News 19 May 2021

Reardon still weighing up racing return in AUS Supercross

Multi-time champion's decision pends on series announcement.

Image: Foremost Media.

Dan Reardon is still weighing up if he’ll return to racing in the 2021 Australian Supercross Championship, the multi-time champion’s decision pending on a formal series announcement due next month.

It was revealed yesterday that plans are in place for the series to return after missing 2020 due to the pandemic, with a five-round championship confirmed alongside a free-to-air TV package, new promoter group, and a naming rights partner.

The supercross-only rider hasn’t raced at a national level since the 2019 AUS-X Open inside Marvel Stadium, which was the last time supercross was staged in Australia amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 35-year-old, who works in the film industry as a stuntman, will only make the commitment to racing the five-round series if it can return to the strengths it reached in 2019, where the championship visited a number of favourable venues under the new management of AUS SX Holdings.

“I am anticipating to race this year, but the series has to be good,” Reardon told MotoOnline.com.au. “I understand they’re getting back on their feet and trying to make something happen, but I want the series to be strong and I want it to be good.

“I know we don’t have as many rounds as we usually do. I try to keep a close ear to the ground to try to figure out what’s actually going on – I haven’t moved on anything yet – I could – but I’m waiting on more information on how it’s going to progress. Until I know for sure that something is going to be solid, I’m just on stand-by.

“I think venues are super important, and I understand it’s difficult – there’s probably going to be a million processes. We did leave the supercross series – prior to this Covid thing – the series was quite strong, we were at some amazing places and we had some good racing.

“I’m less motivated to be part of something that’s not that, [to put it] in the bluntest way possible. Until we get some concrete answers on what’s going to happen, I’m just sitting on the fence.”

Reardon, who pieced together his own program with the support of Yamaha in 2018, isn’t concerned about opportunities arising with a factory team, indicating that running his own operation is on the cards should he decide to race.

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