Monday Conversation: Ryan Villopoto
Monday, March 5, 2012 | 10:25 AM
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The St. Louis Supercross has not always been kind to Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto but he rectified all of that on Saturday night by grabbing a good start and the race win. He made it look simple by getting out front early, but his lead shrunk down the stretch as Ryan Dungey kept pushing all the way to the end. Matthes caught up to RV after the race to see how it all played out.
Racer X: Good ride tonight, you kind of got out front early and checked out.
Ryan Villopoto: The track was pretty good up until lap ten, but then there ended up being a lot of concrete showing. Like the turn after the mechanic’s area before the triple, there ended up being about eight feet of concrete showing. So I ended up going around it. Mikey [mechanic, Williamson] told me [Ryan] Dungey was going to the outside, which was clearly faster than where I was going, you know, where I was going there wasn’t a rut or a line. So I was watching Ryan and I knew he was catching me, but with the track and with the lappers, I didn’t feel like pushing the limit to keep the gap where it was. No reason to push it.
He was getting you at the end, but you feel you could have turned it up?
Yeah I could have rode a little harder, but I did what I had to do.
So you're not worried at all?
No. But he’s riding good, though, so he’s the guy I have to watch out for.
After losing three points to Ryan Dungey in Atlanta, Villopoto was determined to stretch his lead again in St. Louis.
Photo: Carl Stone
What did you think of the dirt? It seemed looser than before.
I thought it was a little dry, and I figured it would get a little more rutty. Then need to get about a half a supercross track more dirt underneath, because with the concrete showing underneath, we can’t be having that while we are racing.
The announcers were talking about you and St. Louis. You and [Trey] Canard here for the Lites title in 2008, and then two years ago your injury. Does that even play into this at all? Do you think about it?
No not at all. I just tried to set myself up well, get that inside gate, and it worked out really well for me. The first turn was really long, and I knew I could sneak around the inside even if I didn’t get a good start. And I ended up getting a good start.
The first rhythm lane, tripling from the inside was gnarly.
After the start? There was a lot of loose dirt on the start. It got pretty beat down and there was not much there.
Who was the worst lapper tonight?
There are always worse ones than others. Tonight no one was really bad, but there were a lot of them, and it was tough because you had to get out of the main line, and I was trying to not go there and make a mistake on the concrete and stuff.
With his win in St. Louis Villopoto has now won four of the last five Supercross class races.
Photo: Carl Stone
Had to do a pee test tonight?
Yup, random drug test tonight. Drank some water and passed on the first test.
Good to be back in Florida?
Yup, good. You coming down?
Yeah I’ll come down.
Good, we’ll get you out on the farm.
You’ve done well before at Daytona. What are you thoughts going into next weekend?
Yeah, Daytona should be good, looking forward to it. It’s obviously pretty physical, you’re looking at longer lap times and maybe a twenty-two minute main event or so. Should be good.
Chad Reed in the past had a Daytona section built into his track. Do you do that?
I’ve never had a Daytona section built before, but I had one worked into the supercross track now, so it should be fun.
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Good read there Matthes, Villo is straight up and good to see him give Ryan D. some cred.
Just as many of us stated in the other threads yesterday.
RV "Managed" the race from up front.
And yes! He gives a nod to the competition.
This new crop of racers, and the ones coming up, are true credits to the sport.
Still wow'd by what KTM, the Man, and RD have done building this new platform up in under a year. Increadible
Smart ride. If RD did not take so long to get into 2nd He would have had to keep the pace a little faster. Sucks about the concrete, That should not happen that bad. Would suck to see someone go down cuz of that.
I just hope RD, RV and JS start 1,2,3 in any order at Daytona. That would be great. JS looked very good this weekend again but the dude can't buy a start!!!
I am a stewart fan...
RV by 30 seconds at Daytona...series is over...
What's the latest on Stewart getting out of his JGR contract?
Awesome ride by RV..." did what I had to do "....I still am puzzled how long RD will stay behind guys while RV and JS just slice passed them.....especially in the first half of the race......is it a tactic, or can he really not pass until a guy like Brayton starts to fade like we saw this week.....Dungey could probably go 30 laps at his pace and I am sure RV can too....but the rest of them seem to fade around lap 15.....
