Chad Reed's Millville crash, which sent him flying more than 30 feet high, is one Motocross and E3 Spark Plugs racing fans will be talking about for a long time. Photo by Steve Cox.
E3 Motorcycle Spark Plug fans have lined the fences as TwoTwo Motorsport’s Chad Reed has been flying high all season. The Honda rider was literally without a ride for 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX National Championship when he decided to start his own race team. Since that time, Reed has proven that he is the rider to beat in the 450cc class. At the Spring Creek MX national, Reed grabbed an early lead in Moto One ahead of Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, Honda’s Trey Canard and KTM rider Mike Alessi. Canard would have an impressive fifth place finish in his first outdoor national of year having missed half the season with a broken femur. Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto worked his way around Alessi late in the race to claim third behind Reed and Dungey, respectively.
In Moto Two, Villopoto would lead the way through turn one but Reed wasted no time and quickly regained the lead. Just as it looked as though Reed would pull away, his Honda cross-rutted on the face of a high speed jump (watch the video below) launching the rider over 30 feet in the air. Very few of the Millville fans expected to see what happened next. A determined Reed staggered to his bike, remounted and set his aim on a top-20 finish. Reed’s incredible effort would pay off as the Honda rider worked his way to fourteenth salvaging precious championship points. At the front of the pack, Villopoto had his hands full with a hard-charging Ryan Dungey. Dungey would put an aggressive pass on Villopoto late in Moto Two for the win giving the defending national champion the overall win in front an excited hometown crowd. Villopoto finished second overall for the day with a very happy Trey Canard claiming the final step on the podium.
As the 450cc race teams and riders travel to Washougal, WA for Round 8, Reed maintains a six-point lead over Villopoto and a seven-point lead over Dungey with five races remaining in the 2011 AMA Pro MX season. Before you head west, don’t forget to pick up a box of E3 Spark Plugs for your favorite ride. E3 replacement plugs are Born to Burn.
