Being a lifelong dirt biker, “Turbo” Trey Canard‘s motocross career has been filled with tragedy and triumph. Having dedicated his career to his father, who lost his life building a practice track for Ice-Trey when Canard was 13 years old, Canard made his Supercross debut in 2008, winning the East Coast Lites Championship in his rookie year. Adding to the numerous amateur championships he had previously won, Canard was sidelined with an injury in 2009 only to rebound in 2010 by winning the 250 AMA Pro Motocross Championship and receiving the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Rising Star Award. His next two seasons were once again plagued with injuries, with a broken back taking him out of action in 2012. Never one to be discouraged, Canard goes into today’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross race at Cowboys Stadium tied for third place in the points standings before returning to the Georgia Dome on Feb. 23 in hopes of reclaiming the East Coast success he had earlier in his career. But before he does all that, Canard takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about the hardships and victories that have made his career such an intriguing story.
Your Supercross career reads much like a storybook with you overcoming various personal tragedies and professional obstacles, yet always remaining on track and moving forward. How much would you say things have changed for you since you first got into this sport?
It has been a bit of a storybook or movie with a lot of adversity. It’s been a neat career for me with some really good times and very bad times. I’m really thankful for all of it. I think it’s really molded me into the person that I’m striving to be.
You started riding at a very young age. What was it that drove to get into motocross?
My older brother and my dad actually rode bikes themselves and it was what we did as a family. We all went out on weekends and rode and had a good time. That was where it all started was just enjoying that time together with family. It was just what we all enjoyed doing.
Does your brother still ride motocross?
I have an older brother and a younger brother. My younger brother doesn’t ride too much; he plays basketball and football. But my older brother still rides when he can get off work and still enjoys it. He just does it for fun, but he works for a production company that helps produce some of the events I’m in. So I see him here and there and he comes to quite a few of the races.
You haven’t had the best of luck the past few season, but you’re off to a great start this season, currently ranked third in the Supercross standings. What might you attribute this strong resurgence to?
Yeah, I’m tied for third right now. It’s been a pretty amazing year for me. I’ll be in Arlington Feb. 16 and we race straight up until Easter weekend, then there are a few more after that. But it’s really going great. It’s awesome because I’m tied for third in points and I’m really thankful for that. Hopefully I’ll continue to do well.
Given the success you’ve had so far this season, how are you approaching your upcoming races in Arlington, Atlanta and so on? Are you going to just stick to doing things the way you’ve been doing them since that seems to be working well for you?
I’m really excited to get back on the East Coast and getting into the domes and that whole atmosphere. In domes, the dirt really stays a lot better. Out in California we’re in baseball stadiums that aren’t covered, so their are elements like rain and mud and the dirt is a little bit harder because the sun hits it all the time. I also like Southern hospitality and the great group of people that comes to watch. I’ll also be going back home to Oklahoma during the week, so that will be a good change of pace for me. But as far as the races go, I’m just going to go in there and do my best and let that be the result for me. Hopefully I won’t get too discouraged if I don’t do well. So I’m just going to do my best and hope it all ends well.
Are there other particular riders that you would consider to be your rivals this season?
We’re all fairly close in points and everything. Davi Millsaps has really surprised a lot of guys and taken the series by storm. I don’t really have any rivals. I just go out there and race as hard as I can and shake hands afterwards.
Wrestling with Pop Culture has two pairs of tickets to this Saturday’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross event (including the pre-show pit party) at the Georgia Dome. Comment below with the name of your all-time favorite motorcycle rider to be entered to win a pair of tickets and pit passes. Winners will be chosen by 5 p.m. EST Feb. 22.