Australia’s defending Lucas Oil Pro AMA Motocross Champion Chad Reed has slipped to fourth in the after a horror run at the third round of the series at Mt Morris’ High Point Raceway over the weekend, determined to keep fighting for the title for the remainder of the season.

Reed finished the first moto 13th after slipping back through the order when the lens in his goggle popped out leaving him with virtually no visibility.

In the second race, Reed was hit hard at the first turn causing his front brake caliper to come off his Monster Energy Kawaski KX 450F. He worked his way forward from 16th to as high as 12th in the first four laps before being forced to the pits.

“It was just one of those weekends and there was nothing I could do to turn it around.” Reed lamented.

“In the first race the lens in my goggles popped right out and I really couldn’t see much. The second race I got hit at the first turn and the front brake calliper broke off. I tried to keep going but it was just too dangerous.

“Thankfully we still have 18 races to go and I am still within reach of the top three. It is extremely important that we don’t lose momentum now.”

Reed is now currently fourth in the championship on 95 points, only 31 points behind High Point winner and current series leader Ryan Dungey.

The fourth round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross will be held on Saturday, 19 June, at Budds Creek MX Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland.

The 450 class will be aired in Australia live on Fuel TV from 5.20am on Sunday, 20 June.