by Steve Cox
Monday Conversation: Trey Canard
Monday, July 5, 2010 | 3:20 PM
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PrintGEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard was touted to be a championship contender prior to the start of the 2010 AMA National Motocross Championships, but he has struggled. Coming into Colorado last week, he had one second-place moto finish (at round one at Hangtown), but hadn’t seen the podium at all since. At Colorado, he started to turn things around with a 3-2 score for second overall, and this past weekend in RedBud, Canard took his first-ever moto win in the second moto, which also resulted in his first overall win. We caught up with the very happy racer after the race.
Trey Canard: It hadn’t been a long season, it’s been a long few seasons; a long few seasons of kind of sitting there. The beginning of this one has probably been the toughest one for me. I was struggling. I was struggling to even get up in the morning. I feel like I figured some things out this past couple weeks and I want to keep the ball rolling. Man, I’m so happy about that win. I didn’t even know if I got the overall and I didn’t really even care! I was just happy to win a moto. I was just stoked.
You didn’t just win the moto. It’s not like you got the holeshot and won the moto. You had to pass a bunch of top guys; guys that have won nationals already this. That’s pretty gnarly.
Yeah, I was stoked. I’ve got to thank Justin Barcia, actually. We had some contact [when Barcia jumped across a couple lines on an off-camber and came into Canard] and it actually really fired me up. It upped my intensity. That was good. I just need to figure out how to do that every time. My starts have got to get better for sure because that’s pretty tough to be in the back. My bike was great today, too. We made some changes and it was just awesome. I felt really good from second practice on, so I’m just stoked.
It seems like one advantage of coming from the back, though, is it forced you to pick other lines. In the second off-camber, where Barcia hit you, everyone was kind of hopping down into the inside rut and you were hitting that outside. It seemed a lot smoother and not really any slower.
Yeah, that was one thing being in the back helped a lot with; I felt like my lines were really good. For one, it saved energy, and for two, I think a lot of them were faster. Two laps to go, I’m like, "Man, is this really happening? Just hang on!"
Did you get nervous at all?
There was a point where I got a little negative, and I’m like, "Man, I’m probably going to crash or something." I just tried to stay positive and put in good, solid laps. I was stoked. I know I’ve said that a bunch, but... You don’t know how good this is for me, to finally get this, after three years and some really tough outdoor seasons.
Trey Canard negotiates an off-camber on his way to his first-ever AMA National win.
Photo: Steve Cox
The weird thing is that you’ve always been fast outdoors. Your rookie season was a little rough at first, but then you started grabbing podiums, and second season you were going to win High Point before you crashed and broke your arm. You’ve always been fast, so it’s kind of weird that it took this long.
I think that my fitness has always been good, but it’s just that I haven’t figured out how to train during the season to keep it good. I hadn’t figured out how to come to the races fresh and still have confidence at the same time. I feel like I’m starting to find that balance, and Timmy Ferry has been huge in that. I know this isn’t going to make it easier. Just because I won doesn’t mean that the next races are going to be easier. Hopefully, I can go home and do some work these next couple weeks and have fun at Millville.
This is the first real break in the season, so how big is it to go into a break like this? If you lost or had a horrible day, you’d have a long time to think about it...
It’s huge. For this, the spirit is high and the enthusiasm is good. It’s important to put in the hard work and enjoy riding, but it’s hard to enjoy riding when you’re not doing good. Just simply enjoying riding is going to be a lot easier now.
When you passed Rattray for second, on that off-camber we talked about, he immediately jumped into your line. It seems like he realized you were going to the front, so he wanted to see what you were doing. He has won world championships and he’s been around a long time, so that’s kind of cool, isn’t it?
I think people forget about Tyla Rattray. The guy is a world champion. It’s cool to race with Tyla. He’s a good guy; he’s a good person. To have him hopping into one of my lines, that’s kind of an honor in a way. It makes me feel better that I belong up there.
I saw Wilson riding really hard; pushing really hard. I wasn’t sure he could sustain that for the whole moto. I know he’s capable of it because at Colorado I was kind thinking the same thing and he pushed all the way to the end. I kind of just tried to wait it out and I realized that he wasn’t going to slow down, so when I saw an opportunity, I went for it. Actually, he got me back like right away because I kind of got hung up with a lapper. Then I passed him right back.
You don’t get along with lappers, historically...
No, I don’t. I’ve broken some stuff [like his femur at Washougal in 2008] over lappers. I passed him back and it was a little risky, but I knew if it was not now, it might not happen, so I just went for it and tried not to think about it and move forward.
Your team has been behind you a long time. How big was it for them, to have their investment in you pay off outdoors, like they knew it could?
