Press Release

Torco Racing Fuels Honda Race Report - St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Missouri – The Torco Racing Fuels Honda team continued its extremely successful 2008 season in St. Louis, clinching the first AMA Supercross Championship of the year, and sweeping both main events for the second time this season.


Much of the weekend’s attention was focused on the Lites class, where team rider Trey Canard held a slim three-point lead over championship rival Ryan Villopoto going into the final race of the series. The likely scenario, though, was that whichever of those two riders won the race would win the championship.


So who would bet on the rookie over the proven AMA champ?


It doesn’t matter, because it’s not a popularity contest, it’s a race, and Canard put himself in a position to win the race, and the championship, from the start, when he grabbed the $1000 holeshot award, although he was quickly passed by Villopoto’s teammate Branden Jesseman, who led the next couple of laps before Canard made his way carefully by. Unfortunately, by that point, Villopoto was close enough that he passed both Jesseman and Canard and took over the lead.


At that point, many people likely thought it was over. Villopoto was out front, and he had won the last three races in a row. However, Canard didn’t get the memo, and after a couple of laps, he made a run back at Villopoto out front. Two turns before the finish line on lap six of 15, Canard showed Villopoto a wheel, and in the very next 90-degree right-hander heading into the finish-line jump, Canard got inside Villopoto and the two collided. Canard almost went down, and Villopoto did go down, which handed the lead – and, eight laps later, the win – to Canard.


“I don’t think too many people expected it this weekend, but I just wanted to go out there and give it my all,” Canard said. “I know a lot of guys didn’t expect it in Atlanta either, but that’s kind of my style – being the underdog gives me a lot of motivation. I’m just so thankful and blessed that I’m in this situation right now, and hopefully I can keep it going.”


Canard managed to win the AMA Lites Eastern Regional Supercross Championship in his first attempt – something Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, or even Ryan Villopoto failed to do.


“To be honest, I swear, I really haven’t felt it yet,” Canard says of his first championship. “It probably won’t sink in for a couple weeks, but it’s awesome.”


To make things even better, Canard’s teammate Josh Grant capped his indoor season off with a podium finish, landing third in St. Louis.


Grant and Canard have a weekend off as the West Series resumes this coming Saturday night in Seattle. However, Canard and Grant will return for one last supercross at the Las Vegas Lites East/West Shootout on May 3, joining teammates Jake Weimer and Dan Reardon.


In St. Louis, Torco Racing Fuels Honda’s Kevin Windham continued to improve on a stellar season. With only three rounds left to run, Windham knows that to make a push for the AMA Supercross Championship, it has to happen now. Windham was the fastest in practice in St. Louis, rode a strong Heat race, and he was set up for a strong showing in the main event.


In the main, he started out behind championship rival Chad Reed, then pressured him for the first few laps before blitzing his way by in the whoops and taking over the lead.


From there, the race was essentially over, as Windham went on to score his third main-event win of the season. Unfortunately, though, Reed hung on for second, minimizing Windham’s points gain on his rival.


“It was a good night – all except for the points thing,” Windham said. “I just didn’t make enough points. But I’m losing sight of what I did tonight, and how good I rode, and it’s kind of one of those nights where I rode good from start to finish, and I need to be happy with that. If I don’t win the championship, that’s fine, but the closer you get, the hungrier you become, and the tougher the pill is to swallow, hypothetically speaking, if you lose the thing. But we’re going to the wild Northwest, where it’s more than likely going to be wet, and I love that kind of stuff, so anything can happen. I don’t know what’s going on with that shoulder of his, but he sure did ride good for having a cracked scapula.


With only two rounds left to run, Windham trails by only 13 points, and sits 61 points in front of the next person in points.


From here, the Torco Racing Fuels Honda team heads to Seattle, Washington’s Qwest Field for round 16 of the AMA Supercross Series, and the series finale of the Lites West.


Team Sponsors: Torco Race Fuels, Honda, Planet Fitness, No Fear Energy, AMSOIL, Factory Connection, No Fear, Shoei, Gaerne, Spy, DVS, Cycra, Dunlop, EK, Ferodo, Hinson, Ogio, One Industries, Pro Circuit, Renthal, Showa, TAG, Twin Air, and Works Connection.


St. Louis Lites Main:

1. Trey Canard Torco Racing Fuels Honda

2. Branden Jesseman Kaw

3. Josh Grant Torco Racing Fuels Honda

4. Ryan Villopoto Kaw

5. Ryan Morais Yam

6. Kyle Chisholm Kaw

7. Ryan Sipes KTM

8. Nico Izzi Suz

9. Matt Goerke KTM

10. Billy Payne Hon


AMA Eastern Lites Final Standings:

1. Trey Canard (147/4 wins)

2. Ryan Villopoto (137/3 wins)

3. Nico Izzi (99)

4. Branden Jesseman (94)

5. Josh Grant (91)

6. Tyler Bowers (86)

7. Ryan Morais (84)

8. Ryan Sipes (84)

9. Martin Davalos (73)

10. Billy Payne (71)


St. Louis 450cc Main:

1. Kevin Windham Torco Racing Fuels Honda

2. Chad Reed Yam

3. Andrew Short Hon

4. Nathan Ramsey Yam

5. Tommy Hahn Kaw

6. Davi Millsaps Hon

7. Justin Brayton KTM

8. Paul Carpenter Hon

9. Travis Preston Kaw

10. Jason Thomas Hon


AMA Supercross Standings (After 15 of 17 rounds):

1. Chad Reed (318/8 wins)

2. Kevin Windham (305/3 wins)

3. Davi Millsaps (244/2 wins)

4. Andrew Short (241)

5. Josh Hill (196/1 win)

6. Timmy Ferry (190)

7. Nathan Ramsey (173)

8. David Vuillemin (146)

9. Paul Carpenter (136)

10. Nick Wey (131)

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