Image: Supplied.

Legendary Australian Chad Reed has revealed he tested the factory JGRMX-prepared RM-Z450 of Autotrader Yoshimura Suzuki this week during a private shakedown at the team’s North Carolina test track.

The two-time AMA Supercross champion spent the 2018 season campaigning a private Husqvarna within his own Team CR22 organisation, but is committed to landing a team deal if he is to race-on in 2019.

Since the Las Vegas supercross finals in May, an in-shape Reed has been seen riding a Honda and now the Suzuki, however is yet to cement his future beyond this year. Reed is determined to go out on a high if he is to wrap up his career at the close of next year.

“In our sport every rider tests for different teams, it’s just always private because of contract obligations,” Reed announced via social media. “Today I’m in a unique position of no manufacturer contract, so today I’ll try share my fun experience testing the factory JGRMX bike.”

This season was one of the more difficult ones in the career of Reed, finishing 13th in the final supercross standings after entering the year with a foot injury. His next scheduled race will come at the Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney, also set to compete in New Zealand two weeks later as part of the inaugural S-X Open International Supercross FIM Oceania Championship.

Reed spent much of his junior career racing Suzuki machinery, later going on to capture the 2009 Pro Motocross championship aboard an official RM-Z450 with the brand. During that same season he finished second in the AMA Supercross standings, just four points behind title winner James Stewart.

It had long been expected that Reed would make a return to Team Australia for October’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) at RedBud, however it was made official today that he has been overlooked in favour of Kirk Gibbs and Mitch Evans alongside MX2 entry Hunter Lawrence.