Canard claims the Lites title
By TMX Archives on 23rd Apr 08
TORCO Honda's rookie sensation, Trey Canard, is the new East Coast Lites AMA Supercross champion. After a rough couple of weeks that almost cost him the title, the 17-year-old bounced back in emphatic style at the final round of the East Coast legs of the series at St Louis on Saturday night to snatch a famous and controversial win from championship rival Ryan Villopoto. Canard claimed his first professional title at his first try on a night that also saw his elder team-mate Kevin Windham close the points gap on injured rival Chad Reed slightly in the Supercross class, with an easy win over the Australian to make for an exciting final two rounds to what has already been a very up and down season.
While ill feeling between Reed and Windham spilled over to the point where the pair had words' during track inspection made for an interesting side-note, it was the battle between Canard and Villopoto for the title that rightly stole headlines.
Just three points separated leader and the multiple champion heading into the
St Louis showdown, but Villopoto was coming off the back of three wins while Canard had stuggled with crashes.
Most expected Villopoto to be just too fast and too agressive for Canard, but they were wrong.
When the gate dropped for the start, it was Villopoto's Pro Circuit Kawasaki team-mate Branden Jesseman taking the holeshot with Canard behind in second
and Canard's team-mate Josh Grant third and Villopoto fourth.
Canard moved to the front on lap five but, on the same lap, Villopoto passed both Grant and Canard to take the lead.
It looked for a lap that Villopoto would pull away for the win and title but Canard showed his championship winning spirit and re-grouped to close back-in.
Canard jumped to the inside of the corner before the finish-line double in an attempt to make a pass and the pair came together.
It was only a slight touch but it was enough to send Villopoto careering into the scaffolding holding up the
finish banners while Canard rode clear.
Villopoto finally rejoined the race in fifth, but by then Canard was out front and on his way to the title.
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES
Rd 14 Edward Jones Dome, St Louis, MO
SUPERCROSS: 1 Kevin Windham (Hon), 2 Chad Reed (Yam), 3 Andrew Short (Hon), 4 Nathan Ramsey (Yam), 5 Thomas Hahn (Kaw), 6 David Millsaps (Hon), 7 Justin Brayton (KTM), 8 Paul Carpenter (Hon), 9 Travis Preston (Kaw), 10 Jason Thomas (Hon), 11 Nick Wey (KTM), 12 David Vuillemin (Suz), 13 Heath Voss (Hon), 14 Eric Sorby (Hon), 15 Bryan Johnson (Hon).
Series Standings (After 14 of 16 rounds): 1 Reed 318, 2 Windham 305, 3 Millsaps 244, 4 Short 241, 5 Hill, 6 Tim Ferry (Kaw) 190, 7 Ramsey 173, 8 Vuillemin 146, 9 Carpenter 136, 10 Wey 131.
SUPERCROSS LITES: 1 Trey Canard (Hon), 2 Branden Jesseman (Kaw), 3 Josh Grant (Hon), 4 Ryan Villopoto (Kaw), 5 Ryan Morais (Yam), 6 Kyle Chisholm (Kaw), 7 Ryan Sipes (KTM), 8 Nico Izzi (Suz), 9 Matthew Goerke (KTM), 10 Billy Payne (Hon), 11 Tyler Bowers (Yam), 12 Travis Sewell (Suz), 13 Kyle Partridge (Hon), 14 Jimmy Albertson (Suz), 15 Justin Sipes (Suz).
Final Series Standings: 1 Canard 147, 2 Villopoto 137, 3 Izzi 99, 4 Jesseman 94, 5 Grant 91, 6 Bowers 86, 7 Morais 84, 8 Sipes 84, 9 Martin Davalos (KTM) 73, 10 Payne 71.
Next Round - April 26, Q West Field, Seattle, WA.
For full story see T+MX NEWS, Friday, April 25, 2008