Monday Conversation: Trey Canard
Monday, December 3, 2012 | 10:10 AM
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PrintIt's time to check back in with Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard, after he suffered a devastating injury at last year's LASX at Dodger's Stadium. Everyone is hoping to see Canard get back to his 2011 level, which saw him capture two 450SX wins and contend for the title.
Racer X contributor Stephan Legrand caught up to Canard at his home in Oklahoma, and then we called him ourselves to ask a few more questions for this week's Monday Conversation.
By Stephan Legrand and Jason Weigandt
Racer X: Where are we at today?
Trey Canard: We are at Reynard Raceway in Shawnee, Oklahoma about 20 minutes from my house. I like to mix it up a little. I have a couple of different tracks at home but it’s good to ride on a different track and get away from the normal. It’s fun here and the dirt is good.
Canard is currently training in Oklahoma in preparations for Anaheim 1.
LeBigUSA.com photo
What’s your schedule right now?
I’m doing a lot of riding. It’s my main focus right now. I’m making sure I’m fresh getting on the bike. I missed the last two years and a considerable amount of time. I feel like the endurance is there. I’m making sure not to get greedy going into Anaheim 1. It’s been a challenge for me in the past. You want to go faster and faster, you hit that wall, your crossed it and things happen.
Why not California?
I love it here. This is home to me. This summer I spent so much time here with my family and friends. It’s hard to leave. People here are so laid back. There is no stress, you go to the track, you bring your dog, you're still doing your work but there is no time restriction. Everyone cares about people and you miss a little bit of that on the West Coast. But I’m going to stay in California until Christmas for photo shoots and those little things. Like I said, it’s tough to leave but at the same time I’m anxious to ride with different people. It means Anaheim 1 is around the corner. I’m looking forward to getting back to that.
Where do you think you stand against Villopoto, Stewart, Reed, Dungey, etc.?
It’s hard to say because I’ve been out of racing for so long. I haven’t raced at my full potential in a year and a half. It’s hard to say where I stand. I know riding with Justin Barcia was pretty good. He just won the Monster Cup. It helped me a lot. It was a marker to tell me where I stood.
Do you still think about your crash?
I have memories about it but I don’t look at it like a bad thing. It’s almost a positive thing. I have peace about it. It gave me a lot actually. It gave me an outlook on things that I didn’t have before. I had time to spend with my family and friends. It allowed me to go to Africa and do all those things that I hadn’t time to do before.
What did you learn from it?
I learned several things during that injury, but one thing you do learn is that you lose friends. Your phone stops ringing, the magazine people don’t call you anymore. Especially you LeBig [Laughs]. I totally understand why. That’s the way it is. You start to learn who your true friends are. Our sport is vicious. You go from highs to lows so quickly. You can get forgotten quick or suddenly you can have a bunch of new friends. It’s a challenging thing. At the end of the day you understand that regular life is more important than everything else.
Canard is hoping to return to his 2011 level, which saw him challange for a championship.
LeBigUSA.com photo
So what's your condition right now? Are you back completely on your regular program, or still working your way back into that?
No, I feel like I'm pretty much on it like I used to be. If anything, I actually feel better than this time last year, because I had a broken collarbone at the time and didn't even race Anaheim 1.
So in other words, when we get to Anaheim this year, we're talking about the same old Trey Canard, not a rider who is trying to rebuild himself.
Well, I've always felt like I'm that guy! [Laughs] I've always been Trey Canard, it's just you guys that see me differently!
[Laughs] Yeah I get that. Okay, let's talk about something non-motocross related, then. Have you seen any movies lately?
Actually, I have. I recently watched Fried Green Tomatoes. I highly recommend it. Very good.
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YEAH BOY!! CANT WAIT TO SEE TREY DO WORK THIS YEAR, I KNOW HES GOT THE SPEED AND THE ATTITUDE TO WIN.
AND YEAH THAT IS A GOOD MOVIE
Hope Trey can ride up to his full potential this year!! He should be top 5 guy each week, as long, as he follows his own advice and does not get greedy early on. Trey is an exciting and fun rider to watch, we fans are glad he is healthy and ready to race!!!
Really like this Kid. Hope to see a great year from him. Stay safe.
A great talent and a great guy. Kudos Trey! Best wishes in 2013. You're due.
Can't wait to see if he can get back to the speed of the top guys. I just hope he can make it thru the year in one piece. Would be cool to see 6 or 7 guys battle it out every week.
Definately a fan. Imagine if TC wins it all! That would be a story to rival Doug Henry's considering all of the devastating injuries Trey has fought through.
Keep it around the top fiveTrey - and you'll see...most importantly WORK ON YOUR STARTS! This year they are going to mean more than ever.
