After months of rumor and speculation, Rockstar Makita Suzuki has made it official today that Chad Reed will be on a yellow bike effective immediately (his first race will be the US Open this Fall) and throughout the AMA Supercross series next year. Here is the press release:
Brea, CA (August 6, 2008) – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC)
announced today that they have signed current AMA Supercross Champion,
Chad Reed, to join the Rockstar Makita Suzuki factory race team for 2009. Reed will
race the 2009 AMA Supercross series and other selected events in the United States
as well as compete in supercross events in his home country of Australia aboard his
Suzuki EFI RM-Z450.“We have a great heritage in racing here at American Suzuki,” said Mel Harris of
ASMC. “Suzuki has been dominant in the road racing arena for several years and
with the introduction of the RM-Z450 and the help of Ricky Carmichael, Roger
DeCoster and our dedicated team, we’ve been able to elevate our position in
supercross and motocross to that championship level. The signing of Chad helps us
reinforce our position and goals for the future of Suzuki racing. We are very happy to
have Chad join our team.”Chad Reed, 26, began racing professionally in the United States in 2002 and since
then he’s earned two AMA Supercross Championships (2004 & 2008), an AMA
125cc East Region Championship (2002) and won the 2004 US Open. Over the last
six years he has amassed a total of 42 AMA wins and 82 podiums.“I’m extremely excited to be starting a new chapter in my career and to be working
with Roger DeCoster and Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki,” said Reed. “It will be a
whole new experience for me which I’m really looking forward to. I rode Suzukis for
a good part of my amateur career and have some great memories from then and
now I’m excited to be racing the new Suzuki EFI RM-Z450. I believe this bike and
my new team have great potential and I couldn’t be happier.”“I am very excited to have been able to sign Chad Reed to Team Rockstar Makita
Suzuki,” said team manager, Roger DeCoster. “Our team has worked very hard to
get to the level we are at today and I’m glad we’ve been able to secure a rider with
such accomplishments and determination as Chad so that we may continue to be
top contenders. Our sponsors have been extremely supportive over the years and
I’m happy that we are able to provide them a top-level rider and team to support
him.”Reed’s first race with Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki will most likely be the Rockstar
Energy Drink US Open at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on October 10th through 12th.
For more information on all of Suzuki’s race teams, please log on to www.teamsuzuki.com.
