Honda’s exclusive interview with Trey Canard

Exclusive interview with Trey Canard

Honda's exclusive interview with Trey Canard |  2016 SupercrossTrey CanardFresh after winning the finals of the All Japan MX National Championship Series at Sportsland Sugo in Sendai, Japan, we met Trey Canard from Team Honda HRC for an exclusive interview. Canard speaks to Ultimate MotorCycling Editor Don Williams about his goals for the 2016 Supercross Series on his CRF450R, past injuries, visits to HRC’s MotoGP technical facilities in Japan, and the uncertainties that come with trying Supercross and motocross to stay at the top. Read our Justin Bogle interview.UMC: What do you expect for 2016 in general and for something specific?Trey Canard: An important goal would be to complete the entire season and every race. I still have to do that. If I want a shot in a championship, that’s what I have to do. So it’s a big part of it. What I expect from myself is effort. I know I will give everything and do my best and I will work hard. But what I want to achieve is obviously the championship, the race wins and the consistency. We will do our best to make this happen.UMC: If you’ve come back from injuries that you’ve had a lot to do, it is more likely to be a psychological or a physical problem. Which one is more difficult?TC: Ummm [hesitates], it’s both. It gets tougher with every injury. It’s not that you can learn the processes and make it easier. It’s getting harder and harder to get up and say, “It’ll be different next time.” It’s tough mentally, but it’s hard to keep pushing yourself physically. UMC: Were you satisfied with your performance up to this point before you fell into the crash that ended your Supercross season last year? TC: Yes, I really was. The riding was really good, I thought. The bike was great. The team was good. The only thing that was really missing in my opinion were the starts. I really have nothing to complain about in the past year. It was great.UMC: Their 2015 season ended by accident [Canard landed on Jake Weimer, who missed a jump].TC: It’s just racing. If I had had a better start, I wouldn’t have been in this position. But sometimes these things happen. I have to take responsibility for it, but at the same time it was not due to a serious mistake on my part. UMC: How did HRC’s entry into the team affect the way it works? What are the positives and negatives of this for you?TC: It was great. Last year was definitely the best I’ve ever seen the team work and operate, and I think you played an important role in that. It was really encouraging just to see the effort they put into this. They are really dedicated to the work we do and they are part of it. It’s not like they’re just lending a hand. They are part of everything we have worked and achieved for. I hope that this relationship will continue to be built and expanded over the years.UMC: Were you a little jealous when you saw the MotoGP workshop?Honda's exclusive interview with Trey Canard |  # 41 SupercrossTC: Oh man I don’t know [smiles]. So much of this stuff was so far over my head. They had so much data that it was incredible. I think it’s easier for them to use data because I think it’s a little less about the driver feel than it is about motocross racing which is more driver preference. There are certain techniques guys have. Road races are a lot easier to judge because you’re on a similar surface and that sort of thing. But it was amazing. It was cool to see what they have and some of that stuff trickling down.UMC: What did the 2016 Honda CRF450R bring you that you didn’t have in 2015?TC: As of 2016, there isn’t much that is terribly different. I think that’s good because we took our 15 model and improved the weaknesses. Sometimes when you start from scratch you haven’t discovered the weaknesses and I feel like we do. I feel like we’re improving and that’s a good thing.UMC: Are there any special challenges awaiting you as you prepare for the first Supercross round in 2016? TC: I think the biggest challenge is me. I am often my worst critic. I give other people much more credit than I do myself. I need to change that mindset and make sure I am aware that I am capable too, and I am just as good as the rest of the world, and we have every opportunity like them. This is important for me.UMC: Don’t you see yourself as one of the elite drivers?TC: There is uncertainty in all of us. We always measure ourselves against other people, and I certainly do. We’re all unsure if we’re good enough, definitely in my case, so all I have to do is remind myself that I have what it takes.UMC: Do you have an expected number of wins for 2016?TC: If I didn’t win, I would be disappointed. But I think to win a championship you have to win a handful of races. I think four, five, or six is ​​a good number. I think consistency is the main part of just being in every race and not having that big catastrophic race. Paddock photos by Don Williams
Follow photos of Garth Milan

Supercross schedule 2016

date Meeting place city
January 9th Angel Stadium Anaheim
January 16 Petco Park San Diego
January 23 Angel Stadium Anaheim
January 30th O. Co Coliseum Oakland
February 6th University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, AZ
13th February Petco Park San Diego
20. February AT&T stadium Arlington
27th of February Georgia Dome Atlanta
5. March Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach
March 12th Rogers Center Toronto
19th March Ford Field Detroit
2nd of April Levi’s Stadium Santa Clara, CA.
9th April Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis
April 16 Edward Jones Dome St. Louis
April 23 Gillette Stadium Foxboro, MA
April, 30th MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ
May 7th Sam Boyd Stadium Las Vegas

2016 Trey Canard Exclusive Interview Photo Gallery