Insight: Ryan Villopoto
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 | 2:30 PM
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After he finished the second moto over the weekend at Steel City, Ryan Villopoto said he considered this race his Salt Lake City of the outdoors. Indeed, he helped ice a supercross championship by winning the next-to-last round of the year in a tremendous battle. He did the same at Steel City, passing Ryan Dungey in the final corner of moto one to steal the win, and then rolling to a big victory in moto two. Now he holds a 14-point lead heading into the final Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship race of the year this weekend at Pala in California.
After the race, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider shared his thoughts in the post-race press conference.
Racer X Online: First, you crushed it in qualifying to click off a lap three seconds faster than anyone else.
Ryan Villopoto: Yeah, before that practice I made a small fork change, but it really was just lines. I chose some better lines and I was able to carry more momentum. I think that’s where I gained that speed.
Villopoto outlasted Dungey in moto one, and then ran away from the field in moto two for the overall.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
You obviously had a great first moto battle with Ryan Dungey.
Yeah. I had a great start in that moto. Both motos, actually. The first one, Justin kind of rode me a little wide in that off camber, but that’s kind of the way you end up going there, anyways. It wasn’t anything bad, you just kind of fade to the outside in that corner anyway, especially off the start. Ryan got around me there, and then I got around Justin pretty quick. After that, me and Ryan just kind of went back and forth. It was cat and mouse. I would make up some ground and then he would pull away a little. It was tough, the track was a little one lined, so it was hard to really get out of that line and try to make up a whole bunch of time. I was just eating roost and maybe hoping for a mistake. And if that didn’t happen, I would just have to maybe making something happen.
It was a close race. Like he said, it was by far, for me and him racing together, it was the closest race we’ve ever had. When you’re in that situation, you’re always told to guard the inside, and that’s what he did. It didn’t really work out for him and I was able to ride around the outside.
It’s got to be a special feeling coming into Pala with a little lead.
Yeah. The last couple of years haven’t been the greatest, so it’s nice to get a full season. We’re almost done, hopefully we’ll get in a good weekend at Pala and then we’ll wrap it up. Then it’s off to Motocross of Nations. That will be fun. Like I’ve said before, it’s a team race and we’ll all be working together. Hopefully we won’t let you guys down.
In that first moto, were you pushing to get Dungey the whole time, or were you waiting? What was the strategy there?
I was trying to get around him the whole time, but like I said it was cat and mouse. Maybe I would make a mistake or not do one of my turns right and I would lose some time. The track was really hard to ride aggressively, because the base was so hard. You had to be careful to ride it as hard as you could without making mistakes, which was hard to do.
Villopoto holds a 14-point edge over Dugney with one race to go.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
This makes a huge difference on points for Pala.
Yeah I definitely knew that getting a win either first moto or second moto was crucial for me going into Pala. I was going for it in the first moto, and I was thinking if it didn’t happen, I was going to have to really push for one in the second moto. I knew if the day went the opposite of what it did, then the situation would be a lot different, and we’d basically be in the situation where whoever won the race won the title. It’s nice to have a little cushion, but I’m still going to have to show up and race just like everyone else.
When you had some problems at the beginning of the year, people were saying you had lost too much weight, Aldon Baker was overtraining you, and something was wrong. But you seem to actually be getting better as the summer has worn on. How do you respond to those criticisms?
Ah, I don’t know. The people that say that kind of stuff have no idea what’s really going on. They can sit behind a laptop and type that stuff in. If you’re here and you know what’s going on, like most of you guys here at the races, you know what’s going on. I don’t think that’s what it was. I think we came in pretty behind, with my bike and myself, I think. We kind of got the ball rolling a little bit, but it didn’t really come around until Unadilla. That was a real turning point when we were able to go to the 2012. We were really struggling with the other bike on weekends. So that really helped, and as always in racing, each weekend you just keep getting better and better.
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Jids grow up and learn from past mistakes and others. RV is becoming a great person to interview. Keeps his mouth shut when needed and lets his results speek.
Ryan's right people sit behind computers (including me) and talk about things they have only heard or read, most of the people on here (once again including me) don't go to every single race so they don't know whats going on. This is all including me.
Ryan's right people sit behind computers (including me) and talk about things they have only heard or read, most of the people on here (once again including me) don't go to every single race so they don't know whats going on. This is all including me.
