Canard, racing for the Torco Racing Fuels/AMSOIL/Honda team headed to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis this weekend with a slim three point lead over Villopoto in the Supercross Lites East Coast class.
Despite winning three of the first four rounds this season, the 17-year-old Canard would need to dig down and beat the
defending champion straight-up to win the title.Canard started out with a win in his heat race, setting the tone for the main. Branden Jesseman took the hole shot in the final, but it was Canard and teammate Josh Grant holding down the next two spots. Villopoto was in fourth and charging on Grant.
Canard was able to get by Jesseman for the lead on lap five. Moments later, Jesseman also let Villopoto sneak by. The two points leaders battled in a high pressure, winner take all, format for the next few laps. The two came together briefly before the big finish line jump, and it was Canard who held the line, forcing Villopoto of the track.
Canard cruised to the win after that altercation, and Villopoto had trouble keeping his momentum moving forward. He eventually finished behind Jesseman and Grant.
"I'm speechless," said Canard on the podum. "When I started racing professionally I never thought a championship would come, especially so soon."Canard finished ten points ahead of Villopoto in the championship point's race. Grant, after a slow start this season, rebounded to fifth overall.
Meanwhile, Kevin Windham took home his third Supercross win of the season in St. Louis. He now sits just 13 points behind Chad Reed with just two rounds left in the 2008 season.
Canard and Grant will take a week off from racing as the West Coast Lites class resumes in Seattle on Saturday. The East Coast and West Coast classes will meet up in two weeks at the season finale in Las Vegas.
Until then, we'll see you at the races.
Visit the AMSOIL website for more information on AMSOIL racing and AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants.
