Image: Foremost Media.

Australian supercross legend Chad Reed is anticipating this weekend’s Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland at Mount Smart Stadium will serve up a familiar-length layout to that of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

Reed, currently piloting an Autotrader Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, evidently struggled to adapt to the hard-packed soil on offer at the AUS-X Open Sydney two weeks ago, while the tighter confines of Qudos Bank Arena didn’t help his cause in the Triple Crown format.

“I’m assuming when we go to New Zealand – from my experience – it’s always softer, and it’s an open stadium, so weather could threaten,” Reed explained. “I think we’re really going to have different conditions than what we had in Sydney. Obviously the venue is much bigger so the track will be bigger – it will be kind of what we’re used to in America.”

The number 22 wound up fifth overall in Sydney despite crossing the line in P1 in the final of three races, where he was later docked five positions for mistakingly taking the shortcut lane for the second time in the evening.

The S-X Open Auckland marks round two of the Monster Energy S-X Open Supercross FIM Oceania Championship, which Reed is still in contention for as AMA regular Dean Wilson (DPH Motorsport Husqvarna) currently leads in the absence of Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).