Monday Conversation: Ryan Villopoto
Monday, February 13, 2012 | 10:05 AM
Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for almost 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars. Welcome to the Racer X Monday Conversation.
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After a rousing 20-lap duel with Chad Reed, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto emerged with his third win of the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Championship. A few days earlier, RV also had a visit late at night from the World Anti Doping Agents (WADA), so we talked to him about the race and a variety of other topics for this week’s Monday Conversation.
Racer X: So where the lappers hard to get by?
Ryan Villopoto: Yeah, I mean some of them were alright, but some of them were really hard to pass. [Mike] Alessi was bad and I think [Weston] Peick was fairly bad and it made it tough.
Are you able to tell who is going to be bad when you come up on them? Like, if they’re close together, do you think, “Man, these guys are racing each other, it’s going to be bad?”
Well, that’s the thing. There are some guys that move out of the way some weekends and then other weekends they don’t. And then there’s the standard guys that just race always.
So it’s not just that they’re battling each other, certain guys are just tough, no matter what.
Yeah, you kind of know who’s going to get out of the way. It seems like Peick’s normally the one that capitalizes on the guys that slow down for us and then he passes them because he’s still racing.
Villopoto captured his second consecutive win, third overall, Saturday in San Diego.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Has there been a whoop section that weird and gnarly in a long time?
No, the whoops were bad tonight. They were long and San Diego’s dirt is always weird. It looks really tacky, it feels pretty good, but then it’s really slippery. And then the whoops were long on top of that, and they were fairly big and cupped out. You go into them slow and steady instead of just going in there hauling. Some of them [whoop sections] we don’t even think twice, but these ones you really thought about going into them smooth.
Talk about that back and forth with Chad.
It was good. Obviously it was like on lap 18 when he got me, right toward the end. Really it was just that once he got me, I was like, okay, stay on him and pass him right away. Obviously the race was coming to an end and on top of that, he’s kind of a hard guy to pass and then once you follow him, you can get stuck behind him. So I wanted to pass him right away and obviously the race was coming to an end, too.
Afterwards he’d said he felt like he played it a little too nice, and now the nice will kind of go away for the season.
Yeah, I mean, I don’t think there’s any “nice” when the season starts, but there’s respect. I didn’t touch him at all, so I think that’s respect. Obviously if you come in there and if you’re hitting each other and this and that, then that’s where people start to think, “Okay, well was that respectful?” Are you respecting each other or not? But it’s racing and you never know, so that’s why you have to watch your back.
You seemed a little emotional at the end of the race. What does this win mean to you?
I’ve never won San Diego in the 450 class. Chad’s had a serious run here on wins. To stop that was great, to get my first win here was great, and then obviously, with a race like that, it’s obviously better. I got into the lead and led pretty much every lap and he was able to get me. I can look back and say I was maybe a little bit slower in the whoops and then the lappers where what really caused me the serious problems.
With his win in San Diego, Villopoto now leads Chad Reed by six points in the standings.
Photo: Simon Cudby
When you take off after the podium, you want to get back to the truck and get warm. Is that part of managing the season and staying healthy?
For sure. It was pretty cold today and tonight. It’s like, you come off the track and you’re all sweaty and hot and then obviously you start to cool down fairly quick. Then you have to put your jackets on and get out of the cold.
Talk about that WADA doping control this week. Did you get a visit late at night?
Yeah, around 10:30 or 11 o’clock, they rolled up to the gate and rang the gate call. It was alright, I mean I understand it. Luckily, they weren’t bad about it, they were nice. The people that showed up were really cool and we talked about cycling and all kinds of stuff, like Lance [Armstrong] and then [Alberto] Contador. They were really cool and we talked for a while, because I couldn’t squeeze enough out and I had to go back again and fill the jar!
Was that a surprise to have a visit at home?
It was, I mean I know that last year that we talked and they didn’t even test because the FIM and whoever they hired they had a tiff and they didn’t even test. So you went through all that. Now you have to tell them every day where you’re at for a whole year. And outdoors isn’t even involved in it, but this goes for a whole year, so you have to go through all summer and keep telling them where you are, and possibly get a test done at the nationals, even though WADA is not even involved in that sport [Note: WADA is part of the FIM regulation of supercross, where motocross is only regulated by the AMA]. So it makes it difficult, because I think they should just do the top ten and then randomly do the rest of the pack. Just every weekend do the top ten and then randomly do the pack. They will say, “Well then you know its coming.” Well you’ll catch them. What if they can’t resist smoking weed or whatever the case may be? And they can pull blood occasionally, and that’s where they can find other stuff. If they just do pee, it’s just weed and drugs and whatever else you may be on or doing.
