Monday Conversation With... Trey Canard
Monday, February 14, 2011 | 10:10 AM
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On one of the wildest, craziest nights of Monster Energy Supercross in quite some time, American Honda Racing’s Trey Canard scored his first-ever SX win. After the race, we found him upstairs in the Honda hauler, trying to take it all in. But he couldn’t. While you’d expect the outgoing Canard to have been jubilant in celebration, it was more like the moment was too big for him to digest this quickly. He was subdued, and pretty much in shock. Here’s what he had to say—but be warned: no words can really sum of the feeling of winning your first supercross.
Racer X Online: You just won a supercross!
Trey Canard: (Laughs) Uh, I did? It has definitely not set in yet. I’m just in shock right now. Man, I feel like I didn’t even ride as well as I did in the last three races, but I was coming from the back in those. I really needed that, to get up front and ride up front. Hopefully this will help me in the weeks to come. I really needed this. I had a bad week and this makes up for it.
Yeah, you said on the podium that you had a bad week. What’s that all about?
Well, there comes a time when you’re just getting bad starts, and you’re doing all you can, and it’s not working. It gets pretty frustrating. I was pretty spent from last weekend, and then on Monday I hit it really hard and did a lot of laps. I was really spent after that. It made the rest of the week really tough. To be honest, I was dreading coming into this weekend. But now, this is just a great feeling.
Canard held off Dungey at the wire for his first career SX win.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Take us through this craziness. First, a ton of guys were down in turn one. Did you even know that?
No. I knew Dungey was right around me, so I just tried to ride forward and not think about any of those guys. I did a decent job of that. I got around Millsaps for second, and then I was kind of surging for Windham. Then once he went down, I just kinda’, man, it was like my heart stopped! I was just so excited to be up there! I got really tight and I knew Dungey was coming after me. I was really tight, and I made two big mistakes in the rhythm lane, same section to laps in a row. So then he was on me, and he came at me hard. But I finally put a surge on and had a good couple of laps. Then I had to ride out that last lap.
Did that battle loosen you up? It seemed like you rode so much better the instant he passed you.
Oh for sure. It was like, immediately my mind was good, I knew I needed to go forward again. I think him passing me there was the best thing that could have happened, because it really loosened me up and got me going again. If he had not passed me there, I probably would have still been tight, and then he would have got me a few laps later and I would have been done. So I was actually really happy that he passed me.
When you were in second, and K-Dub was kind of gone in the lead, were you even going for him? What was the strategy? Were you waiting? Were you just riding the track and trying to put in good laps?
Well, the track was really tough. I tried to just put in good consistent laps. I was catching him a little, but not much, if any at all. I was hoping I could just inch and inch and inch up on him and maybe little by little I could catch him by the end of the race. But I really don’t know if I would have. It’s a bummer for Kevin that he went down. But, I guess that was a great opportunity for me.
Canard capitlized on a Windham mistake to take the win.
Photo: Simon Cudby
What’s amazing about this is, you’ve been in so many pressure situations before—and you’ve come out with clutch race wins and even titles. And yet this supercross class, at this level, it still got to you when you were in the lead.
Oh yeah. I mean, when I came to the 450 class, it was basically like starting over again. It’s pretty tough, and you start to lose hope when you have some bad races like I was having. So, man, I don’t know what to say. I’m just thankful to have things go my way like this.
That last-lap battle with Dungey was nuts. Take us through that.
Yeah I made a little mistake, I cased that little triple thing before the big triple, and Dungey must have hit it really good, and he came right up on me. I didn’t know what to do in the next turn! I tried to come in tight, square it up, and make sure he wasn’t right there next to me. We came together a little bit, but I saw the checkered flag, and I was like ,“I’m not giving it up right here.” Man, I’m just almost in shock right now that this all happened!
And maybe the best part of all, this is one of your home races.
Yeah, there’s a lot of people from home here. It’s just…crazy. I don’t know what else to say.
So, no words can describe winning a supercross?
No. Definitely not!
Is this how this needed to happen? You were a little down on yourself. Did you kind of need a win where things fell into place before you can get one where you just go out there and rip it for 20 laps?