Indeed Bill C....Even watching the race live I noticed JS7 reaction time was the worst on the gate. Then when I re-watched it, it was clearly reaction time...horrible...the need to work on those starts this week for sure!!! ...he had a few good starts in the mains there for a while (LA, Oakland and A2) and seems to get decent starts in the heats all the time, but come main event time he just blows it.....he was looking really good and was on pace with RV this week so I hope we see all 3 up front at Daytona as well.....
awesome shot of him railing that turn!!
@yamalink - I'd be really surprised if Stewart and JGR part during the middle of either season, SX or MX. Not saying it won't happen, but think if it does it would more likely be between seasons or at the end of the year. I also don't think it will happen before the end of the contract - just my opinion.
@yamalink - What you talkin' bout Willis? Are you just speculating or wishing or you have an inside scoop....i dont see that happening....
@halfe316 - Hard to say if it will be close or not. Daytona is more of an outdoor race and arguably RD is a better outdoor rider than indoors. RD should have more room to pass so I don't think we'll see RV gap RD (or 2nd place) by a 30 sec margin (provided no crashes).
Looking forward to the race to see if I'm right or way off base - Daytona has enough extra room to do some different things with the track. The longer lap times and rougher track will make it interesting.
RV1 is a great champion, tells it the way it is and gives props to his competition, no dram or bs excuses.
Take note #7
KilloMoto... somewhere on this website, maybe in DC's Racerhead, he mentioned there is a rumor going around about JGR and Bubba parting ways. So, Yamalink isn't just starting it, it's already out there. I'd be surprised, but you never know.
Yes it is endoman38, I would still be shocked to see the Team 22 deal happen. JS seems happy with the bike now anyway and the car deal still hangs there. To much to walk away from.
@biker143.Did you listen to the JS7 website interveiw after the race? JS says he got "held up" behind Milsaps! Always has an excuse.
@Overskil,, I don't think he used that as an excuse, he just said what happened, thats all..
The new sheriff puts his feet up on the desk pulls his hat down and takes a nap..........Havoc isn't going anywhere but faster...ole whirlwind is OBVIOUSLY coming around ..that bike is fast once he gets it moving....lol horrible starts. Catching a leader with a huge lead and running him down and passing him are two entirely different animals though...ask Reed. I think RD5's passing skills are improving weekly ,he's definately pushing the urgency button more .Villapoptos SUPERIOR use of alternate lines and a bike that turns so well helps him alot ,besides being about 10 mph faster everywhere when he needs to be..nobody lights it up earlier in the corner..NOBODY.....for an interview with RV1 , seems like alot of Havoc stalker comments. Nothing new there. @killomoto the "what you talkin bout willis" was classic lolol......Go RV, there can be only 1 and Barcia..that dude is haulin.Sorry haters ,hes eatin that class UP. I think maybe his 50's beatnik go-to display gives him superpowers.
Villopoto is the man!!!!! he may not win every race from here out but the title yes.
I think some folks read too much into these guys comments.....After any given race, they do quite a few interviews and usually they say the same thing over and over, but sometimes they may use different words and people freak out.......I dont think JS7 meant he was actually "held up" by Milsaps....In one of his other interviews and per his response to he and Chad Reeds high school girl drama twitter battle they are having (what a bunch of girls), he kind of got stuck in Milsaps pace and then made some mistakes
tonewall I agree RD has steped it up but still it took him 10 laps to get around Saps and JB... Far to much time wasted wile RV pulled out an 8sec lead.
KilloMoto I agree, JS said after the race " All I can do is laugh, I felt great on the bike" Sounds ok to be and yes he did get stuck behind Saps, I need to check the lap times, Did Saps pick the pace back up?? Cuz he did real well for a wile then slowed then seemed to be holding JS off.
If JS7 is really "The fastest man on the planet" he shouldn't get "held up" behind anyone. Especially Millsaps. James is more like "The fastest man on the ground" or during the outdoors he's usually "The fastest man on the couch". I hate to say it, but he has already peaked and is on the way down.
