This Saturday the high-flying AMA Supercross riders land in Indianapolis and the RCA Dome for round 12 of the 16-race series with Yamaha’s Chad Reed grasping a 32-ppint lead over Honda’s Kevin Windham after taking his eighth win of the season last weekend in St. Louis.
Reed, who turned 22 on Monday, came into 2004 the pre-season favorite after closing out the 2003 campaign with six-straight wins against Ricky Carmichael and so far this year the Aussie sensation has not disappointed: The Australian has already jumped from 17th to 9th on the all-time AMA Supercross win list and has an opportunity to tie Jeff Stanton and Mark Barnett for seventh if he should win in Indianapolis this weekend.
Last week’s St. Louis win made Reed the first rider to string together a three-race win streak this season - and the importance of that wasn’t lost on chief rival Windham.
"It’s the first time anyone has put together three in a row," said Windham. "I definitely didn’t want Chad to build the momentum he did last year against Ricky. To beat him I’ve got to ride the best I can. That’s it."
Reed won in St. Louis despite suffering from severely bruised ribs and hip suffered in a crash at the
Daytona Supercross a week earlier. He was so concerned with how his body was feeling that he went in to have an MRI just three days before the St. Louis race.
Chad credited trainer Jeff Spencer with getting him ready to race, but admitted he’s looking forward to the one-weekend break after Indy.
"I am real happy to come out of the race and win again," Reed said after last week’s victory. "It’s the first time I have been able to put three together and I am really looking forward to the rest of the season and for sure our weekend off."
While Reed is the clear favorite to win at Indianapolis, Indiana fans will be hoping that home state hero Mike LaRocco will finally break through and claim victory on home dirt.