Yeah, I think so. It’s just so hard racing in this class, especially for a guy like me. I’ve always been pretty humble, and to know I’m racing the guys I’m racing in this class, it’s hard for me to just go to the line in my rookie year and think I’m going to just beat everyone straight up. I’m working on that, but it’s hard not to get intimidated. I really needed this. It’s…it’s just an amazing feeling right now.
The feeling of victory.
Photo: Simon Cudby
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First !! Way to go, Trey. Hopefully you get more of these. You scrub harder than Alice from the Brady Bunch.
Congratulations Trey, I hope you have many more to come!
You whip 'em flatter than Dolly Parton in a centrifuge. Seriously, though, I was at Houston, and you and Dunge had a great ride. Best of luck.
Class act. Hard for me to cheer for a Honda guy :-) But if I have too it's got to be KW and Trey. Congrats Trey!
Treys the man! Keep it up, you got what it takes.
So does he get a asterisk by this win? Isn't that how it works around here? Great ride Canard.
What a great race to watch, except the part with K-Dub, that sucked. But Dungey p[ushed hardtoo. What a good ride by Dungey too. But I am not surprised that Trey got a win here. Most guys expected him to get a win this year. He is relentless in his drive. Good for him.
It not how you play the game it is wheather you win or loose that counts! that is pro sports in a nutshell. Everyone that wins deserves it from the hard work to the determination. From the old REO Speedwagon album KEEP PUSSHIN ON Good ride Trey!
Yes Garjan111, you are correct but should have more than just asterisk next to TC in recordbook. *&%#Trey Canard - * for KDUB crashing, & and % for JS crashing twice, and # since RC is not riding anymore.
Asterisk my @$$. A win is a win. Those other guys crashing is there own damn fault. Poto and Dungey didn't crash. Canard is the man! Feel really bad for Windham though. I bet lapping James psyched him out.
Awesome ride for Canard -- he is truly worthy of that Honda Factory ride and is the best pick they have made since they hired RC!!
Haven't seen a series like this since the mid-80's. Great for the sport!!!!
Hope both KDub and JT$ are okay. JT$ has been around a long time. I remember when he used to qualify for the mains in both classes the same night. Unfortunately, he got Bubba'ed.
I dont think they showed the last lap bobble by Trey on TV....He inched away from Dungey after their 2-3 lap battle and had like a 3-5 second lead, then Dungey was on his tail again a few turns from the finish...looked to me like Trey slowed up a bit too much in the last few straights, but really glad he won. Good ride for Dungey too, but still not enough to win.....RV was the fastest on the track it seemed and He was catching both those guys...great ride Villomoto!!!
Pretty sure motonube was being sarcastic, Acejace. The cards fell as they did, and Trey was in the right spot (and rode fast enough, too). Dungey also rode well (I know some of you won't admit it). I, too, am bummed about Windham, though. It was great to see him tearing it up. Hope he's ok and ready to try again next week!
Red......Actually Rd was stood up in a corner on the last lap by I think Blose but they missed it on TV. I think Reed might of been the fastest with him only being 3 sec. behind RV even after falling.
Actually, Redbeard, I think Stewart had the fastest lap. (See how much that means?) Villo finished 9 1/2 seconds behind, so overall, it's hard to argue he was fastest. I could be wrong, but I'd say Canard was the fastest (being the winner and all).
oops.......4.5 sec. but still.
Average lap time I should say... Stewart had the fastest "lap" no suprise there...I could be wrong, but I think RV's avg laptime will be better than Trey and Dungey's when the "sign of the laps" comes out.......Either way, RV rode good coming from 16th on a challenging track for passing and looked strong.....The turn exit/take off for the one triple looked like they were on ice....
Why are people saying James' crashing into JT is wrong. Sorry, but watch the replay, its hardly JS7's thought that JT is too crap to jump the triple everyone else was doing all night. And that second jump was higher than the take off jump, so he wouldnt have even been able to see JT didnt jump it. Get off your blame JS7 for every thing bandwagon for a while huh??? Its getting boring!
Great win to one of the greatest and humblest rider on the circuit! Canard deserves all the accolade due!
Genuine nice guy and a talented rider as well. I hope he will win many more!!!
Lets be clear about the *.