Especially with this new bike, there’s been a lot of doubt and a lot of things said about it. There were a lot of people not believing in it. We came out storming at Hangtown and then we had a couple rough ones. For the team, overall, I think it’s a really good day. Blake rode really good and Justin rode really good. I think Eli is finally starting to come around from Texas – I know that was a big hit on him. Hopefully, we can keep going and build on some momentum and do some good by the end of the series.
You’re obviously not really thinking about points, right?
Not really. I know [the championship] is pretty out of the question at this point in time. I just need to try to build myself up. That’s my main thing. That’s my goal right now: To come out of this having figured things out and also to have a head of steam going into next year.
Canard, eyes full of tears, celebrates his first-ever moto win.
Photo: Steve Cox
You were so pumped winning that thing that you jump over the fence and you had to high-five every single person in the crowd. What made you do that?
They’re so stoked just to be here and I know I don’t always have time to shake every hand or autograph everything, but when I do have time I try to use it. Hopefully, I can have an impact on people. That’s one of my big goals, which is to have an impact on people, so hopefully I do that and hopefully I continue to build on things.
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Congrats Turbo Trey!!!
This moment brought tears in my eyes and gave me chills, it was time for this to happen for Trey! Congratulations man!
All that hard work paid off, how can you not like Canard, good kid, works hard, no drama, glad to see him get the win i was at high point when he broke his wrist. Keep it rollin Trey, you are my vote in the lites bikes in lakewood, along with RD and Shorty! Sorry BUBBLES!
He was way passed due for his first national win! Very happy to see it! I hope Andrew Short is next!
Congratulations Trey! FINALLY!! A lot of people always knew you had this in you. I was personally begining to question if this was ever going to happen, thanks for proving me wrong. The seal is broken, now keep it going!!!
I was hoping Wilson would use that side road that Canard punted him into to catch up and return the favor in the next corner but no dice.
I was having a great chat with a Honda big wig about how great it was them bringing KW. And we got to talking about how might be on the team next year. He said the only one they know for sure is CANARD so that will be sweet. They would like to keep SHORT they hope he can keep up the top 3 finishes. But ether way they will do what ever they can to help him out! DUNGEY RULES!!!!!!!!!
Turbo Trey pulled a filthy dirty pass on Dean Wilson. If that road wasn't there deano would have been in the cheap seats. like a villopoto 08 sx move. Trey needs to take shorty's job on a 450. I bet the honda guys are kicking their a**es for keeping metcalfe on a little bike for so long. YZsean, are u insenuating that u were talking to alessi's girlfriend? As for shorty, i dont see any way he's keeping his ride.
c'mon pinned927, a dirty pass? Everybody is so scared to race each other hard nowadays. No one got hurt, there weren't any hard feelings, and the guy that deserved the win most got it. Enough said.
That second moto was one of the best 250 outdoor motos ever! The top 5 were hauling a** and battling the whole race. Trey deserved that win 100% and that pass was awesome, that was the best effort anyone has put out this season. Trey I am a huge fan and I'm hoping to see you win some more. Good Luck buddy !!
Pinned927" It was not 800 girl friend on the Alessi news it rimes with BAD! It was a short conversation we were walking back to the pits. On the Honda conversation was quite long and he really was all about Short really wonted to keep him and just wonted the best for him. I take alot and will walk up and talk to any one i had some great conversation this week. Had a lot of fun but wish Haas would have not had sutch bad luck but i probably would have not had much free time if he would have been in it to win it! DUNGEY RULES!!!!!!!!!
Trophy De Nations..Dungey, Canard, Windham. Ok..Dungey, Canard, Grant?? I like Shorty but he keeps going backwards. I know to early to tell! Or Hannah, Staten, Smith?
who here actually believes illiterate sean talks to mx big wigs?
o and for once, this was a good interview. usually when i see a canard interview i cringe cause cox really sucs interviewing him, but it was good this time.
I hope Trey thinks about that pass and how it could have really endangered Wilson. Would be man of him if he just went up to Wilson and said something like "Hey, I'm sure sorry about that"! Thanking Christ after each and every race and then doing dirty passes like that seems...well, you know how it seems!
05kx250, it must really suck to be you, to be so hatefull and unhappy all the time. Your life must really suck. pinned927, please, that is such a common move in moto, get over it or get off the track. I was glad to see Trey get that win, an American winning on our Nations birthday was great. You could hear the crowd on the T.V. broadcast, but they where twice that loud at the race. The crowd was unbelievable. And the crowd went nuts cheering for Canard, it was amazing.
What a great win by Canard...an American finally put it in the winner circle and on our Nation's B Day. Much thanks to all of our Red Bud fans...to cheer on Canard. I saw the move from Canard on Wilson from the tower and several times on our monitor in the tower. It appeared the lines came together and it wasn't a dirty move...REDDDBUDDD
pinned927 is full subscribed to the pussification of motocross and pretty much everything else in America.....even Wilson had the right perspective on the "racing incident" so get a bottle of Summers Eve and get over it
Right on Larry-- REEEED BUUUUDDDD!!!!
