It’s 50 not out this year for one of the UK’s most recognised motocross stalwarts, and to celebrate he’ll be getting a golden anniversary present from Bridgestone as he recovers from a broken back – new tyres for when he gets on his bike for a 50th consecutive year!
You can’t keep a good man down and in Kevin Reed’s case, as he looks set to return after recovering from a broken sternum, four broken vertebrae and a broken wrist in a freak racing accident earlier in the year
The 57 year-old from Horsham first competed at the age of seven and straight away the motocross bug bit, and he has never looked back – almost literally as he competed for British and European titles on a regular basis thereafter.
And to commemorate the ‘50 not out’ achievement, Bridgestone will be kitting Kevin out in its range of Battlecross X10, X20 and X30 tyres, in what he describes as a reunion between old friends.
“Now the brand is back in motocross in a big way, which makes me smile as I associate Bridgestone with so many happy memories. To be able to ride on their Battlecross products in in 2020 will be like being reunited with an old friend. It will be a special day when I do.”
Kevin’s personal honours board includes a third place in the 500cc AMCA European Championships in 1987, and the last man to ever record a win in the last ever European 500cc championship round in France in 1991, before it was disbanded to become an open series 250/500cc in 1992.
He is a four-time runner-up in the AMCA British schoolboy championships, twice in the expert class in his last year as a schoolboy.
He finished modern racing in 1995 to move into classic/ twinshock racing through the AMCA, which he won in 2003 and 2005, before being a member of the triumphant winning England team in the European ‘Classic Des Nations’ in 2006 and 2018. When he is back behind the throttle after injury, he will be competing in the over 50s National Twinshock in the Pre 85 Series.
Bridgestone’s marketing team leader Mark Fereday said: “Kevin is one of the most respected and well-known motocross riders the UK has ever produced. He is a fantastic servant to the sport and we knew that he will be competing for a 50th consecutive year in 2020.
“It really is a phenomenal achievement and we couldn’t let it pass without providing him with our Battlecross tyres to keep him at the front of the field. We wish him a speedy recovery from a nasty accident and will be there to cheer him on when he gets back on the bike. We were only too happy to reunite him with the brand ahead of his historic milestone.”
Kevin added: “My dad got me into the sport as a little boy and maybe I’ve carried on for so long because I’ve wanted to do him proud. He died of a heart attack while competing himself when he was 36. I was only 13 and I always think of him looking down on me.
“He would have loved to see what I’m up to I’m sure. The motocross world is like an extended family. Lots of people who raced with Dad are still around now and it will mean a lot to see them all when I do make it to my 50th year. There are so many familiar faces around the place and I want to do it for them too.”