The * only comes into play when you win a race because everyone crashes and then you strut around like you are the man and you are the fastest guy when it isn't so...
TREY IS A CLASS act and took advantage of the situation...he is humble=no asterick...
Redbeard65.. RV came from 12th... He was smart in avoiding the carnage caused by JS... And rode smart! He had the 4th fastest time... fastest lap time was by Milsaps, followed closely by JS and K-Dub 3rd.
Keith.. very well said.. But you will have to go to another thread... "Houston race report".. Some are still debating about it.. ha,ha... Am sure Stewart looked like Bradshaw.. People will love him for that.. Ha,ha
Great race to Trey! Awesome series to watch, holey smokes. Anything can happen
on any night. I want to point out that 20 laps of this kind of racing gets results with the fewest mistakes. A lousy start and riding in the pack things like broken chains and broken front brakes just end up happening. The rider who surprised me this weekend was Milsaps! He looked like a man on a mission.
Didierlotsyeng
Way to go Trey! I've loved watching him ride and win ever since your first year. Out of the whole field he's the one I'd love to see win the most. Just a hard working, humble, well spoken kid with a huge heart. And I've never (and I could be wrong on this) hear a singe rider have the guts to give the credit for every win to "Jesus Christ who I could do nothing without" Way to step is up from "the man upstairs".....
I stand corrected on the laptimes if we are talking "average" lap times.....However RV started in 16th as 22, 7 and 36 were on the ground behind him....He probably passed 4 guys the 1st lap to come across in 12th, but a strong ride none the less. This is one of those examples of how to make a bad night good....not a good heat race for RV and a bad start in the main....he stayed calm and made his way to the box and now has 9 points (?) over JS...that is what champions do. It is fairly safe to say that if RV starts dead last and avoids crashing, he can pluck his way to a top 5 finish......same with Reed and JS...pending any crashes...
Didierlotsyeng,,, Just wondering what else you think is JS's faullt ?? I bet if he wins next week,, we wont even hear from you ...
Round 6 Average Lap times - Main Event - pretty tight...
1.Reed - 50.395-
2.Canard - 50.504-
3.Dungey - 50.509-
4.Villopot0 - 50.768
Garjan111 no asterisk but just like last year with RD untill I see him race with and beat RV and JS (rd still has not) I say he needs a little luck to win. He is not far off but still a bit behind RV and JS.
I think Milsaps had the fatest lap.
Round 6 Best Lap time - Main Event
1. Milsaps - 48.800
2. Stewart - 48.842
3. Villopoto - 49.033
4. Canard - 49.138
5. Metcalf - 49.384
6.Dungey - 49.385
7. Reed - 49.847
Way to go Trey. Bummer about K-Dub... I hope he's not too beat up after that crash.
KDUB was averaging a 49.496 before he bailed out...
Sef154 .. I know you try to spin this into a I hate RD thing but here goes. Dungey did not ride that great of a race, Dungey should have won that race. He is the Champ and wile he can't run with RV and JS IMO he should have won that race it was handed to him on a plater. RV came from 14th to 3rd, RD took 20 laps to go from 5th to 2nd. He needed that win and should have won it. I bet if you ask him he would say he is pissed he did not seal the deal. TC did not fold under the presure and congrats to him.
This kid is mature way beyond his years. Look for a long, successful career. Kinda like KW. Good to see some class in this class. Yea, KW was in control until he threw it away. I don't understand why he swapped in that section. No one else got sideways there all night. Canards faith makes him humble. Big plus.
TC 41 is a class act and a future Ambassador for the Sport of Supercross & Motocross. Humble, hard working & focused; epitome of the kind of attitude & outlook needed at this level.
He grits his teeth, shuns adversity and just goes for it. Well done, Trey. Hats off to you! A lot more Wins coming your way. Best 450 Rookie at the gate!
"Dungey did not ride that great of a race." Better than all but one other rider in the world that night ... by 0.186 seconds. You're right. Not that great. It's all these little "put downs," post after post, that make it clear you're a champion negator ... but you'll NEVER admit it. (You never say anything wrong, according to you.) Hey, BTW, did you see that another of your favorite targets, Shorty, beat Roczen? LMAO
KG, You hit the nail on the head. Treys professionalism is top notch. I'm rootin for this kid!
