Short and Canard Continue Honda’s Podium Charge at Indianapolis
Torrance, CA: In front of a packed house of 57,256 screaming Indianapolis fans, Torco Racing Fuels Honda rookie Trey Canard rode to victory on Saturday night and proved his round one win was no fluke, winning his second consecutive Supercross East Lites race for the team. After winning the opening round of the championship in his debut race in Atlanta, the 17-year-old Oklahoma native continued to show confidence beyond his years, riding his Honda CRF250R to victory and adding a further $1,000 to his kitty for winning the Progressive Holeshot Award.
From the moment the gates dropped, Canard was on his game, winning the holeshot and racing away to a strong lead. Canard overcame his rival’s attempts to steal his lead when he was taken down by a fellow rider, but consistency and determination paid off as the young rookie rode back to the lead, extending his championship points record out to a perfect 50 points after two rounds.
“Indianapolis was really good,” said Canard. “It was actually better than the Atlanta race I think just because I had to work really hard for it. The first three laps I think I rode awesome but then I started to think about Villopotto coming after me and I made a few mistakes on the one lap. But I put it all together and rode well and I am really happy to come away with the win for Torco Racing Fuels Honda.”
Trey was not the only Honda rider to stand on the podium, as Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short finished third in the Supercross class. Short’s third place result was his second consecutive podium finish for the Honda Red Bull Racing team. Onboard his CRF450R Short got away to a great start and was challenged by fellow Honda riders Davi Millsaps and Kevin Windham throughout the race, but the 25-year-old rode with confidence and consistency to hold onto his podium result.
“I am really happy to stand on the podium for Honda Red Bull Racing and record consecutive podium results for the team,” said Short. “It was great to turn my night around after a rough heat race and end up on the podium. My result is great for the team’s confidence and mine.”
Round seven winner Kevin Windham was never far from the action and was amongst the lead riders all race. Windham finished the event in fifth place and continues to hold strong in second position in the Supercross Championship. Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps recorded his first Supercross win in Atlanta and showed promising form heading into the round nine event. Millsaps got away to a slow start in the main event but soon moved up into second place. A late crash left the 20 year old to rejoin the race outside the top ten and he finished in seventeenth position. Millsaps holds onto fifth place in the Championship.
Honda Red Bull Racing’s newest lites recruit, five times French Champion Ben Coisy, narrowly missed out on a podium position for the Honda Red Bull Racing team. Riding his second race onboard the CRF250R, Coisy demonstrated his ability to adapt to the American racing scene, finishing in a strong fourth place. Torco Racing Fuels Honda’s Josh Grant showed fast lap times throughout practice and qualifying, but the 21-year-old championship-threat faltered while chasing the lead riders and was forced to settle with twelfth place. Coisy currently holds seventh and Grant holds eighth place in the Lites East championship race.