I agree, they need to put a thicker base of dirt down for STL. I've been to the last 5 races there, and there are always spots that get down to the concrete, the worst outcome being when RV couldn't get the drive due to increasing concrete showing on successive laps and then coming up short and breaking his leg.
Ryan Villopoto is only the eighth (Great) rider to reach the symbolic mark of 20 wins in AMA Supercross class. Here's the top-20 : McGrath (72), Carmichael (48), Stewart (43), Reed (41), Johnson (28), Hannah (27), J. Ward (20), Villopoto (20), Bradshaw (19), Windham (18), Barnett (17), Stanton (17), Bayle (16), Lusk (12), Bailey (12), Bell (11), Glover (10), Dungey (9), Ellis (8), Lechien (8), O'Mara (7), Emig (7), Vuillemin (7).
RV did that pretty quick also
The record stood at 28 for quite a while, and then McGrath destroyed it. The path up the career-wins chart starts getting pretty steep once RV breaks the tie with Ward.
@Killomoto--not trying to start anything here, but you said you dont know why Dungey stayed behind guys so long and Stewie and RV1 sliced right through them??/ Well Stewie didnt have to pass many of the front runners that Dungey had to pass. Alot of the guys Stewie blew by were in the back of the pack because Stewie went down. When Stewie got towards the front, he ahd a harder time. How long did Stewie stay behind Millsaps?? Millsaps rode a very wide bike in St, Louis, It took RV alot longer than I thought it would to get past him, and Dungey too. And Dungey had to get past a getting faster Brayton.. When Stewie caught up to those guys it slowed some for him also.. Dungey was flying in St. Louis, and the guys he had to pass put up a huge fight..
Its cool to see RV1 give respect to his closest competetion, they arent good buddies or anything, and according to Decoster, they dont really like each other. But its good to see the repect they have, and they keep it clean these days..
right you are bill c, except stewart said " all I can do is smile..". ahahaha.. he said he felt "awesome" and his buddy Twitter Reed, I mean Chad Reed even said its the best he looked all year....Results are what count though and JS7 should be on that podium..He is clearly on pace with RV and I think will be in between RV and RD many times in the remaining races, if not on top a few times as well.......hopefully the second half is better for him and we see some battles between those 3 guys........things looked better in Atlanta and in St Louis as far as bike and rider go.....so we'll see....DAYTONA!!!
Guys talking about Daytona--I dont know if I consider it an outdoor or not, its still just man-made track on flat ground. It just breaks down alot. But I said it before ..Look for Stewie to get up front here.. He always is very fast here, if he nails a start, he will get up front and stay there.. I dont see RV1 putting the season on the line to try and catch or even keep up with him. Its only one race to RV, who has the title in his head. Stewie is wanting to make a statement, and I look for him to do it at Daytona, that or crash violently while hauling as$..
Daytona - RD might be a better outdoor rider than indoors, but RV is also arguably a better rider outdoors than indoors if we look back through his Lites career. Plus how dialed RV was last season in outdoors after he got the 2012 bike. And let's not forget RV has won the last 2 Daytona SX. I'm hoping for a competitive race between #1, 5, 7 but honestly I don't see anyone challenging RV at Daytona.
BD200. "But you said you dont know why Dungey stayed behind guys so long and Stewie and RV1 sliced right through them"
.I think he means everyweek not just this week. RD can't pass on any track as well as RV or JS.
I understand that JS meant he got stuck in Milsaps pace.But,why doesnt he just say that!.I am a RV fan but I like JS also.You cant deny how good he is.But,just tell it like it is.
@killomoto - excellent point about the riders basically telling this same story over and over in each subsequent post-race interview. They can't possibly be thinking about word choice to the degree that we the fans dissect every word of an interview on our preferred media outlet. I've done trade shows for work and it is easy to get a little sloppy retelling the same basic story if you aren't careful.
@MXR1 - good post about win totals.
I'm curious about the winning % of each of the riders on the list. I know that McGrath and Carmichael each have a ridiculous winning %, but the season is now a lot longer than it was in the 70's and 80's (and even early 90s). I wonder how the other riders on the list like Hannah, Bailey, Bell, or Glover compare to riders like MC, Goat, Stewart, Reed, RV, etc. for wins vs. opportunities to win.