It's funny how you can tell when Jason jumps in on the interview, one questioner had a conversation and the other is a robot. Go TREY!
Trey is such a great person, rider and role model. We wish him a healthy and productive season!
Good Luck Man! wish nothing but the best for you! True Role Model!
Great to see Trey back and riding well. Good luck in 2013, should be one of the "top" contenders competing for a podium each week.
Maybe Trey should give up that #41 he loves so much (dad's old #). He has had nothing but rotten luck since he started racing with it.
Great to see Trey back and riding well. Good luck in 2013, should be one of the "top" contenders competing for a podium each week.
Maybe Trey should give up that #41 he loves so much (dad's old #). He has had nothing but rotten luck since he started racing with it.
I believe the top guys this year are going to have 2 distinct strategies for the year. First is win the title at all costs. Barcia, Reed and Stewart are at the top of that list. The second will be to make it through the year intact. The Ryan duo, Short and Canard I believe will follow that strategy. They all want the title, just think it is going to come down to their bike and if the SX title is worth the chance of ruining their MX season. My gut says Barcia will pull off the upset but who knows this is racing. It will be all about practice times (that's a joke).
Trey won three races in 2011 not two.
I think it is crazy that he didn't ride any overseas races.I love fried green tomatos and the movie as well.
GL Trey, the sport missed ya.
Good luck TREY! go get that championship!
No disrespect to the other hard-working pros, but in my opinion Canard is a Top 3 every weekend. It's batting for the top step where he seems to catch an unlucky whoop or ill-timed scrub. Hopefully that was the younger and new to the big bike Trey. Maturity should temper his charge a tiny bit in a good way. A fan favorite from beginning to end (fingers crossed the end is not on the Asterisk Mule at Round 3 or 4).
You had me at "Hello." I'm a huge fan of TC. You don't even have to win, what and how you hold yourself and live your life off the track is what it's all about. I think this kid is the closest to RV in corner speed out of all others on the track. Rather than tell you to just take it easy the first few rounds, I am going to throw that conservative advise out the window cause that is usually when a fast dude gets hurt. Just the opposite here, get the start and kick some @ss Canard. Win it with your corner speed.
I have a great deal of respect for TC. What he did in his "offseason" should put him up for one of the CNN heros awards (I think I'll look into that nomination process!). The Fried Green Tomatoes comment threw me a bit, but maybe I should check that one out again! (get double-points with the wife for watching that with her)
I hope to see TC safely battling at the front this year, but regardless of his finish it will be great to just have him back at the races.
@Misoheye~JS will not finish the season because he will not be winning. Barcia will not be fast enough to win consistently for an entire season to take the title. He is used to an 8 race series. The title chase will be between CR, RV, RD and TC. On occasion we will see Barcia shine but these 4 will separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Tickle will have a few good rides and we will see Milsaps and Kdub break into the top 4 too. But I agree with Yamalink as well. If Canard rides smart and mature he will podium often.
A1 - it is really going to be a free-for-all where getting top 5 will be a major accomplishment for any rider, and finishing in the top three will be huge. Whoever ends up winning at A1 will rule the moto world for a week. Oh Boy! What a spectacle.
All I ask is that everyone ride their bikes back to the pits after the main - nobody visiting Doc Bodnar or getting a ride in the team swiss box van.
I feel like Christmas has been moved to January 5th. I know what I will be doing at 7pm, baby!
TC can make top 3 end of yr if he stays healthy.....RD proved that last yr....both RV and CR were faster.....100% out of the big hitters at least 2 will get hurt...
after his rotten luck..if i was him id be goin for a smooth good starts ride smart yr...coz others will drop out
he needs a full yr SX/NATS honda wont stick by him if he spends another yr in hospital
Rv and Dungey 2 man race everyone else will get hurt or out period same old same old just history and facts sorry yhats reality . I Dont like it but there it is 2013
He should retire NOW, before he hurts himself really bad!!!!------he has enough $ now to do his true calling-----helping others!!!!!!
he is a good guy in the sport, role model and gentleman for sure.... good luck Trey and stay safe to all the riders this year
I would like to echo a few of the previous comments - work on your starts and be patient in the first couple of laps if you're not up front. I love to watch you ride and am proud of you for being a great example to the young and old alike...
The Holy Spirit has told me Trey thinks he's chosen by God, and so he'll ride over his head believing it's God's will, and God will keep him safe.
See ya in the ER Trey. I'll bond with some old ladies with ya!
@ Chad Jesus douch bag.. You are a disgrace of a ..................No take that back you are not human at all......................May someone of a higher power fill all your orfices with battery and throw you in the Blast furnace..............
JS7 will rule the series unitl he crashes out of the series. Bank on it!