Chad Reed Puts Kawasaki on the Podium in Oakland

2015-01-26 11:48
Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship made its first visit of the season to the Bay Area for Round 4 on Saturday at O.co Coliseum in Oakland. Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsport’s Chad Reed pushed to the front of the field in the main event to capture his first podium of the season in third place on his KX™450F. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Davi Millsaps fought within the top-10 for all 20 laps to finish in seventh place. In the 250SX class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Chris Alldredge took the early lead in the main event, but it was his teammate Tyler Bowers who pushed forward to finish just off the podium in fourth place. Motosport.com Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen finished eighth and Alldredge was credited 21st following a crash while battling up front.



Redemption

Reed started off the season with back-to-back 10th place finishes followed by a disqualification last week in Anaheim. Although upset about the events in Anaheim, it ignited a fire within him and fueled his results in Oakland. Reed posted competitive times in practice and qualified as the top Kawasaki-mounted rider in fifth. He got a great start in the main event and immediately put himself into position to take charge. He took over the lead on Lap 4 and was setting the pace before his line was taken away from him and dropped him to second. Riding on the rear wheel of the leader, Reed made a costly mistake that sent him off track. He re-entered safely, but lost a position. He finished strong in third place and achieved his first podium finish of the season.

“It’s great to get up here after last week,” said Reed. “I’m bummed because I really do feel like I had a win in me tonight, but I made a couple mistakes and jumped off the track. We’ve put what happened last week behind us and will move forward with a new motivation.”



Staying on Track

Millsaps left Anaheim not feeling like himself but with a solid week of training, he started off qualifying in Oakland feeling comfortable and posted the seventh fastest qualifying time. Mistakes while up front in his heat race kept him from transferring directly to the main, but he transferred from his semi and used the extra track time to see how the track was going to develop for the main event. The gate dropped for the main event and Millsaps did not get the greatest jump from outside the start box, but muscled his way into the top-10 by the end of Lap 1. He clicked off consistent lap times for all 20 laps and crossed the line in seventh.

“I felt much better tonight,” said Millsaps. “I was able to maintain my pace through the main event, but if you’re not at the front from the beginning it’s hard to find that extra second each lap while in traffic. I’m happy with our result and we’re only going to continue to get better.”



Still in the Hunt

Bowers maintained second place in the championship as they hit the halfway mark of the Western Region. He qualified fifth and cruised into the main event with a fourth place in his heat race. Bowers did not get the start he was looking for in the main event and rounded the first lap in ninth. Each lap he picked off riders and moved into a podium position by the midway point of the 15-lap main event. He pushed the limits of the deteriorating track and had to settle for fourth place at the checkered flag. Bowers sits eight points behind in the championship.

“I should have been on the podium tonight,” said Bowers. “Once again my start in the main event did not help. I moved as quick as I could to catch the leaders and made a few mistakes towards the end that cost me a podium and points. We’ve got two more rounds before the break and I’d like to have the red plate before then.”



Putting the Pieces Together

Hansen and Alldredge have both showed the potential to be podium contenders in the 250SX class and with each week they are getting closer to achieving that. For Hansen, he has combined his natural talent with a new training regime that continues to improve. Hansen finished eighth in Oakland and felt the best he has this season. Alldredge on the other hand, showed he had the speed to be up front as he won the LCQ and led the opening laps of the main event. But the rookie has yet to stay mistake-free through an entire main event. With continued work, both Kawasaki-mounted riders have showed they can put the KX™250F up front.



Third Time’s the Charm

Monster Energy Supercross returns to Angel Stadium in Anaheim for the third and final time of the season for Round 5 on Saturday, January 31st. Bowers finished third at Anaheim 1, second at Anaheim 2, and looks to take the final step up to the top of the box at Anaheim 3.



Results

Monster Energy AMA Supercross
O.co Coliseum – Oakland, California
Saturday, January 24, 2015

450SX Main Event
Trey Canard, Honda
Ryan Dungey, KTM
Chad Reed, Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki
Eli Tomac, Honda
Cole Seely, Honda
Justin Barcia, Yamaha
Davi Millsaps, Monster Energy Kawasaki
Andrew Short, KTM
Blake Baggett, Suzuki
Jason Anderson, Husqvarna

450SX Points Standings
Ryan Dungey, KTM – 82
Ken Roczen, Suzuki – 78
Trey Canard, Honda – 68
Eli Tomac, Honda – 64
Jason Anderson, Husqvarna – 62
Justin Barcia, Yamaha – 58
Cole Seely, Honda – 45
Davi Millsaps, Monster Energy Kawasaki – 44
Andrew Short, KTM – 44
Chad Reed, Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki – 42

250SX West Main Event
Malcolm Stewart, Honda
Cooper Webb, Yamaha
Alex Martin, Yamaha
Tyler Bowers, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
Zach Bell, Husqvarna
Zach Osborne, Husqvarna
Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha
Josh Hansen, Motosport.com Kawasaki
Justin Hill, KTM
Jessy Nelson, KTM

250SX Western Regional Points Standings
Cooper Webb, Yamaha – 86
Tyler Bowers, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki – 78
Jessy Nelson, KTM – 71
Zach Osborne, Husqvarna – 69
Justin Hill, KTM – 65
Malcolm Stewart, Honda – 64
Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha – 54
Shane McElrath, KTM – 49
Josh Hansen, Motosport.com Kawasaki - 47
Alex Martin, Yamaha - 47

Source: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

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