Conard really had to push hard both motos to get the overall results he got on a really hot day to ride , man the guy just never gives up no matter what place he is in the moto it was really great to watch him ride today
ONCE AGAIN BD200, am i talking to you???
If you want a perspective on what we see to be a rough, hard, or 'dirty' pass, all you have to do is listen to the one who received it. Was it a dirty pass? Wilson didn't think so; end of conversation. Don't remember everything he said in the post-race interview, but it was classy and right on the mark. Rubbin's racin! BOTH Canard and Wilson are class-acts. klrman needs to learn that being Christian doesn't mean you can't lay the wood down...
So Barcia ticked him off and #38 opened up a can of whoopass. Turns out, all Turbo needed was some tackling fuel, just like Bobby Boucher. Way to go, Trey! MXdN at Lakewood...RD5, Shorty and TC38.
God boy better watch out, Wilson's the one with points and speed and now a beef! Better move on to the new testement and "turn the other cheek"
'Turn the other cheek' obviously deals with someone already dealing you a blow and, in turn, handing out mercy and grace - not applicable here. Only applicable in Wilson's case, which he did. I would venture to say that if Trey got bumped like that, he, too, would 'turn the other cheek.'
toby42.. for someone who was supposed to be the guy for the 250 honda team this season TC obviously has been dealt a few blows considering he is 55 points down. Running someone completely off the track is a dirty pass. Wilson is man enough not to snivel about it. Christian or not TC is not above riding dirty, just ask RV. Do we really think that God gives a crap about motocross?
Trey Cannard for President!
to everyone who thinks that the Canard/Wilson pass was dirty. i thought this was professional motocross racing. thought thats what the boys get paid big $$$ to do. so, if you think that was a "dirty move", sell your bike, grab a lil pink tutu and go watch some ballet. cause i thought motocross was all about bar banging, line stealing, agressive style racing. and you "guys" call yourself motocross racers...
Nice move to the front Trey. This is big boy racing. If Dean wasn't offended, why should the fans be, again this is "Big Boy Racing", get over it.
@gman - do you get run off the track or do you allow it? I've seen Alessi 'RUN someone off the track' - Canard didn't do that. It was a bump and Canard came back to the inside - didn't squeeze him off. I, personally, think that 'riding dirty' has a different meaning for people on the message boards then it does on the track. There's a difference between 'dirty' and 'aggressive' and we need to remember that, though we probably have a diff. perspective (don't forget, Shorty's another Christian who isn't above rubbin and bangin). And yeah, I think God LOVES MX! ;o)
I am not against rubbin and bangin, I enjoyed watching Trey and Barcia go at it. I will watch it again to night, but my recollection was that he did squeeze Wilson off. I am thinkin that is why Wilson ended up "OFF" the track. I am pretty sure that if Jason Lawrence did the exact same thing everyone would be calling for a fine or suspension.
I think TC did a great job and Wilson was getting tired, but from TV at least it looked like a dirty move. If JL would have pulled that move, he would have been fined, but it was fun to watch the race. I agree, racing is aggressive and some times things like that happen in the heat of the moment. Alls well that ends well.
Canard clearly ran Wilson off the track, no question. Watch the video. Godboy, as Tripcarlyle calls him, was frustrated because he hasn't lived up to the expectations. He was going to make the pass whether it was dirty or not. He forced Wilson off the track. I totally agree with Gman and kirman, if it was j-law there would be fines.
Congrats to Trey, he rode so well and confident, he picked that line on dino and pinned it, it was 50-50 and some awesome racing...deno handled it like a champ at the end also, look how good DW108 is riding in these last races from the 1st few, he is flying and getting stronger everyday..i bet he wins millville...great racing this season..
Toby what race did you watch? Canard bumped Wilson and then took as wide a line as he could without going off the track.
Went back to it (like gman said he'd do) and Canard definitely did not take 'as wide a line as he could' but came back to the middle of the track. He took the first rut which happened to be 1/2 way out into the track. Trey bumped him out out of the line they were both trying to take... and there was only one. Wilson got bumped out and there was no nice berm to lay it back into to point himself forward again. An agressive move on a one-lined section. I DO have to ask myself, though; how would I have seen this if J-Law did this to one of my favs? (Short/Dungey/KDub)... I don't know! I probably wouldn't be defending him as much as I am Canard, though!
The race is on YouTube if anyone wants to rewatch this... look for "2010 AMA Motocross 250Class RD6 Red Bud Moto 2 Part 3" - the pass is at 5:00. And after looking at it (again... and again!) I wouldn't have bagged on J-Law for this - for him, this pass would have been very tame!