Former Supercross Lites Champion Trey Canard will step up to the 450 class at select Supercross rounds while he fills in for the injured Andrew Short on the Honda Red Bull factory Honda team. Canard is currently second in the West Lites Championship, which resumes this weekend at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
American Honda issued a press release officially stating the move but did not reveal exactly which races he’ll compete in on Short’s 450. After this weekend’s Anaheim III Supercross, the West Lites Championship takes a long break at which time the East Series will be running from start to finish. The first round of the East series is next weekend in Indianapolis, but Canard might skip that round in order to get some more time on the bigger bike before he makes his 450-class debut.Short, who was fourth in the 450cc class before breaking his leg last week at the San Diego Supercross, is expected to be out of action for at least six weeks.Here is the press release from Honda:American Honda announces today that current GEICO Powersports Honda West Series Lites rider Trey Canard will fill in for Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short at select Supercross races.
Short suffered a lower leg injury at the San Diego Supercross on February 6 that will unfortunately sideline the popular rider for at least six weeks. During that time Canard will step up to the Supercross class on Short’s Honda Red Bull Racing CRF450R and will join Davi Millsaps on the factory team.
Canard, a 19-year-old racing veteran hailing from Elk City, Oklahoma, will make the switch to the 450 class at select Supercross races, while the Lites West series takes a break until the Seattle, WA round on April 24.
Canard will return to contest the Lites West series for the final two rounds of the season, plus the East-West shootout in Las Vegas.
“I am extremely honored and grateful to American Honda for this opportunity,” said Canard, “and I would like to thank Rick Zielfelder and Jeff Majkrzak, owners of the GEICO Powersports Honda team, for allowing me to take advantage of this great opportunity to see what I can do on a Honda 450 in the Supercross class.”
Honda Racing manager Gary Martini said, “Trey Canard has been racing Honda motorcycles and has been a part of the Honda family for four years now and we think this is a great opportunity for both parties. Also I would like to thank everyone at the GEICO Powersports team and all their sponsors for their support of Trey.”
“Trey is one of the most dedicated, determined and talented riders in the paddock,” said Honda Red Bull Racing Team Manager, Erik Kehoe. “We’re all looking forward to welcoming him to the 450 class.”