RV should be around 37% I think
@ BillC wrote: RV did that pretty quick also
20th win …
1. Bob Hannah, Atlanta 1982 (first win Atlanta 1977)
2. Rick Johnson, Pontiac 1988 (first win Seattle 1984, night 2)
3. Jeff Ward, Oaklahoma City 1991 (first win Seattle 1984, night 1)
4. Jeremy McGrath, Orlando 1995 (first win Anaheim 1993)
5. Ricky Carmichael, Daytona 2002 (first win Daytona 2000)
6. Chad Reed, Daytona 2005 (first win Anaheim-1 2003)
7. James Stewart, Indianapolis 2007 (first win Irving 2005)
8. Ryan Villopoto, St. Louis 2012 (first win Seattle 2009)
for the percentage of races/wins, don't count on me :) i left the computer now, lot of work outside the house ...
4. Jeremy McGrath, Orlando 1995 (first win Anaheim 1993)
5. Ricky Carmichael, Daytona 2002 (first win Daytona 2000)
6. Chad Reed, Daytona 2005 (first win Anaheim-1 2003)
7. James Stewart, Indianapolis 2007 (first win Irving 2005)
8. Ryan Villopoto, St. Louis 2012 (first win Seattle 2009)
.5 bad dudes!!
@CR500AF - I was thinking the same thing about the length of the season. It was 13-14 races through most of McGrath's career. 8 is pretty impressive for Ellis. The season was real short most of his career.
Getting into the 40s, even with the longer seasons, is still impressive, though. RV seems to cinch to get there, but he'll have to keep cranking out wins for a few more seasons, winning even as the young guns come up.
If RC had not missed the 2004 SX season he would probably had 10 more wins,and probably take at least a few of those from Reed. (not a knock on Chad he is a great rider,he won the title that year)
If memory serves me correct, here is an interesting fact about the 2012 SX and Dungey and RV: When RD has finished the first lap ahead of RV, RV has not passed RD. Conversely when RV has finished the first lap ahead of RD, RD has not passed RV.
It seems that starts are the most important part of the race with the speed these two are going.
Quote: "Stewie is wanting to make a statement, and I look for him to do it at Daytona, that or crash violently while hauling as$.."
I disagree. I'm beginning to think JS has given up and decided to ride safer and just collect paychecks realizing there's likely no real money for him outside of racing bikes, so he needs to milk the career for as many years as possible to build up the bank account. Just a theory but it explains the disappearance of "the eye of the tiger" in him.
I didn't bother looking up the other years, but MC's rookie 1993 season had 16 rounds. I doubt that number got any lower at any point.
I don't know what a few commenters were doing while pretending to watch the races but that "over the hill ,paycheck collecting ,safer riding ,fastest man on the couch was flat laying it down and the Yamaha worked damn good this week. Hate the guy if you must but chill on the make believe and outright lying. Wipe the stalker drool of your chins and watch the damn race if your gonna comment on it. Geezus even when the guy rides good your obsession won't let you enjoy it...for anyone who calls themselves a racer or a fan of SX ,thats pretty f'ing sad. Also Milsaps and Brayton are NOT slow and both are capable of riding a wide bike and are both willing to bang and not easily "moved" so some caution is a wise choice ....
J_Sloan Here is another interesting fact, RD has NEVER passed RV in the last two years but RV has passed him many times. Where were you going with that?
Hey Guys good bench racing stuff there I have nothing to add exept lets bring on Daytona, miss the old daytime for mat though.
@BillC, I'm talking about the importance of starts in 2012. So far, neither rider (between RD and RV) has finished ahead of the other rider when the other rider was ahead after the first lap.
not enough dirt!??? why would whoever is in charge not put enough dirt down??? That person should be fired! It's supposed to be the greatest sport on earth and when they cheap out it looks bad for the sport. and i woulld think it makes it more dangerous for the racers....in a already dangerous sport!!! MORONS RUNNING THE SHOW!!!!