So it was urine only?
It was urine only this time, but if they have a nurse, they can draw blood.
RV got a visit from WADA last week.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Do you ever get worried? We hear that there’s a whole list of weirdo masking agents that are not allowed, like herbal cold medicines and stuff. Do you worry about accidentally taking something like that and getting caught?
Well, you have to be careful. And we talked to them. I know that Contador, he got caught for a blood transfusion and then on top of that it was a steroid from the meat. And he said that particularly where that blood went was a new machine that if it went to the old machine, it would have never been detected. So it went to the new machine and it just so happened that his blood went there. That’s what these guys said and that’s what brought it up. I asked them if can you get it from meat and he said you can. Most of Europe and everywhere else bans it, but I don’t think we do.
So what do you do?
Well, it’s more like red meat and stuff. They’ve heard it going to chickens too, but mainly red meat.
Do you not eat much red meat anyway?
No, not really.
So you happen to just coincidentally be okay with any problems with meat. But there’s got to be a list of things that you’ve got to avoid.
Oh, like cough medicines and all sorts of stuff. Yeah. You’ve got to try and stay out of it.
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Getting Reed back was HUGE! Instead of tied, Ryan has a 6 point lead. Way to go RV!
THE dominating force in SX for years to come!!!
RV is really starting to mark out his place in SX. He is proving to me that last year was no fluke. He is mentally tough and very smart racer! As much as i don't want it to be a one man show, RV will be his worse enemy.
Nice interview...especially the doping questions. RV mentions "weed" several times. Is marijuana considered a perfomance enhancing drug? Also, because it is "legal medicince" in Cali and Colorado, ect. is that an issue? Just curious.
Contador has never been got caught for blood transfusion, I think that those WADA did not know what they were talking about. They did find something in its blood, a very very infinetesimal part, that did not affect his performances during the 2010 Tour (multiple blood tests taken in the following days did not show anything, strange), so he got disqualified. Sometimes there is more behind these doping tests, it's a way to get rid of the strongest athletes, even if they are clean.
Weed is NOT a performance enhancing drug, it does have medicinal properties as every other herb, but performance enhancing, no way. Imagine being stoned going over those whoops?
haha...not too sure anyone would be racing with a buzz, but I guess you never know. Kids can be dumb. Maybe that's why the lappers wouldn't get out of the way!?! There was a race going on and they were too stoned to know it.
Speaking of weed, anyone know the whereabouts of Jason Lawrence?
I was surprised to hear that right now WADA is only testing riders for recreational drugs--apparently they have to do blood tests to find PEDs, and they haven't done any blood testing yet (they can, they just have chosen not to do so yet). I doubt they consider marijuana a performance benefit, but I'm sure they frown on its use, so they test for it anyway. They did some more pee testing after the race with Brayton, Stewart, Dungey, Wilson and Moss, so it seems like it's happening more frequently. We'll keep looking into the situation.
Ryan's interview skills have improved and every since The Firecracker got on the 2012 Kawasaki, Villopotpo has gotten on a roll. He has always been fast and confident, but that small change has helped him gain a few more tenths on the competion. The Scholar, Chad Reed, after a year seems to have his Honda set up very well also, those two were very fast and smooth thru the whoops. Dungey seemed to struggle thru those same whoops. The Locomotive, chugged along, never looking like he did on the RMZ in the whoops. I am sure KTM will get things back on track, but how much time will it take to get him up to speed. Stewart, The Gambler, set up seems off the way he folded in the whoops. James no longer has the bluff in as the FMOTP, he will have to use the rest of the season to prove he still deserves that title.
I was not even worried when reed got him, I just knew he would pass him back. RV is a bad dude!! Glad to see Reed match him the whole race but I don't think he will be able to do that to many times. But ya never know.
Oh and also, Ryan told me he's not an expert on all the ins and outs of what happened to Contador. He was just giving us an idea of some of the things he talked about with the WADA people. Certainly we can't use a casual conversation RV had with some WADA folks a few days ago as a guide to what happened with Contador, he was just making conversation with them, not playing reporter.
