News 26 Nov 2015

Difficult 2016 rider decision looms for CDR Yamaha

Reardon, Mosig and Wright all remain unsigned.

Image: Jeff Crow.

Image: Jeff Crow.

An Australian Supercross Championship victory could secure the future of comeback king Dan Reardon at CDR Yamaha in 2016, the current SX1 points leader yet to finalise a factory seat for next season.

With CDR Yamaha already signing returning international Dean Ferris and the team potentially reverting to a two-rider structure, current factory Yamaha trio Reardon, Kade Mosig and injured Jacob Wright remain unsigned.

Mosig was the team’s top performer in the all-important MX Nationals earlier this year, finishing second in the MX1 standings, however the remarkable form of Reardon during supercross with three consecutive wins and the red plate has complicated matters within the Victorian-based operation. Wright is also a favoured prospect within the Yamaha ranks.

“We’re having a really hard time with it to be honest,” Dack told MotoOnline.com.au this week. “When we knew Ferris and [Todd] Waters were looking at coming home a couple of months ago, they were finishing inside the top five and even making the podium in MXGP, so we felt we had to jump on one of those guys because their level’s going to be so high, I would think.

“But we have Jacob Wright, Dan Reardon as pretty much Jacob’s fill-in considering his injuries, and obviously Kade Mosig is doing a sensational job for us. It’s created a really difficult position, not only for CDR, but right through Yamaha because we’re really supportive and have so many programs going.

“There’s a bit of a concertina effect at the moment and we’re trying to work out the best way to go through it. Winning’s important for us, but not winning at all costs – we have a heart and a lot of emotion about it. What we do and how we do it is quite complicated. Most business decisions are made with your head, but this has a lot more to it with young riders’ careers on the line.

“We like all the riders that we’ve got and they’re all progressing so well, but we’ve only got enough money for a certain amount and it’s probably the most difficult pre-season I’ve had signing riders.”

If Reardon delivers a number one plate for CDR Yamaha in supercross it would be a shock to see him exit the fold at the end of this year, but Dack stopped short of saying his contract relies on winning this title. In fact, there’s a possibility the team could sign its second rider before next weekend’s supercross finals in Melbourne.

“We’re still racing supercross and I don’t want to take either rider’s mind off what they’re doing,” Dack added. “We hope to get a decision made in the next week or so, as it’s been going on for quite a while. It’s a moral dilemma, basically.”

Both Reardon and Mosig confirmed they’re still waiting on a decision from CDR Yamaha when contacted this week, with factory positions quickly filling across the MX1 ranks domestically. A return to the US as a privateer isn’t out of the question for Reardon if he’s not re-signed at CDR, while Mosig would have to evaluate his options if he’s not signed for a second factory term.

Meanwhile it’s also been confirmed that Reardon is intending to contest both Saturday and Sunday’s proceedings at this weekend’s AUS-X Open. With Sunday a non-championship round and Reardon holding the Australian Supercross points lead, there were lengthy discussions to determine whether the red plate holder would line up during the second Sydney event.

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