Jezz Sef when did I say Roczen would beat Short?? Many said he shouild not even be out there I never said he would beat anyone. Back to RD, If you really feel RD did not need that win or should not have got that win there is nothing more to say I guess except if you ask someone like RC or any past champ I bet they say RD needed and should have had thay win. I guess you are the type of person who is happy with 2nd place and thats fine but I just don't agree with your losing is good type of thinking. RD is over 30 points down he NEEDS to win IMO.
The 20 best lined up Saturday night and Dungey was 0.186 seconds shy of beating them all. I'm pretty sure he gave it his all. Instead of crediting Canard, you are all about Dungey's "failure." It's the way you are, BillC. I'd be interested to know how many times you've won ANYTHING, Mr. Monday Morning Quarterback. On second thought, I don't give a shit.
Dungey is one of the smartest,most patient riders I have seen in a long time. He is solid and he is proving week after week that he is a contender for the title, and very deserving of last years.This is only his second year, he's gonna be around a long time!
Good ride, Trey. It was cool to see you three on the box. So meaningful. There you were, winning a 450 race in your rookie year; it was great to see you and Dungey talking, I'm sure you had a certain bonding moment, just knowing that you both won in your rookie years; and to see Villopoto in 3rd, and knowing how far he had to come through the pack to earn that position, it was great to see him make it to the box.
It couldn't happen to a nicer group of three guys. Good luck to all of you!
LOL sef154 i believe I did give TC credit, Maybe you were in such a rush to bash me you missed it. Sef I have quite a colection in my Trophy case. How about you Mr. Celebrater of MEDIOCRITY. YUP because all the fast guys got bad starts RD GOT 2nd!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE but when the fast guys start anywhere near RD they BEAT by a lot. Not a slam just the facts. Lots of people can win a race under certain circumstances. I have won some to like that but I did not go home pounding my chest saying I am the Best i was smart enough to know some luck played into it. That how this weekend played out, TC won witch is great but till I see him beat the boys on a more normal week it does not mean as much to me...If that was JS or RV on TC like RD was I would say TC Did it. Don't get so pissy about it, It's MY opion you don't have to agree with it or piss your pants over it. I will call it how I see and You do the same I won't cry when You don't see it my way... the question is will you?? Still you did not clear up the Short KR thing... Where were you trying to go with that one?? There was no where to go but up in flames like you did I guess.
PS. SEF154 I bet I payed more in taxes than you made last year!! Because I am a winner and Push hard at everything I do and am never happy with an OK result. I want to be better then the rest.... Like a Champion should be.
Wow. He had a black cloud hanging over him all week and he goes out and wins the main! That's gotta be SWEET! It should not be a big surprise that he held off RD. A few years ago he caught RV and passed him back (of course he used him as a berm!)
Consistent Trey Paid off, Congratulations!
Ya know watching outdoors last year and this race. Trey is a champ. How many times now have we seen this guy caught and passed, only to turn it up and win. Or at least be right on the rear wheel.
dr. trey! my rider since the goat went to pasture. i cant blame bubbles 100%.watch it again,jt looks like he should double then double.looks like he was going double roll the table.bubba was pinned to triple so no chance.having said that both bubba 1 and 2---you are not the only riders on the track..malcoms wreck was just plain dumb.pj would have been a factor.
Let's see. You feel the need to brag about how much you make. You talk about other people "pissing their pants." You feel the need to tell us you "have quite a colection in my Trophy case." You bad mouth some of the most talented riders in the world. (Oh yes, how many times did you rag on Short for getting beat by Roczen in CO? I guess they're 1-1 now.) You're a very insecure person, BillC, and all the money and trophies in the world aren't going to help. It's sad, really. And you suck at debate. But you don't even know it.
Wow BillC, not only do you know everything but your loaded to boot! I bet you like hearing your own voice , you probably record conversations with yourself and play them back just to hear yourself one more time. You are the most irritating person posting on this site.
you see why I call him BillCunt
Trider178 Wrote "And I've never (and I could be wrong on this) hear a singe rider have the guts to give the credit for every win to "Jesus Christ who I could do nothing without" Way to step is up from "the man upstairs"..... " Or maybe the other racers have the "brains" to think invisible fairy tales do not control Canard winning and allow Kdub to crash. It's time to grow up and be an adult. YOU are the one that controls your destiny.