I used to race a guy that HAD to be stoned or he couldn't ride. I saw him one time out in the woods and he was bouncing off trees and was just plain slow. We stopped and he had a film canister duct taped to the crossbar and he pulled out some of his PEDs rolled up in little white paper and they sure as hell improved his performance! After he had one of those, he was tearing it up like he did at the races. After that day I was just in disbelief that it was possible, but I saw it happen. Crazy.
As someone who occasionally smokes a bit of pot with friends, what does it matter if someone has traces of this in their urine if they are not riding while baked? Pot isn't some life altering (unless you are an idiot with no self control) or performance enhancing substance and if someone uses it away from the track what does it matter? @ BK-R.......I've ridden stoned once on a whooped out sand track as a pretty decent B rider. Let's just say I was on the gas, butter smooth and not tired that day! Holy focus Batman! I think it was a stupid idea still in retrospect though. People would sh*t if they knew how many of our heros chuff, a few made main events and did well in San Diego.
I guess if you lack focus it could be considered a PED.
With Weimer and Reed saying that "Mr. Niceguy" will be left at the start, Ryan talking about WADA pressures, and Stewart having a "Costume Malfunction", it is starting to sound more and more like a reality show - "Hang time, Bang Time and Wang time"...
Just to clear the air (I am a former motocross racer, current bicycle racer, current SX/MX superfan), Contador was caught and suspended for an adverse finding the steroid clenbuterol in his urine. There was a theory that he could have been taking the drug at an earlier point, stored some of his own blood, then re-injected the blood with the trace amounts of the drug in his system. There was talk of "plasticizers" being found in his blood - basically remnant synthetic material from storing the blood before transfusion - but this test is not approved. Contador's defence was tainted beef, but this was debunked. So in the end, there was no proof that Contador was transfusing his own blood but at the same time there was no explanation for how the clenbuterol got in his system so by the WADA code, the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) applied the full 2-year sentence.
Getting back to drug testing in SX/MX, having two guys (RV and CR) being part of the whereabouts testing program - riders have to update their locations and could be tested anytime - it seems unfair that only TWO riders are subject to this level of scrutiny. IMO, I think the top-20 from the 2011 SX standings should have to do whereabouts and be subjected to 24/7 random testing. The goal with anti-doping is a level playing field and fair sport, and this should start with the testing being level and fair.
I always enjoy RV's interviews and he did pass CR cleanly it's just that Aussie is a big whiner. I notice RV is not worried about anything since he has the corner speed to win in any confrontatioin. Chad needs to pick up his corner speed and stop his complaining or settle for second from now on.
The Man has spoken and the Man means business.
Get the FIM out of the US and the US out of the FIM!
Props to Mike Alessi. He looked great in his heat race passing RV...and for a second looked like he might get away till that crash stopped the race...wonder what got into ol' Mikey...
I love the J-Law and JS7 comments! Do you think Bailey, Johnson and O'Mara were concerned every weekend lining up next to Ron Leichien? No sleep, Partying all night and showing up via helicopter.... The guy was the true Rock-Star of MX. I'm glad he survived his lifestyle. The guy is an inspiration in the way he turned his life around.
@endoman38--I couldnt agree more. Why would the AMA want our supercross series to be a FIM event anyway??
If all 39 other guys on the gate were clones of Ryan Villopoto the race would be a much cleaner run race. You are a class act out there on the track and I'm pretty sure everywhere else as well. I think it has a lot to do with being raised in and around the Hood Canal. Must be the Oysters! Ha!
Props to Mike Alessi for passing RV in the heat and he might've gotten away until they red-flagged the start??? Talk about failing a drug test.
Yamalink i was there and so it for my own eyes.........its quite possible you didnt see that because the race was stopped....!
it was 3 laps into the heat race and M. Alessi after passing RV on lap 1 was leading still YES on lap 3 was still leading RV1 hard to beleive but it happend......
@sleestak--You need to do your homework or get off the drugs--Alessi was NOT in RV1's heat race. Alessi was in the heat race with Stewart and Reed.. Alessi has never passed RV since they turned pro..You just made a fool of yourself.
Milsaps was battling RV in HEAT #1.
M Alessi was in heat #2.
Confirmed on ama website.
