American Honda’s Trey Canard stunned in his return to the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, qualifying first and finishing third overall in what was his 450 Class debut.

Canard was forced out of the closing AMA Supercross rounds and first half of the outdoors with a broken femur, however his return marked an incredible one.

In qualifying Canard topped the best in the business, heading defending champion Ryan Dungey and Australia’s Chad Reed, but he downplayed his form upon return to Cycle News.

“It’s one practice and one lap,” Canard said. “I just try not to really worry about it and just focus on the race. One lap doesn’t mean a whole lot, but at this point I’m definitely excited to know that the speed is still there.”

Once the motos came around, Canard maintained his form and surprised with his fitness to seal a podium overall behind Dungey and Ryan Villopoto.

In moto one Canard raced to a consistent fifth position, improving in the second moto to finish third and land on the podium overall. His 5-3 edged out Mike Alessi’s 44 for the spot on the box.

Canard is the current AMA Motocross Champion in the 250 Class, wrapping up the title at Pala Raceway’s season finale after going down to the wire with Christophe Pourcel last September.