to get through the first round this year and get a solid result because his DNQ of last season was really playing on his mind. But I don’t think anyone thought that Martin would win round two, except Martin himself!
Even after last week people questioned if Martin was more of an outdoor specialist but last Saturday night Martin proved he can ride stadiums well too. This might just be the making of Martin indoors and will be a huge confidence booster for his season.
He is now only four points off the lead, and has a chance of winning his second title in a row. This time last season Martin was at an all-time low, that is a huge turn-around in 12 months! Martin and his team deserve a lot of credit for bouncing back.
Article: Jonathan McCready
Pic: Feld PR/Cudby
