San Manuel sponsors Aborigine

Tribal union

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians sponsors aboriginal riderLittle did Chad Reed know that a sponsorship would connect the motorcycle racer with his roots.

The process began when the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians joined with L&M Racing to form Team San Manuel for the 2007 supercross season. Reed, who will try for his second consecutive AMA Monster Energy Supercross victory at Angel Stadium on Saturday, is Australian.

He also is an Aborigine--his maternal grandfather is full-blooded Aboriginal.

Yet Reed said Thursday that he knew little of his roots until the San Bernardino-area tribe became his team's primary sponsor.