Although I already knew that cause I watched the race. LOL
I cannot imagine anyone in the top 20 smokin or dopin? can you?....I know it took everything I could muster by training riding, and eating right to race, smoking weed, was noplace around me,,, I did drink a beer about 3 days before a red bud race, and I felt it on the track, never again. Life after motocross you ask? totally differnt story ;).
I am an expert in the field of Performance Enhancing drugs and I know all there is to know about the effects of marijuana on athletes. Here I will attempt to explain, in detail, all the performance enhancements available to the athletic marijuana users, but first I need to smoke a bowl to get in the mood. One sec, please ...
...
.....
......
hold on, one more sec. .. oh wait. are those doritos?? sweet!!
mmm... *munch *munch *munch
Boston cream pies.......3....lotsa chocholate......
If anyone is smokin weed in the top 20,,,,,Might as well get the Hodaka contract in order cause thats where its all headin, sooner than later.
A top ten rider smoking weed, pretty sure it use to go on all the time. I can think of a couple guys who lost there job over it. Jason is good friends with one of them, he could probably give you more in sight on that.
where i find him? Hodaka pits?
I am sorta torn between giving a rider a medal of some sort?, or a swift boot in the a$$ for positive weed test......... Tough call really.
Villopoto = grace under pressure. (i.e., pass on Dungey at Steel City)
Red44, your last post (above) was awesome. Thank you.
As much as this may pain me -- and as much as BillC and B-KR are right -- RV1 is the man right now. He is faster than any other riders out there, and can seemingly pass anyone AT EASE. RV is on a different level than anyone at the moment, and he deserves any credit he gets because he has worked his ass off and deserves that number 1 plate.
You sir, are both a gentleman and a scholar! Good to see.
This drug testing system seems a little over the top. To have to give them your daily schedule every day for the year if you are a flagged rider would be a huge pain in the a$$. They need to come up with something better. As far as testing for weed as a performance enhancer, sounds a bit stupid. I think blood testing the top ten at random events would be enough. This is not cycling!!! Roids would probably do nothing but cause arm pump. Urine tests only tell if you have smoked in the past and don't tell if your under the influence during the race. Weed is legal in at least 8 states, no wants to race against someone drunk or high, but if they allow racers to drink alcohol on their off time you would think weed would be no worse. People don't smoke weed and go out and drive out of control and kill people like they do on alcohol. I just don't see PEDs giving you an advantage in motocross. They can speed up your recovery time from injuries. In MMA they don't allow fighters to use P.E.D.s or weed or painkillers. I don't know what the VMAs stance is on painkillers but nobody should be racing while on pain meds. It just seems like making flagged riders report to WADA every time they leave the house for a year is a crazy way to enforce what they are trying to accomplish.
@ Red44,This just in, the WADA was at Sleestak's house earlier today. He indeed has tested positive for a banned substance. His Supercross viewing privileges will be revoked for 2 weeks as will his posting rights on this or any other website!
The WADA did say however in an effort to show they support second chances that Sleestak would be aloud to resume his posting immediately if we were to simply man up and post " I AM SORRY, I DON"T KNOW WHAT THE F%&$ I AM TALKING ABOUT, I SIMPLY WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING NEGATIVE ABOUT RV!
J_Sloan.... PROPS to you for maning up. Thanks, glad you see it now as well. Beer for you.
On drug testing I think it should happen to every rider that races 3 times during each season. I have run two tracks and its all to often the guys that are pot heads or carrying a beer buzz that cause injury and problems. I have nothing against pott (which is illegal in EVERY state unless a doc recommends it) or beer, but I don't want ENYONE on it riding and endangering others. While they are testing it should be for performance enhancing drugs not just recreational drugs. Its not fair to just select the top riders.
ANYONE hell I can't spell
funny how he wants respect and no one to touch him now that he's in the lead but cleaned out RD a couple years ago when he was behind.
@red54 hey i can man up and say i was wrong maybe i do need to lay of the herb alittle !....i obviously wasnt paying very good attention and i was there ! I guess it explains why it was never mentioned at all but i can take the heat and i'll agree i did make a fool of myself but "trying to say something negative about RV ?" that simple isnt true i was just overexcited for the 800 bike he looked better then he ever has and in that heat race before the red flag stopped it.
Sleestak, you are forgiven. You owned it and that is all anyone can ask for.
I also was very surprised at the # 800 holding James, Reed and the rest of the crew off until the restart flag.
thanks yeah i blew that.