Back home in the sunshine state of Queensland after his stint racing the AMA Supercross Championship for Star Yamaha, Dan Reardon has signed with Mega Bulk Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki. Riding alongside Nathan Crawford and under the watching eye of Team Manager Troy Carroll, Reardon is poised for 2017 and has his eyes firmly focused on that number one plate. Matt Bernard sat down with Dan as the news broke of his team deal.
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY MATT BERNARD
It’s very exciting to see you back at Kawasaki – I actually have one of your championship plates at home from 2007 – 10 years this year and we see you back. How did it all come about?
It’s funny you say you have a Championship plate, I actually have a championship bike from 2007! It’s been 10 years and over the last couple of years I’ve been chatting to Troy (Carroll, Team Manager Bulk Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki). You get to silly season and everyone starts to make phone calls. We’ve gotten close a couple of times, but due to the circumstances it hasn’t worked, which is fine. Back with Kawasaki again and I’m excited about the change. There’s a lot of things that have changed for this year and it’s a very detailed question and answer as to why I have made the change I did. But I did make it for the better. It was slowly becoming an un-happy camp where I was and it’s not really good for anyone, no matter what position they’re in so looking after my best interests, it was time for a change.
The KX450F is a lot different from your last stint on Kawasaki and other bikes you have ridden for recently. What’s it like?
The bike is awesome. It’s a lot different to what I have been riding, but keep in mind I have been riding a 250F. Given it was probably the fastest 250 I’ve ever ridden! Going 450 to 450 though, it’s a very different bike. It’s more nimble, everyone knows the Yamaha makes great power, but this bike also makes great and usable power. It’s something about the chassis that makes me feel a little more at one with the bike I guess. I’m excited to put some decent hours on the bike and get ready for this Supercross series.
Does it feel a bit like home, being on Green plus being a team based so close to your house.
It makes it easier. My track is 10 minutes away, I live 10 minutes the other way. We can test whenever we want, we can do anything we want really. I have a lot of flexibility within the team. Things that I am passionate about, what I want to achice. What I Want to do within the soirt what I think the sport needs. I wouldn’t say I have the green light to do whateer I want, but there;s a lot of flexibility.
I guess that helps build the Dan Reardon brand also?
I’m super passionate about guys at the top, the 450 guys, being able to be able to go after their own brands for sponsorship, their own helmet, boots, goggles everything. I think that’s what Australia needs. Companies can get kids when they are younger and brand them for a long period of time. Year to year, everyone is changing brands colours, fans don’t know who’s who anymore. It’s really confusing for someone like me, let alone the average punter.
What will have you smiling at the end of the Supercross championship?
Everyone wants to win. Ask anyone they want to win the championship. I want to be fit and ready for this season. Last year I was not ready. I tore my ACL during the last half of the Motocross had surgery. I had about 3 weeks preparation on the bike before round one. About two weeks things were just starting to come good and I re-tore my ACL. I did a lot more damage the second time and I was just surviving the series. I dislocated my knee more times than I can remember during the series and practising. I wasn’t ready for last year. This year I want to be ready. I want to be ready to fight and ride hard and be competitive especially when the guys come out from the states – I want to be there.
