It’s not every day that you meet someone who is a true professional – at the ripe old age of 18. But if anyone can wear that label with pride, it is GEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard.

In 2008, Trey exploded on to the Supercross scene after a successful amateur career and walked away with the Supercross Lites East Championship on his Honda CRF250. In fact, he finished first in four of the seven rounds. Not bad for his rookie season.

“It was a lot of hard work, but it paid off and it was exciting for me, “ says Canard. “It was something I have always dreamed of doing, and was one of the best moments of my life.”

Canard’s age belies not only his long-standing dedication to the sport, but also his ability to stare adversity squarely in the eye and remain optimistic. After a near-perfect Supercross season, a broken femur sidelined the young rider in July for much of the 2008 Motocross season.

“The outdoor season was way more of roller coaster ride. It was unfortunate that I broke my leg, but things could’ve been worse. I’m ready for a new season.”

Family plays a key role in Canard’s racing career—both on and off the track.

“My family is behind me more than anyone—my brothers, my Mom, everyone who has helped me out. Plus the whole GEICO Powersports team; we really are kind of a family, too. It works out so well with those guys and I can’t thank them enough. They have been behind me from day one, I could not ask for a better family.”

Canard is also quick to credit his team with his seamless transition from amateur to pro racing.

“The whole GEICO Powersports Honda team has been great. They understand amateur racing and what you have to go through to make it as a pro, and they helped me with making the transition, from getting all the right tools I needed, to giving me a way to help learn things faster. They have been huge part of my success so far.”

With the 2009 season upon him, Canard’s strategy is simple.

“I want to stay healthy all year long and have a really successful race season. I expect to go out there and be as prepared as I can possibly be. I have more experience now and will change some things, but overall my plan is the same; to do the best that I can do. I have a great team, a great bike in the CRF250R and I want another title.”

He is also philosophical about his return at the start of the 2009 season.

“Ever since I broke my leg in the outdoor series, I think a lot of people kind of forgot about me. I haven’t been on the racing scene for more than four months. I’m sort of laying in the shadows right now. But that’s how I like it sometimes, because no one really knows how you are going to do, except you.”

For Trey Canard, that can mean only one thing: let the race begin.

Conversation with Trey Canard on Racer X