Image: Simon Cudby.

Chad Reed has high hopes of a podium finish before the 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season is complete, following a consistent first half upon return in his Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports outfit.

Racing with a unique US-themed livery for the 4th of July holiday weekend, Reed was seventh at RedBud on Sunday in a promising performance, noting his improvements after what has been a lengthy comeback process from multiple injuries sustained in supercross.

“I’m at a point where any improvements are something that you got to kind of hold onto,” Reed reflected with Racer X. “I felt better. We changed the bike a little this week and, immediately, I felt pretty comfortable. I had a better feel for it. Track was gnarly – it was rough and it was deep, muddy all day long.”

Improved results indicate Reed has been racing himself back into form during the opening six rounds, and despite still being well from 100 percent, his confidence is gradually increasing.

“For me it was just a decent day because I actually passed people, and that was a nice thing for me to do. I’ve been getting passed a lot this year, but I haven’t really been passing people,” he added.

“Crazy. I’m kind of a little bit lost on my starts. I go holeshot, holeshot, and then I go pathetic, pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. I need to find that again. But a good start, I think, now [would be better] because I’m in better shape. My fitness is coming around.

“Both motos today I battled and actually felt fine where there’s been a lot of drop off for me. Right around the 20-minute mark, I’ve just been pretty toast. I’ve been working hard. It may not show a whole lot, but we’ve been doing work and trying to get there.”

Reed is enjoying the challenge of racing up the ladder inside the top 10, but insists that the target at this point is to claim at least one podium finish before the season’s out.

“Got to give credit where credit’s due: JG is riding well, Shorty I think is probably riding some of the best riding I’ve ever seen him do,” Reed said. “It’s fun. It’s a challenge. Not where I want to be but we know where we want to be and we’re striving. We’re kind of shooting big and definitely want to be on the podium before the year’s out.”

Reed currently sits eighth in the championship standings following six of 12 rounds for the 2014 season.