Seeing RV win everything on a 250f, and then getting injured, and coming back strong to win the Supercross title, and now this? I am weeping softly while typing. And now ripping through everybody to give himself a hard-fought cushion leading into the final round? This is just too much to take. I haven't been this overwhelmed with emotion since I discovered that I was just hitting the rev limiter on my old YZ426, and that it wasn't running lean throttle as it stuttered and spit at full throttle.
I agree, that might be one of the best interviews I have ever heard Ryan give. Actually made me almost root for him next year if he keeps it up.
Please delete the first "throttle" reference in the previous post, insert more emotion wherever possible, and trust me when I say that a yz426 between half and full throttle through the whoops is the closest I have ever been to being touched by the hand of God. Go Ryan(s), go.
i sit behind a desktop computer, thank you very much.
well if he just said the bikes not great at the beginning the rumours wouldnt start!
sry double post
I like the way the two Ryan's have respect for each other, if this was a Stewart season, there would be take outs and drama. But these two guys are straight up clean racers and respect each other.
For your information Ryan, everything on the internet is 100% true and everyone watchs the races on TV. That us experts on the matter.
I use a large workstation, not a laptop! Geez you have no idea what's going on here.
Great interview. I think we're just seeing the beginning of a new dynasty with RV2 at the top. I think he's quickly rising up to a kind of "Carmichael-dominance" that we haven't seen the entirety of quite yet. It's so amazing to watch him flip a switch late in the moto and drop his lap time by a second or two. This championship will be well-deserved.
How can you not like both the Ryan's? No bad mouthing, no excuses just hard work and clean racing. I am a Villopoto fan but Dungy is a close second in my book. Talk about class acts!!!
I predict RV goes for the holeshot and tries to check out, but if he doesnt get it fairly easy he will just ride around behind RD and take 2nd,in both motos at PALA. What I am looking forward to more is both of them going for it at mxon, How would this look whipping the finish side by side? Its possible
ryan D has been a great interview all along. I have never heard him bad mouth anyone and even when his bike didn't get to the start last week he commented on what a great mechanic he had. Ya gotta love that guy!
RV, well he's gonna get the championship and well deserved too! What a season! Chad doing the "man out of a cannon" crash, RV and RD battling it out like they have and cleanly. Last weekend we had races here in So cal at Pala, Glen Helen, the Ranch (formerly known as Rhynoland) and Cahuilla creek and all were packed houses. Our sport is alive and well on every front Bravo!
I think RV can go 1-1 or 1-2 at Pala.....He has that edge over everyone now and I think he wants to win the overal, end on top and keep momentum for MXDN..."put on a show" as he says.....if he wins the O/A at Pala, and takes 1 or both motos, he will have the most moto wins and tie Reed for (4) overalls.....and silence all the doubters....Funny, there were alot of people on here doggin' RV on fitness......He looks, sounds and is riding better than he was at the begining of the year...so who knows what his deal was.....
Gotta love RV2's no bs style. Dungey showed alot of heart and determination at Southwick-and all season really- Exactly what team usa needs at the mxon. These 2 along with Bagget are going to be one badass team!! Can't wait to see what Cairoli and Roczen can bring to make it interesting. Go team USA!!
Ryan "Machine" Villopoto
Ryan could not come out and critcize his bike after just winning a Supercross title with it, but it was obvouis it was not working as good as the Suzuki outdoors. The 2012 Kawasaki now looks better in the rough, leveling the playing field.
Both Ryans are very fast, they go at a track differantly, one uses aggression the other is cool and calulated but the results always have them close to the same times on the track which is why I dont see either one dominating the other.
The Ryans also both good guys who would rather let their racing speak for them, they know its a job and what is at risk every time they go out. They respect each other as they should, for they are the Best at what they do.
As they go into the last race, this Dungey fan would like to give props to Villopoto for a great season of raceing ,who ever wins this championship you will have EARNED it!
Man i got a 2011 Kawi, but mines a 250. IDK if the 450 and 250 designs are similar but im suprised Ryan was having so many problems with it. I mean I love my Kawi and think its great.
He needs to win the tilte so I get a clean sweep. I picked RV for the SX title..Check...Wilson for the outdoor lites...Check.... Now I just need RV to check off my third pick....
.Then Hope to see and RV/RD world butt kickin!!
