Cycle News

VOL. 51 ISSUE 40 OCTOBER 7, 2014 P81 a racer, and then I put that sus- pension on and all of a sudden I'm doing really well, that's auto- matically what you point to. 'It's got to be the suspension.' But he rode them, and I don't think he cared for them very much at that point. But I really like them. So, I think he's still adjusting, and maybe it really is really good. But I don't know. I think a lot of it is mental. There were times in the Nationals when we'd all watch I think it's good between him and me. Everyone has their options, and I see a lot of good things in store for Honda the next couple years." And it sounds like Canard is sticking with the KYB suspen- sion, and personnel, for the fore- seeable future. "I've had to make decisions in the last month and a half on what direction I'll go and that's the di- rection I've got to stay," Canard the last three rounds of the AMA Nationals, he's going into the off- season in a position he's never been in before: Healthy, and knowing—not just believing—he can win. When asked how his success has changed his plans for 2015, he answered quickly. "Um, it didn't," Canard said. "I mean, it was just so nice to win a race. You really can start to doubt yourself and doubt you're capable—just doubt—I was just re- ally grateful for winning and happy about it. I mean, I've never not tried to win. It hasn't ever been like, 'Okay, I want to race now. I'm going to try and win it this time.' I've always tried! The day you quit trying to succeed, or quit trying to do what you're meant to do, is the day you're going to call it quits. For me, I've always tried to win. Always. I'm excited, though. It definitely builds your confidence a little bit and helps you have a little bit more faith. I am excited. I look forward to this next year and what it has to bring." Although his plans haven't changed, he can definitely erase the doubts as the 2015 season quickly approaches. "Yeah, once you see something with your own eyes, it becomes a lot more real," Canard said. "It's a neat feeling and I hope to get it again. And I really hope to win a championship. That's what I'd re- ally love to do and I'm going to do my best at the end to do it. We'll just see what happens." That we will. CN " IT'S NOT AN EASY THING, TO GET BEAT, EVER. " said. "I mean, you have to buy a certain amount of components, so you have to stick with it. I've made the decision and I feel like it's a good one. If I go down in a blaze of glory, then I've got to stick with the decision I've made." And ultimately, that's what ev- ery racer wants: To succeed or fail on their own merits, not be- cause of something outside of their control. >>THE FUTURE Canard undoubtedly had to be- lieve that he could win again in the 450cc class, but the longer it is since the last time you've won, the more doubt will creep in. It's human nature. And it's not insane to start to think that maybe you can't beat some of the best rac- ers in the world. But with his success during tape of him and how his bike was working, and we could see that the stuff he's running is re- ally good. I think it's a constant battle. You're always trying to im- prove and I think that's why we all push each other so well. We all want to try to do what's going to help us succeed." There's a downside to this push to always make things bet- ter, though: You can end up go- ing the wrong direction and mak- ing things much worse. "Yeah, you can definitely go the wrong way," Canard said. "There's always a point where you've got to go, 'This is what I'm doing. This is what I believe, and that's that.' But yeah, it's really easy to look and think the grass is greener on the other side. Whether it's a different-color bike, a different set of suspension. But

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