Australia's Chad Reed suffered a painful rock to the collarbone in moto one at High Point. Image: Racer X Online.

TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed admits he was relieved to retain the red championship leader’s plate in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship after sustaining a collarbone injury in moto one at High Point over the weekend.

Reed was able to salvage third overall after scoring a sensational victory in the second 450 race, however that result came after he was forced to nurse a numb left arm after a loose rock was thrown up, piercing him on an old broken collarbone injury.

The Mount Morris track then turned into a slippery mud bath after being pounded by a thunderstorm just prior to the start of the second race.

Reed revelled in the wet, moving past defending champion Ryan Dungey into second on the opening lap of the race.

Riding consistently in the extremely tough conditions, Reed passed Mike Alessi for the lead on lap four and eventually took the race victory 5.8 seconds ahead of Ryan Villopoto.

“I was pumped to get another moto win. It was a real challenge out there today,” Reed said. “In the first race I took a rock to an old broken collarbone and it pierced me to the bone. My left arm went numb and I really struggled from there.

“The rain made it challenging in the second race. It was so slippery and I ended up having to ditch my googles. I knew I had to get into a good pace so I once I got past Ryan I tried to put some good laps in and catch Mike.

“It was a tough day but I salvaged a good result in the last race and I have retained the red plate,” Reed concluded.

Reed and the team will now turn their focus to the fourth round of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the Budds Creek National next weekend.