Rv's a class dude I think. I woulda liked to see the zooki win but either of these cats deserve it, and moreso will represent our sport 1st class. Realise it ain't over but , looks kinda grim for the yeller squad and it should, gas,...bike wont run,,,,,dunno who's fault, don't matter now. Joe
I was reading some posts on the wake up call yesterday and I am not sure if some people dont realize how the MXDN works....Some folks think that Carolli and Roczen are on the same "euro"
Carolli will race for Italy....Roczen for Germany....CP for France.....so even if they win, there other teamates will not be knearly as consistent as our boys....RV and RD can run 1 and 2.....while Roczen may win, but his teamate (Who??) will be 10th...... I think USA only has one serious competitor and that would be the Aussie boys, although I dont think they can do much...neither Reed or Metty can run with RV and RD.....
@Moto USA
Team France should be strong as well with Steven Frossard, Marvin Musquin and Gautier Paulin. Frossard got injured Sunday but I guess he's ok for Fermo this weekend.
Roczens teammates are Max Nagl and Marcus Schiffer at the MX des Nations this year. Nagl could do some damage with a bunch of top 5 finishes this year, Schiffer is running 20th right now in the GPs so probably won't be a threat.
That previous model of Kawasaki was good for Supercross because Villopoto was able to ride in well 2010 before he got hurt in St. Louis and obviously they had a great reference for the setup in every races for this. But for the outdoors, it's been almost 2 years that Kawasaki had no good results since James left after 2008 and RV wasn't able to ride for 2 Outdoor seasons in 2009 and 2010. They had Chad Reed last year but I think he was struggling on the Green Bike. They definitely struggling to find the right setup. You can tell that the 2012 Kawasaki was better than the previous one by the results that RV and Weimer have from Unadilla to the present
When Villo was just a little boy, he would run around the track, super HOT outside, watching the races, without a shirt, after completing his moto, while the rest of us parrents hid in the AC while listening to the anouncer. He never stoped from the time he woke up to the time he went to sleep. We all use to make comment how tough he was even at 10. Red hair and white skin no shirt, full sun after a crazy race against kids older than him -- like Mike 800 who was 12 or 13? yo, not sure. I told him when he got on TV not to forget about us. He never heard me-- just kept saying he was faster than Mike 800-- so cute back in 2002 now look at him. LMAO
WEF is with this ad in the middle of the page - I can't even read this article.
@bill c
OHHHH MYYYY GOSHHH U PREDICTED ALL OF THOSE!?????!!!
No one cares douche.
Anyways RD still exceeded everyones expectations. Remember how Villopoto was gonna blow everyone away outdoors? that didnt happen.
RV is a bad dude. Still makes no sense what so ever to me that he's mx3 pick in France..
Villopoto has made a ton of money this year, what with bonuses for heat wins and wins and a championship in SX.
Then wins and probably a championship in Outdoors as well.
He gets married very shortly, with the millions he's now worth, and the millions (between 7 and 10 Million in 2011, and probably 2012) I hope he is smart enough to DEMAND A PRENUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Juciy... Wow.... your life must suck!! You are a TOOL.
if he loses the outdoor title he'll be mx3 if he wins the outdoors mx1.......
My guess is with RV out of the entire outdoors in 2010 and all but one race in 2009 which he dominated, they bike they rolled up to the line at Hangtown in 2011 was not signed sealed and approved.....With the battle for the SX title on the line, they probably did ZERO testing and the bike was simply, i hate to say it....but " not ready"...so it was a work in progress.....If you can get top 3 every week on a sub par bike (for factory standards) I say well done.....Even on the older model bike, we still saw moments of domination by RV......I dont think RD or Reed had those type of wins without someone crashing out....
@Don If this was a Stewart season , He would have wrapped this thing up Four Motos ago , and we would not even be hearing from RV
We behind our laptops don't know what's going on?
Hell...he's the one getting married.
Now who's clueless?
Just messin', good luck at Pala, and remember what jairtimesuks said. Prenup.
Tim, you're an idiot. Villopoto proved he can race against Stewart and beat him in supercross. Stewart's days of winning by large margins, and maybe winning in general, are over. Yeah he can go faster than anyone else for a lap or half a race, but it's only a matter of time until he crashes his brains out. Ex: Daytona, Las Vegas, High Point in 2006, and the list goes on.
jairtimesuks.. I doubt those figures are correct regarding RV's income... For sure a couple of millions.. Thanks to the bonuses he gets by winning a championship.. But he's apparently stupid enough to have hired a manager... Who takes a percentage... I sure hope he does the smart thing in getting a prenup.. hahaha... He might wake up one morning abd scream " Half!!!!"... Ha,ha
i agree with tim stewart would of tore shit up but i do think rv is a very good rider but i have seen js7 beat rv numerous of times and i know he still could and he still will