Geico Powersports Honda's Trey Canard has been MIA for the better part of the last 3 months.  After a more than successful supercross season, Trey came into the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championships and just didn't look like his typical self.  From nearly every holeshot in supercross, to dead last starts the first few rounds in outdoors, something just didn't seem right. As he finally started gaining the momentum he needed, he had a summer ending crash after a long, hard fought battle at Washougal between himself, Ryan Dungey, and Ryan Villopoto.  A slight snap of the femur, a surgery, and 3 months later, Trey is finally back on the bike.  Here's what he had to say about it all.

Well Trey, you've been missing in action for quite some time. How's everything going?
Yea, it's been going good. I've been back on the bike for a few weeks now, just trying to take it slow. My first week back I really didn't hit or do anything, I just rode some corner drills and stuff like that. I'm just trying to take it slow and get used to it. When I dab my leg, that's when I really feel some pain. So yea, looking at my X-rays, the doctor says it won't be fully healed for 2 years. It's the biggest bone in your body so it's going to be painful for a while, but it's got a rod in it and it's not going anywhere. But I just had to take it easy for a week and get used to that kind of feeling and what it does. I'm started to pick it up now, and I did my first 30 the other day and I'm just kind of going from there. I'll start getting a bit more intense, and once I get comfortable on the outdoor track I'll step it up and ride some supercross.

So we're guessing it's still a little bit nerve racking to be riding with your femur in that type of shape?
Yes and no. It doesn't really bother me thinking about it, but that one little dab sticking it in the dirt, making that one little mistake, it's that shot of pain that isn't much fun. That's just something I have to overcome and beat.

It seems like you we're off the bike for quite some time. Was it because your break was really bad?
I was actually back on the bike 3 months and 3 days after it happened, so it wasn't too long. A lot of people rush these things, which isn't good. There is a reason I took the time that I needed. It's such a huge bone and you don't want something like that plaguing you and not getting healed right and breaking again. I'm just going to take my time and really do the smart thing. You know, I've ridden a bike my whole life, so the first time I hoped on it, I was surprised I felt really decent and didn't miss a beat. Obviously, I'm a little rusty, but that's just something that will come back real quick I think.

Let's back up really quick to the Outdoor season. You were coming off the Supercross season with a big #1, came into the first few nationals and garnered the RC Hard Charger Award, but really started picking it up from there. How did you feel overall?
I felt my speed was really good. I had a couple other things that were really not good for me; I had some bad, bad starts. That was probably one of the biggest things. I just couldn't get a start. When I finally did, I was able to get on the podium a few times.

I just had a little too much going on this summer, though. I just bought a house, moved in, and had so much going on. My mind wasn't in the right place and I wasn't where I needed to be physically and mentally. Physically I was in good shape, but I was just kind of drained from everything that was taking place, and just so much responsibility got dumped on me. I had to do a lot of growing up, but I figured things out and I'm looking forward to the 2009 season.

Seeing as to where you are in your rehabilitation, probably safe to say you'll be racing the East Coast?
You know, I haven't even been on the supercross track, so I can't really tell you that right now. I'm going to make that decision about two weeks out from West Coast. You know, it doesn't really matter I don't think. They are all races, and I'm just happy to be able to do what I do. Regardless, I'll be ready for either one.

Ready to pick up where you left off with that #1 plate?
I can't say that. I can say that I'm going to do my best, and I will be as prepared as I can be, and do the best that I can.

Well with RV moving up, are chances for another championship looking good, or has everyone else stepped it up just as much?
You know, RV was good, and he won a lot of races. But there are certainly other guys out there that are just as fast. Look at guys like Ryan Dungey, Austin Stroupe, and people like that, Lawrence...all kinds of guys out there that are just as hungry. A lot of people feel that it's a little more open now that Villopoto is out, but it kind of shows that you can't get overly comfortable in that situation. You can't let your guard down; you have to be getting ready no matter what. You can't just say, "Oh, he's out so it's mine." There are plenty of other guys that are feeling the same way. Just have to do the best that you can and what happens happens. Just have to give it your all no matter what.

What are your plans from here?
I have a pretty good program running here [in Oklahoma], but it's going to start getting pretty cold here soon. Right now I'll just be riding here, and when I start feeling comfortable on a supercross track then I'll make my journey west [to test in California] and see how it goes there.

So no Mini O's for you?
Probably not! I'd like to go, that was definitely one of the most fun races. I figured since I did it for so many years and missed like 12 Thanksgivings, I think I need to stay home now.

Well dude, good luck and thanks for talking to us.