Could the curtains be closing on Chad Reed's 2011 Supercross career... for now?

TeamVodafone’s latest signing Chad Reed has admitted that it’s possible he will sit out the 2011 season unless a last-minute deal can be put together in time for next year’s AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, series.

The dual Supercross champion parted ways with Kawasaki’s AMA team following the AMA Motocross Championship, which he sat out the second half with Epstein Barr virus, and he’s yet to secure a deal for next year as many of the leading rides are being confirmed.

Yesterday saw Reed announced in Sydney as a TeamVodafone rider for this weekend’s opening round of the Monster Energy Super X, Australasian Supercross Championship, however it’s a single race deal at this stage onboard a Honda CRF450R.

“I’m only committing to this weekend,” Reed told MotoOnline.com.au in an interview yesterday afternoon. “You know, I’m at a point in my life and career where I want things on my term and my term only. There’s just been nothing out there that’s rang the bell as much as I really wanted it to.”

Reed’s new TeamVodafone deal will see him return to the seat of a V8 Supercar in the team’s Bathurst-winning Holden Commodore, and Reed is not ruling out a full time switch to four wheels at this point in his life if the right deal doesn’t come along on two wheels.

“I just want to be happy and race because I love it, not because I have to,” the 28-year-old explained. “So yeah, when the right deal comes I’ll go racing, if not, I’ll work with the TeamVodafone guys a little more and maybe four wheels will come up faster than expected.”

Reed says he’s not quite ready to retire from Supercross and Motocross, stating that if he doesn’t find a seat for next season that he won’t be calling it an early retirement.

“If I don’t race next year it won’t be a retirement notice,” he said. “It’s just the fact of me wanting what I feel it takes to win and be competitive, and I haven’t come across that yet. We’re working hard on it and it’s not over yet, but the time’s ticking and I’m not going to put myself in a position like I did last year where I had very little time with the team and bike, coming in unprepared.

“If the decisions not made in the next couple of weeks then we have some even bigger decisions to make.”

Reed was originally slated to defend his Super X title for the third year in a row, however the plan is to relinquish the title by only competing at Newcastle and focusing on finalising a deal in the States for 2011.

“It’s just not physically possible for any team out here to supply me with what’s needed to do it week in and week out, so I’ll only be at Newcastle and then priority number one is to get ready for next year and hopefully secure a ride in the future,” he concluded.

Click here to read our full Mid Week with Chad Reed interview, where Reed speaks candidly about a number a topics concerning his career.

For the full rundown on Reed’s TeamVodafone signing click here, or for over 30 images of his new Honda, check out this link.

If films are your thing, be sure to watch this quick flick from yesterday’s launch in Darling Harbour.