Source: Supplied.

Chad Reed has announced he won’t line up at this weekend’s Charlotte round of the MXGP World Championship, instead focusing on next month’s Monster Energy Cup and the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.

After appearing at the British and Italian GPs earlier this year, Reed was slated to contest the US rounds as well, however he has been permitted by lead sponsor Monster Energy and the factory Yamaha squad to sit out.

The news was confirmed by the 34-year-old Australian overnight upon arriving in North Carolina and he will also skip Glen Helen next weekend. In his European MXGP wildcards Reed was 13th overall at Matterley Basin, but didn’t finish at Mantova.

“I am here in Charlotte, but as a spectator,” Reed announced. “Loved racing the two MXGP rounds I did in Europe, the experience and getting to see old friends and new fans was awesome, but the fun was sucked right out of it once the gates dropped.

“I wasn’t prepared or in the physical condition to race at the level I expect from myself. That said, I was able to enjoy the month of July with family and friends in Australia and got the much needed time off I had been looking forward to. 18 years on as a professional athlete/racer, I’m excited to still do what I love so much.

“My focus is preparing for Monster Energy Cup and the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross. I’m massively thankful to my friends at Monster Energy and Yamaha Motor USA for allowing this young 34-year-old a little longer on the battery charger.”

Last month it was confirmed that Reed will partner Cooper Webb at Yamaha Factory Racing for the 2017 supercross season in an expanded factory line-up. The newly-crowned American 250MX champion Webb will race MX2 in Charlotte this weekend.