The Moment: Two Champions, Two Crashes
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 | 2:50 PM
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The biggest moment of a race takes place in mere seconds, but sometimes the impact won’t be felt for days. Or even longer. In the case of the Seattle Supercross, Ryan Villopoto might have known his knee was wrecked the moment he crashed. Or maybe he didn’t. But the shockwaves didn’t roll throughout the industry until Tuesday, when Monster Energy Kawasaki announced that RV would be shut down for the rest of the 2012 SX and MX season to get the knee fixed.
That one crash shook up the Seattle race, and will now have a huge impact on the rest of year, with a 450 Pro Motocross field now absent of its champion, and the last two wins in supercross clearly up for grabs.
The impact of Ryan Villopoto's knee injury in Seattle will be felt for the rest of the 2012 season.
Garth Milan photo
Yup, we now know the long-term impact of one crash. But there is another we are waiting to understand. Kawasaki also employs the defending 250 MX Champion, as well, and he too went down in Seattle. Will Dean be able to bounce back from his shoulder injury to battle for the West Lites title and mount a strong defense of his National Championship? It could be a little longer before we understand the true impact of that crash.
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Hopefully Deano can bounce back give us two more exciting supercross races and a good Outdoor season.
I haven't been this bummed about an MX season since RC hung it up.... WHY?!?! WHY!?!?!
He is fine I seen him at Comp Edge Pro Practice smooth
villopoto is to short if he was 6 ft he would of just pivot off of the left foot the problem is no leverage remember when the goat straddled the first hoarse they lowered the hell out of it.
crazy runt
You're right, he is too short. Mike Too-Tall Bell never had any problems with his knees. A more current reference would be Millsaps.
@MX_Bob - my thoughts exactly. The longer the leg bones, the more torque there will be on the knee if the leg doesn't bend the way it is intended to. Just simple physics.
Too bad this happened but I thought he wore knee braces and if he wasn't then why not and if he was wearing them then why did he hurt his knee. Makes me wonder why I am wearing them if it is that easy to hurt your knee with them on.
Some of you need to be smart like me and learn your moto-history. Mike Bell had knee issues:
"Bell tweaked his knee a few weeks later and ended the 1978 season ranked sixth in the AMA Supercross standings."
"During the early 1980s, knee injuries were starting to mount and Bell began going through long periods of rehabilitation. Despite having to go through several surgeries on his knees, Bell always seemed able to work his way back to competitiveness."
http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?racerid=127
This may come as a huge surprise to many of you, but in dirt bike racing, people crash and get injured whether they are short, medium or tall.
@12345....Where the heck did you go to school? " I seen"? "would of"? Run on thoughts.......Unbelievable.
Dont be like Jsloan that sh#t is annoying
@ DirtyNinja, Why do facts that dispute hearsay annoy you?
So are we gonna start hearing Ryan's bike isn't any good, Ryan is gonna change teams, Ryan is a danger to the field etc. like everybody has done JS7? My friend in Cali so a number 7 on a factory Kawi yesterday!
Man blaming that he's too short? This is turning into JS7, blame everything you can but NEVER blame the rider, RV's fault, extremely impatient riding on his part. At least that's my take...
I guess I needed the sarcasm font for my comments. Millsaps just had knee surgery in the off-season, which I don't think was his first. Bell had so many operation, his knees probably have as more scar tissue than regular skin.
MX Bob--I'm old and can't remember what I had for lunch today--but a knee injury is what put Mike"Too Tall")Bell into retirement back in the day -1980-81 mayby? He was a very smooth and lanky rider,
I remember the days a irwindale raceway with the likes of mike bell with the #1 plate in cmc on his 125 elsinore...this guy could ride, MR. smooth, yes your right about his knees ... it put him out to pasture...
Would of, could of, should of. Lololol. J geils band is to blame with their song 'must of got lost'.
JS7 to ride RV2's bike outdoors! now that would be awesome to see!!
Racing is on a all time high level. i think if everyone stayed healthy Chad REED would have captured both SX and MX 2012. Not a fan of the guy but dude was on another level for sure. Everyone was talking Rv fastest but really Chad had begun to let it rain on em. Right now i COULD SEE KDUB IF HE RACES mx OR mIKE Alessi for outdoors. Alessi might be the favorite. last time Alessi rode a suzuki outdoors he was winning
Cmon people have done common sense. Just because you are wearing knee braces does not mean you can't injure your knee. While it lessens the risk of injury, there is still the risk. That's the same as thinking you can't have a head injury while wearing a helmet or a seatbelt will protect you in all crashes.
What?? Wait, a seat belt won't protect me in all crashes?!?! Why are we wearing them then???
Hey MX Bob, can you send me that sarcasm font so I don't offend the high-school drop outs?