Courtesy of Yamaha
Chad Reed, 2017 Factory Yamaha Team
Hurricane Mills, TN - August 4, 2016 – Yamaha Motor Company, U. S. A., today launched its 2017 Factory Supercross/Motocross group, featuring riders Chad Reed and new teammate Cooper Webb. Both riders were introduced, in person, during the Yamaha bLU cRU Family Supper at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, that is where the AMA Amateur National Championships are being held.
Keith McCarty, Motorsports Race Division Manager for Yamaha Engine Corporation, U. S. A., stated, “Last year, we re-introduced the Yamaha Factory Racing Supercross group, with Chad Reed as our rider, and he did an excellent purpose of us, both on the track with the fans. He helped re-energize the Factory program, and it was excellent see how much all the fans liked seeing him race once again to get Yamaha. We’re thrilled to have Chad back with us again for the 2017 season, and we’re also pleased to announce the addition of Cooper Webb as Chad’s teammate on our Factory Racing team.
“Cooper had a tremendous Supercross season, in which he won his second consecutive 250SX West Championship. Also, he is presently sitting atop the points standings in the AMA 250cc Motocross Tournament with a 51-point lead. He is the fierce competitor who is brimming with skill and determination, and we’re capable to have him join our Stock Racing team with Chad because his teammate.
“We’re also happy to have the ability to make this announcement--and have both Chad and Cooper there in-person--during the Yamaha bLU cRU Family Dinner at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. Our Yamaha bLU cRU Amateur Racing program is a great launching pad regarding future professional Supercross and Motocross stars. In fact , both Chad and Cooper got their first starts in racing aboard Yamaha PW50s. ”
Cooper, especially, is proof-positive that riding Yamahas as an amateur is a superb way to step up to the pro degree. As a Yamaha bLU cRU Novice racer, he won two Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championships, 9 Winter-Olympics Amateur Championships, a Monster Energy Cup Amateur Championship, and also a whole host of other amateur racing titles, which led to your pet turning professional and continuing his success aboard Yamahas.
When asked about racing Yamahas as an amateur and the possibilities that it gave him to step-up to the pro ranks, Cooper mentioned, “The bLU cRU is the ideal amateur program, especialy for the way my career developed. When I first started racing on a Yamaha PW50, I wasn’t sure what my career path was going to be. But , as I continued to grow and develop as an amateur, I raced Yamahas, which enabled me to changeover from the bLU cRU Amateur Program to the Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha team where I won my first professional Championship. Then, being selected for that Motocross of Nations, and putting your signature on this 450 deal with the Yamaha Factory team, it’s been an awesome journey so far. To all the bLU cRU riders, I just want to include that I did it, and you can, too. The bLU cRU is the perfect path to the pros!
“I’m really excited to be joining the Yamaha Factory Racing team. It’s a dream come true for me personally, especially to be able to stay with the brand where I started my professional career. Also, it’s going to be great to team up with Chad. I met him a long time ago, and growing up, he was always my personal favorite rider. So , to be teammates with a legend is awesome. It’s going to help me tremendously to learn from him, and am can’t think of a better teammate to get as I move up to 450s full-time. ”
Chad is looking forward to the 2017 Supercross season, and he welcomes Cooper as his teammate on the Yamaha Factory Racing team. “I'm excited to get back to work with the Yamaha guys, ” Chad said. “2016 was obviously a great learning and rebuilding phase for me and for Yamaha going racing as a factory team again. We learned the bike and discovered our strengths and weaknesses.
“It’s a huge positive that we are able to use this time wisely to get ready for 2017, and the team and am are motivated to continue building. I think Cooper brings a new level of energy to the team. Youth has that will natural way of upping the excitement! I like that energy, and I am looking forward to having him as our teammate. ”
Both riders will contend aboard Yamaha YZ450F machines. Two-time Supercross Champion Chad will contest the 2017 AMA 450SX Supercross Championship, while two-time 250SX Western Champion and current 250MX Motocross Championship points leader Cooper can compete in both the 2017 AMA 450SX Supercross Championship and the 2017 AMA 450MX Motocross Championship.
Courtesy of Yamaha
Cooper Webb, 2017 Manufacturing plant Yamaha Team