Canard Takes First MX Podium

The GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda team has reached the halfway point of the 2008 AMA National Motocross Championship and continues to consistently occupy the front of the Lites pack. At Red Bud Track 'n' Trail in Buchanan, Mich. for round six, the AMSOIL team held down half of the top-four spots, while another two team riders ran near the front of the pack most of the day.

After scoring his first-ever podium moto finish at the last round in Colorado, Trey Canard did one better at Red Bud. Canard started at the tail end of the top five and quickly fought his way up into second place by the end of the third lap. By that point leader Ryan Villopoto had a comfortable gap on him and the rest of the field, but Canard kept the lead at a consistent distance throughout the rest of the moto to finish out in second place. Moto two was quite similar, as Canard started about fourth, then quickly found his way into second. This time, however, Canard was much closer to Villopoto and pressured him for a few laps, only to fall. He got up still running second, but then had to contend with Ryan Dungey behind him. He held Dungey off until the final lap, when Dungey's bike broke, and Canard finished the day with a strong 2-2 for his first-ever AMA National overall podium finish at second overall.

"I wasn't just trying my best like I was in Supercross," Canard said. "That's what I did in Supercross, was just give it 200%, and I know that saying's kind of old, but that's my style, that's what I do. I think I just put too much emphasis on winning and kind of left out some of the other aspects."

Team AMSOIL teammate Josh Grant took a bet before the first practice of the weekend that he would jump LaRocco's Leap on the first lap. LaRocco's Leap is the track's infamous huge uphill triple, made famous by retired Team AMSOIL rider Mike LaRocco years ago. Not normally a jump that's easily cleared on a Lites machine, Grant not only figured he could do it, but did so on the first lap of practice.

"I said, 'I bet I can do it the first lap,' and he said, 'I bet you that you can't,' so it was on," Grant said. "On the first lap, I came around the corner slow and did it, and that was that. But during the race, it was hard to do from the inside, because it was dug so deep, and to do it from the outside, it wasn't really faster."

Grant also said that even though he finished second in his return race at Colorado, his goal to finish inside the top five at Red Bud wouldn't change. So, for the second week in a row, he met that goal, going 5-4 for fourth overall with two top-10 starts and two top-five finishes.

Jake Weimer continued to make up ground in the points standings, even though his weekend wasn't ideal. He went down early in the first moto and got back going a lap down, eventually finishing 28th. In the second moto, he started outside the top 10 and fought his way up to sixth place at the finish despite a shoulder injury suffered during Saturday practice. He says his shoulder should be fine for Budds Creek this weekend. Weimer is now solidly third in points at the halfway point in the championship.

Dan Reardon fell in love with the Red Bud track right away. Reardon had a strong first moto, fighting his way through the field for ninth. Then, in the second moto, he passed his way up into sixth and was actually gaining slowly on Grant when he had an encounter with a lapper and went down, ending his race

The GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda team is now headed for Budds Creek Raceway in Maryland this weekend for round seven of the 12-round AMA National Motocross Championship. AMSOIL is the Official Oil of the Outdoor Nationals.

Until then, we'll see you at the races.