Canard wins for Honda as title favourite Roczen crashes heavily

Honda rider Trey Canard, the man at the centre of a storm of controversy only seven days ago after a collision with double champion Chad Reed, has taken his first AMA Supercross victory of the year in Oakland, California.

His sparring partner Reed was the early leader, however, battling with championship leader Ken Roczen until the German crashed heavily after mistiming a jump. Getting his landing wrong, he impacted his chin heavily into the handlebars. He eventually rejoined the race to score six valuable points in fifteenth.

With Reed gifted the lead, Canard had his sights firmly set on his rival, and was able to close down and dispatch the Australian with little difficulty on lap five of the twenty lap race, never looking back as he disappeared at the front.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Canard. “I didn’t think I would be on the podium after the first few laps; it was busy out there. It has been a long haul to get here on top of the podium, and I am really happy about it.” 

That left factory KTM rider Ryan Dungay to scrap with Reed, eventually getting the better of him on lap sixteen to secure his second runner-up spot of the season, as well as inheriting the championship lead.

“All things considered, tonight’s track was really tough,” said Dungey. “I wanted to make up some ground on Trey for the lead, but it didn’t work out. It’s nice to take over the points lead, but the season is still young.”

The frantic pace of the championship continues next weekend as it returns to Anaheim for the third and final time.

450SX Class Results: Oakland

1. Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
5. Cole Seely, Laguna Beach, Calif., Honda
6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha
7. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki
8. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
10. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna

450SX Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 82
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki, 78
3. Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda, 68
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 64
5. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna, 62
6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha, 58
7. Cole Seely, Laguna Beach, Calif., Honda, 45
8. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 44
9. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 44
10. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 42