Image: Foremost Media.

Australian legend Chad Reed will come out of retirement to contest the full 2022 World Supercross Championship (WSX) with MDK Motorsports, with Dean Wilson also confirmed for the new series.

At 40 years of age and after hanging up his helmet at the conclusion of 2020 American Supercross, Reed has long been tipped for this year’s three-round pilot season and that’s now official.

“Opportunities like WSX don’t come along every day,” Reed stated. “I’ve seen plenty during my career, but this is super-cool and something I had to be involved in. The WSX Championship going global is the biggest thing to happen to supercross in its history and I’m looking forward to joining Mark Kvamme and the MDK team for this opportunity.

“They possess all the technical expertise, resources and passion I need behind me to be successful. I haven’t raced in Melbourne since 2019, so it’ll be an unbelievable experience to get back here in October and go up against the best current riders in the world. It’s going to be one hell of a series competing for an FIM-sanctioned world championship.”

MDK Motorsports owner Mark Kvamme said: “The notion of being a part of a global expansion for supercross and winning world championships is what brought MDK back to the sport and the WSX series. To win championships, you need to have prominent athletes and there’s no doubt we have that in Chad Reed.”

Wilson, meanwhile, has also been listed as part of the roster for the WSX Australian Grand Prix, understood to be joining Honda Genuine Honda Racing alongside recently-announced SX2 duo Max Anstie and Wilson Todd. The other 450 seat would be an ideal fit for Ken Roczen, who has committed to the series but is yet to be named at any of the teams.