Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/401212
SUPERCROSS MONSTER ENERGY CUP OCTOBER 18, 2014 SAM BOYD STADIUM/LAS VEGAS, NEVADA P56 do something quick, as the laps were quickly running down in the relatively short race. Suddenly, everything came crashing down on Canard. In a high-speed right-hand turn, while transitioning from one of the most well-lit sections of the track to one of the least, Canard went a little high and clipped a Tuff Block with the back of his bike, causing it to go into an unre- coverable swap and he crashed, as did his chances at the million dollars. "I had been hitting the cush- ion all night long," Canard said. "I wanted to win, like any other [race]. I was feeling really good, which is probably why I crashed; maybe I needed to back it down a little bit. I went into that cush- ion like normal; I don't know if he [Millsaps] grabbed a Tuff Block or I just went in too hot but, man, it put me on the ground quick." All was not lost for Canard, though. He got up in sixth and still had a shot at the win and the $100,000; all he had to do was pass Malcolm Stewart with a few laps left to go. But like Millsaps, Stewart was not budging and Ca- nard had to bump it up a notch. At one point, Canard thought he saw an opening but it closed on him as he was trying to make a move and had nowhere to go but into the back of Stewart. In- stead of hitting him, though, Ca- nard laid his bike down and threw away his last chance for the win and the $100,000. "I tried to scrub under [Stew- art] and came in tight, but he was coming in tight," Canard said. "It was so hard-packed that I couldn't stop and went down again. I was trying to ride smart at that point; it wasn't too risky of a move but our lines just came together." He would again get up and eventually finish the race in eighth. Just like that, the truck was gone, the one million dollars was gone, the win was gone, and the $100,000 was gone. But not gone was the smile on Canard's face. In typical style, he was all smiles after the race. If he was upset how things turned out for him, he certainly didn't show it. At least he still pulled $20,000 for getting third place. "Man, it was a great day, great night," Canard said. "I already told myself that if I got the money I wouldn't keep it; there's too much trouble with money. I probably already make too much; I don't know, I can't be too bummed. I'm just grateful to be here. I still made 20 grand, so I can't be too bummed. [Laughs]." TWO FOR TOMAC Eli Tomac came close of win- ning the $100,000. The GEICO Honda rider got stronger as the night progressed and was tied on points with Millsaps going into the final race. He started the evening off with a fourth, then he took third and was also running third when Canard went down the first time in the final race. When Canard fell the second time that put Tomac in position to take sec- ond overall. He was a little too far off the back to catch Millsaps in the short race, so his 4-3-2 was enough to give him second over- all and a $50,000 check. "I was there but just not quite right there battling for the lead!" Tomac said. "I was battling for thirds and seconds and fourth; and the starts. Everyone was so close with speed. You could pass, I made some in the first moto, but the top guys; there After his first crash, Canard was still in the hunt for the overall until this happened.