Hailing from Kurri Kurri, former world supercross champion Chad Reed is not one to throw about unwarranted superlatives.
So when he labels this weekend’s Aus-X Open at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena as “the ultimate race in Australia” you know fans are in for a spectaular event.
Despite competing in various venues worldwide, Reed expressed his fondness for the Sydney-based arena (the 21,000 stadium formerly known at the Sydney Superdome), as the tight confines give spectators the ultimate viewing experience, along with incredible supercross racing.
“For me, the ultimate race in Australia is in (Qudos Bank Arena) that arena,” Reed said of the two-day event which also features freestyle motocross.
“I think that the track and the arena just provide excitement. And even from my point of view, I’ve been all over the world and been fortunate enough to ride in a lot of different stadiums that are considered ‘amazing’.
“You go to the one in Dallas; it’s a $1.3 billion dollar stadium, and it’s just this massive stadium with dirt in it. It’s just boring.
“When you go to Sydney and it’s tight, you just never know what’s going to happen.
“You start and you’ve got to bash your way through. You get to go down the hallways and race there. It’s just for me, it brings excitement.”
Reed also labels the viewing experience for spectators as something that’s unseen around the globe, with spectators within metres of the action.
“At the AUS-X Open, we’re right up against the walls. Any mistake at all and it’s right in front of the fans,” he said.
“There is absolutely nowhere to hide, which makes it such a unique event.”
A world class field includes four-time world champion Ryan Villopoto, two-time world champ Reed and 250cc world champion Cooper Webb, who is joining Reed at Yamaha for the 2017 Supercross season.
With Villopoto announcing that he will race both nights of the AUS-X Open, Webb is excited at the prospect of racing him for the very first time, along with his childhood hero Chad Reed.
“The rookie versus the veterans; I’ll be racing my childhood heroes,” he said.
“It’ll be an honour to race Ryan. I think having him come out of retirement for that one race just shows how special it (the AUS-X Open) is. I’ll also be a full-time 450cc rider at that point too, so it’ll be good to stick it to both him and Chad.”
The Australian charge will be lead by 2015 Australian Supercross Champion Daniel Reardon.
The trick masters in the freestyle motocross will be led by 2013 world champion Tom Pages, from France, and 2012 world champion Levi Sherwood from New Zealand.
They will be competing in FMX “Best Trick” competition with Australia’s best.
Tickets start at $40 from ticketek, with general entry open from 5pm on Saturday and 1.30pm on Sunday.
