TwoTwo Motorsports team owner/rider Chad Reed has ranked fourth in the annual 2011 Business Review Weekly (BRW) Top 50 Sports Earners List.

Despite forming his own team just weeks out from the AMA Supercross season opener 12 months ago, Reed earned $8.5 million according to BRW.

The list was topped by American-based basketball superstar Andrew Bogut, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. Bogut earned a salary of $13 million.

Bogut replaced Formula 1 ace Mark Webber at the top of the list for this year, with Honda’s MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner climbing to second on $9.5 million. Webber was next, earning $9 million.

Reed’s success is a standout considering his status as team owner and rider in AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross, gaining additional factory Honda support for the upcoming 2012 season.

In 2010, Reed was ranked third on the list at $7.5 million – a full million less than what was indicated on this year’s BRW list.

The top five was rounded out by Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, who earned $5 million after topping cycling’s great race.

Further down the list, a who’s who of Australian sports heroes from various categories including cricket, soccer and golf, all trail the trio of motorsports stars who again ranked within the top five.

2011 BRW Sports Earners List:
1. Andrew Bogut ($13 million)
2. Casey Stoner ($9.5 million)
3. Mark Webber ($9 million)
4. Chad Reed ($8.5 million)
5. Cadel Evans ($5 million)