Vitals
- Career: 2007-Present
- DOB: 09/17/1990
- Height: 5’ 7”
- Weight: 140 lbs.
- Birthplace: Elk City, OK, United States
- Residence: Elk City, OK
- Team: Team Honda
- Team Manager: Erik Kehoe
- Mechanic: Brent Presnell
#41Trey Canard
Trey Canard's Website
Bio
Professional Career
Before the dust had settled on the 2007 Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Championships, Trey was on a plane headed for Minnesota. Like many other amateur standouts, he was slated to make his AMA Pro Motocross debut at the Spring Creek Motocross Facility. It took him some time to find his groove on the treacherous and muddy course, but he came out of qualifying with the sixth pick of the gate. During moto one he suffered a brutal get off that planted his shoulder into the face of a jump, calling into question whether or not he would even start the second moto. He was battered and bruised but toughed it out to line up for the second moto, where his mettle paid off. When the Lites class blasted out of the gate and down the start shoot, it was Trey’s number-140 Factory Connection Honda leading the pack around turn one. He eventually settled in behind the Pro Circuit juggernaut of Villopoto, Townley, and Metcalfe where he finished a strong fourth. Trey put a solid finish on his first taste of professional motocross by placing in the top ten in all three remaining rounds of the outdoor series.
The 2008 Monster Energy Supercross series would mark the first time that Trey would race a professional supercross. By his own admission, he didn’t really know what to expect of himself at the East Coast Lites season opener in Atlanta. Trey, however, quickly earned his spot among the world’s top 250F racers, when he shocked 67,000 fans in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome by grabbing the Progressive Direct main event holeshot and never looking back. On the podium, his excitement showed from ear to ear and he dedicated his win to his late father, who died in a tragic accident several years earlier.
Trey went into the second round of the series in Indianapolis with a huge target on his back. Thousands of people were tuned in to see if he had the skills to win again, or if the previous weekend was just a fluke. Once again he didn’t disappoint. He rode flawlessly and grabbed another main event win over the pre-season title favorite Ryan Villopoto. Through the first four rounds of the East Coast Supercross Lites series, Trey managed to win every heat race and main event he entered, including the muddiest supercross race ever held at the Daytona Motor Speedway. A chink in his armor seemed to show when Trey started racing to protect the title, rather than going for wins and racing like he had at the beginning of the series. However, Trey regained his focus and did what he needed to do to win the 2008 Monster Energy East Coast Lites Supercross Championship in his first ever attempt. Only a handful of riders have ever won a supercross title in their very first season, one being current Monster Energy/AMA Supercross champ Chad Reed. Trey Canard successfully added his name to one of the sport’s most elite groups of supercross racers and will be a title threat for many seasons to come.
You can’t burst onto the scene better than Trey did—during his rookie season in 2008, he won his first three races and the Lites East Championship. Last year, he notched the AMA 250 Motocross Championship and rode for the victorious Team USA at the Motocross of Nations. Well-spoken and polite, Canard’s a contender in his first Supercross-class season.
Amateur Career
Trey’s motorcycle life started when he jumped on his first bike, an Italjet 50 that didn’t have a running engine. Because of the lack of horsepower, he would push his bike up a hill and coast to the bottom where he’d turn around and head straight back to the top. His father, Roy, had a passion for motocross and used his motorcycle shop to get young Trey into racing.
The Canards did amateur races throughout Oklahoma and made multiple trips to Texas each season, but it wasn’t until he was 15 that Trey got serious and started putting a lot of hard work into racing. He swept all of his motos at the Loretta Lynn's Amateur Championships in 2006 as a dark horse in the B class. His clean sweep at Loretta’s got the attention of several factory teams in a hurry. He was offered a seat on the venerable Pro Circuit Kawasaki team but, instead, opted to finish his amateur career, and start his professional one, with Factory Connection Honda. For Trey and his mom, it was the people at Factory Connection that made it the right team for them. Trey raced his last amateur national at Loretta’s in 2007, where he won both the Lites A and Lites A/Pro Sport championships. He was also awarded the annual Horizon award, an award given to a rider about to make their pro debut and has been a precursor of future champions throughout its history.
Personal
In the pits or on the street, Trey Canard is one of those genuinely nice and happy people. His level-headed podium speeches and interviews speak volumes for his character and thankfulness for his opportunity as a racer. His friendly personality and commitment to racing are both things that have stemmed from his relationship with his family. “I have a great mom, and I had a great Dad,” are the words that he uses to describe his parents. He tragically lost his father in a tractor rollover several years ago while working on the Canard practice track. His mom, Kari, immediately made the decision that Trey wouldn’t quit racing and took over the family business so her son could follow his dream. The experience has strengthened Trey’s determination to succeed for himself, and for the memory of his father.
Trey, however, doesn’t pound endless practice laps on the Honda test track without having a little fun. He’s been a top notch innovator in the MySpace and YouTube goon riding movement that has been rocking the internet as of late. He’s brought moves like the body drag and, what could be called, the worm whip to more progressive levels then ever seen. His serious two-wheeled skills, goon-riding antics and all around fun loving nature make Trey Canard a must love character of the motocross community. Justin Fisk
Contributors: Alissa Gilligan , Bad Billy
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