It’s Official: Chad Reed to Factory Yamaha Team

Chad Reed returns to Yamaha for the 2016 racing season.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., has officially re-introduced its factory supercross team with the announcement that two-time AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed will fill the seat on a Monster Energy/360fly/Chaparral/Yamaha Factory Racing-backied YZ450F beginning with the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, January 9.

Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., said that Yamaha is proud to be returning to action with its own in-house effort, which is different than the fully supported but Joe Gibbs Racing-owned team for which Justin Barcia rides.

“All of us at Yamaha are proud to re-introduce our factory Supercross team,” McCarty said. “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Monster Energy in road racing, and we’re thrilled to be able to expand our successful partnership to now include Supercross. We also welcome back old friends Chaparral Motorsports and Valli Construction, and we welcome new partner 360fly. Of course, we’re also very excited to have Chad Reed back with us again as one of our Yamaha bLU cRU riders.”

Referring to his former stint with Yamaha, with whom he won both of his AMA Supercross titles, one in 2004 aboard a YZ250 two-stroke and the other in 2008 aboard a YZ450F, Reed said that there is no place like home.

“With Yamaha and the whole crew here, it definitely feels that way,” Reed said. “I have amazing history with the Yamaha bLU cRU, but really, it’s about looking forward and what we can continue to build together that motivates and excites me the most. I’m thankful for all my sponsors, especially Yamaha, Monster Energy, 360fly, Chaparral Motorsports, and Valli Construction for bringing back the Yamaha factory Supercross team for 2016! It’s something special for 22, and for all Yamaha bLU cRU fans! One thing that hasn’t faded with age is my passion for racing and being on the gate with the best riders in the world. I’ve never felt more determined and excited to be a part of it.”