Canard claims third consecutive 250cc event

Trey Canard would love it if July could last forever.

Canard might not be the points leader for the 250 Class of the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship, but he certainly owns the month.

Racing for GEICO Powersports Honda, Canard won his third consecutive event Saturday, claiming both motos at the Washougal MX National.

Canard rolled to a start-to-finish victory in Moto 1, taking the hole shot on the first turn of the race. It just so happened he did the same thing in Moto 2.

That’s roughly 70 minutes of racing, 70 minutes of being in first place.

As one of the announcers at the track said, the only riders who were close to Canard were the lapped riders.

Heck, his victory lap was his last lap of Moto 2, waving at fans, pumping his fists. Slowing down to a crawl on the Whoops section, Canard slowly climbed the hill to the finish line. And he still won the moto by 10 seconds.

“When you’re in that zone, it’s a real good place to be,” said Canard, who is from Shawnee, Okla. “I felt strong all moto.”

Canard leads the series with three event victories this season, but a poor start to the year has him trailing in the championship race behind Christophe Pourcel of France.

Pourcel had an interesting trip to second place this weekend. A slow start put him in 10th place early in the first moto, but he picked off the competition, climbing to second place. He then was second all the way in the second moto. His 2-2 finish for second overall earned him 44 points, giving him 340 for the season.

Canard’s 1-1 added 50 points to his total, pushing him from third to second with a total of 302.

Tyla Rattray of South Africa finished 4-3 to finish third overall. Blake Wharton and Dean Wilson rounded out the top five.

Canard started the season with a third-, fifth-, and two seventh-place finishes before going 2-1-1-1 the last four events. He said he switched up some things, but he mostly credited his discussions with former Washougal champion Timmy Ferry for his recent run of success.

“He’s a great guy. I’m happy I met him, happy I’m working with him,” Canard said of Ferry, who won the 2007 Washougal MX National. “He helped me get past the hump. That was big, just to get some momentum going.”

Canard accomplished a lot this weekend. Besides his third overall title in a row, he exorcised some demons in Clark County. In 2008, he broke his leg and lost the rest of his season. He did not race in Washougal last year.

“I had mixed emotions (coming here),” he acknowledged. “I left with some really bad memories. To come out here and have two good motos, just an awesome day.”

The series is off until mid-August, giving Canard time to reflect on the best July of his professional career.

“I’m blown away right now. I’m so happy,” he said.

Washougal MX National Results

250 Class (Moto Finish)

Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (1-1)

Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (2-2)

Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (4-3)

Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda (5-4)

Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki (6-6)

Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (3-11)

Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (7-9)

Tommy Searle, England, KTM (10-7)

Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Yamaha (12-12)

Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha (22-5)

250 Class Championship Standings

Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 340

Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 302

Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 294

Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 286

Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 212

Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 209

Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 209

Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 200

Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 195

Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha, 163