If there is one thing that has defined Supercross and motocross over the past couple of seasons, it’s injuries. Top contenders such as Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, James Stewart, Chad Reed and Trey Canard, have all had major injuries that have taken them out of action for weeks, months and sometimes even the better part of a year.
Getting hurt has always been a part of the sport, but the speed now needed to win seems to have pushed these athletes to an entirely new level on the track. Damaged bodies are the result.
Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Canard has had a professional career highlighted by many ups, like winning the 2008 Supercross Lites East championship in his rookie year. In 2010, he won the Motocross Lites national championship and was a member of the victorious Motocross des Nations team. But the flipside has been more than his fair share of significant injuries. The last, though, was a big one.
At round 3 of the 2012 Supercross series, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Canard, in mid-air, was landed on by Ryan Morais, causing both riders to be thrown to the ground in a sickening heap. Morais was tripling the jump, whereas Canard had opted not to because he had a Tuff Block cover get snagged on his bike prior to the takeoff. The result? A broken back for Canard. This was only Canard’s second race back after missing Round 1 of the series due to a broken collarbone. And in the months prior to that, he had broken his femur not once, but twice.
His goal all along was to get back in racing shape for Anaheim 1, the 2013 Supercross opener. When the gate dropped at Angel Stadium, it was clear that Canard is back in business. After hounding surprise leader Davi Milsaps for much of the race, Canard took the lead late in the main event, only to relinquish it back to Milsaps in the end, proving he’s healthy and ready to get back to his winning ways. His second-place finish in his return to racing truly was inspiring.
Check out Canard’s “REvival 41” movie for the full story on his return to racing.
