Australian motocross legend Chad Reed has spoken out about being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia today, included on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Reed was this morning revealed to be receiving an AM award, the talented 29-year-old proud of his achievement as the country’s greatest ever motocross racer.

Recipients of the Order of Australia are from many fields of endeavour and all walks of life, with Reed becoming the second youngest in history to be included on the honours list.

“When you look at the honours list over the years, there are only a handful of individuals recognised for what they have achieved in motorsport,” Reed told the Australian Associated Press (AAP).

“For me to now be joining that elite group that includes people like Mick Doohan and Brockie (Peter Brock) is quite surreal. I’m a little speechless actually, it’s quite unbelievable.

“Ever since I was a kid all I have ever wanted to do is ride dirt bikes and as time went on riding became racing and eventually that developed into wanting to be a world champion.

“The world is a very different place these days and with all that has gone on in Australia this year – the good with advancements in medicine and science and the bad with natural disasters and the loss of so many of our diggers.

“I’m an extremely proud Australian and to me it can’t get any better than to be honoured by our government and my fellow Australians when our country has so much going on.

“I think that the coolest part of this is to be one of the youngest recipients. I really hope a lot of young people see this as an example that age makes no difference these days and that it’s all about dreaming big.”

Reed was honoured ‘for service to motorsports as a professional supercross motorcycle rider at national and international levels, and to the community’, according to the official post on the government’s website.