Keep religion out of sports!
Hey Sef and BillC, go somewhere else if you two are going to squabble like little girls.
Thanks Keith ! The only way James gets a pass on this is if he couldnt see over the jump face . The anti 7 crowd wont even consider that as a possiblity .
JimM
CarlsbadCa
How many points do you get for having the fastest lap times ???? NONE so it doen't mean shit, all you people always talking about lap times, you need to get it already, lap times don't mean anything.
Great race Trey, keep it up, you can do it, you already kicked RV's a.. on your rookie season.
Asterik smasterik, good ride Trey and way to close the deal ! Guys should pass you more often if your gonna respond like that.
JimM
CarlsbadCA
Enjoyed all the comments as usual even the bar banging between sef and Bill (sef you clearly won this round) But you Scottydog and others who make selfish comments like yours just all out piss me off. Many Americans believe in Jesus Christ and its plain to see Trey is a Christian. Let it be, don't knock something you don't understand. Enjoy your freedom while you still have it. Christians aren't the enemy. Want to bash on me go ahead ! But I'd rather race you!
The way I look at it is Trey won fair and square no asterik or any other crap people have to say. I was at Houston and all the top guys qualified, all went to main event and the better man on the night won. Regardless of who crashed, who didn't get a good start its all part of the race. As for everyone bashing riders I think you need to get a clue. I'm a fan of the sport not one particular rider. I think they are all great riders or they wouldn't be where they are. Also I would like to know how many supercross mains all you bashers qualified for.
Scottydog, you are obviously the one who needs to grow up. Grown ups aren't threatened by the fact that someone not only believes in God, but believes He cares for us and is involved in our lives. Just the simple comment of 'fairy tales' show that you have little to zero (tending toward the latter) understanding of anything. So go bash Christians somewhere else, because we Believe and we Ride. Deal with it.
(p.s. if you wanna debate the 'fairy tales' email me: [email protected] Ain't skeerd)
Well sef you asked. The funny thing about you sef is that you bash me for doing the same things you do. Again I ask you why don't you do what you said you would many times and don't read my posts??
Also funny how sef insults me first and now I am the bad guy!! LOL
Trying to justify yourself by how much money you make BILLC?? that doesnt make you a winner, it makes you greedy. that doesnt make you a better person, it makes you look like a typical greedy business owner.. Some of the worse losers I have ever known make alot of money every year, doesnt make then a winner. Just makes them a wealthy loser. Not saying its what you are, but you cant justify a person a winner based on money. But your comment says a whole lot about you..
BillC, you said it took Dungey 20 laps to go from 5th to 2nd. He actually got into 2nd on lap 13. He was in 3rd after 9 laps. RV was 5th on lap 11 and didn't get to third until lap 19. So what's your point? It took them approximately the same # of laps from 5th to 3rd. You know the guys up front are harder to pass. That's why they are out front they're going faster. And also, why did you bring money into a disagreement? In my opinion money is not a measure of a person. I have friends who are rich, and I also have friends who are unemployed. They are all my friends and I don't think money makes one better than the other. You probably shouldn't have gone there. But anyhow I thought Houston was a great race! The points tightened up a quite a bit and the season is still young!! Let's see what San Diego will bring us....
P.S. Roczen is awesome! He is going to be something else when he gets a little more experience.
P.S. again, K-dub had that race! too bad he went down. He'll be back again soon!!!
Great race Trey! Good start, kept your composure at the end with Dungey, thumbs up for mentioning K-Dub and always Jesus Christ! Have a safe season! More wins will come!
knew it was coming.............way to go trey......God bless you son
Dungey had a faster average lap time than RV2. So it looks to me that Dungey has the speed and ran a pretty good race. Good ride by Dungey, showed some speed by beating RV in lap times.
OK BD200, RV was stuck in the pack all race and RD had a much more clear track!! If that impresses you fine, But untill I see RD Run RV's pase on a normal day it means little to me.