Monday Conversation: Ryan Villopoto
Monday, February 18, 2013 | 1:10 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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PrintIf you could only witness the weekly conversations in the Monster Energy Kawasaki rig between Ryan Villopoto and our man Steve Matthes. Maybe you think of RV as the quiet type? Not when Matthes is around, because the two-time defending SX champ likes to tee off on him. But Matthes likes the abuse, and he did what he could to stoke the flames this week in our Monday Conversation (Don’t complain, we could make this much more boring if you’d like).
Racer X: Let’s talk about that heat race. [James] Stewart was phenomenal. He caught you and passed you and took off for the win. It was a great ride by him.
Ryan Villopoto: Yeah, it was good. I don’t think he necessarily caught me from a long ways, but he caught up a little bit. I made a little mistake on that double after the finish. It was good. He rode a solid eight laps.
The main event, this is what you needed. No inside gate. Shorty went there and it screwed him this week like it screwed you so many times. But the start, Davi [Millsaps] got the holeshot, but this is what you needed. Twenty, I don’t want to say easy, but 20 good laps.
Dallas has been tough the last couple years. Actually last year’s dirt was good, but this year and two years ago the dirt has been really bad. It was good. Davi has been really consistent, riding well. Obviously that only gave me the three points on him. I need to try to start having some more fun at it and look at it and just be consistent and look at a third, a third is on the podium, it’s good. A second is good, it’s on the podium. Even fourth or fifth, that’s pretty consistent. I think the sport as of right now up until this point, I’m not saying it’s going to be like this tomorrow or next weekend, but at this point from fifth through tenth has been a lot quicker than normal and if you get a little bit of a bad start, you are not coming through the pack very easily. So I think it’s almost kind of like NASCAR. We have a fifth place car today or we have a fourth place car. That kind of depends on your start in our sport. That’s never going to be like NASCAR.
Ryan Villopoto got a much needed win in Dallas on Saturday.
Simon Cudby photo
Also, these tracks they don’t encourage hanging out and pushing because you’re going to go down.
Exactly. And that’s just the dirt style, with the West Coast rounds. We’ll see. Not going to say every track is going to be that way but it has been up until this point.
You said it's now about having fun, was it getting to you? Were you looking at the points and stressing and doing all that?
Not necessarily the points, but for our team and myself, we’ve won two years in a row and we expect to win. Every team does out here but obviously especially us, we’ve won two years in a row and we kind of put ourselves up on this pedestal and when we fall, we fall a long ways. When we need to look at thirds and fourths and being consistent as a win. Look at Davi. Yeah, he’s got two wins but he’s been the most consistent guy out there with seconds and thirds.
He’s only been off the podium once.
Exactly. And he’s got a 21-point lead.
RV now trails Davi Millsaps by 24 points after his win in Dallas.
Simon Cudby photo
No one is happy with the track tonight. Windham told me the only guy that’s going to like it is the winner. So, did you?
I mean, it was tough one side—it was very easy, but tough on the side of traction. This dirt is just terrible. It’s just terrible. Things [obstacles] are small. There were quite a few ambulance rides today. So if it would have been any gnarlier… It would have been ugly.
I feel like when we get to the East Coast where there’s traction and a guy like you grips it, you grab a handful of throttle and you steer with the back, and that’s going to favor you. Do you think about that at all?
Yeah, I’m definitely waiting for that track. I’m looking for it. I think that’s obviously where I’m going to shine more. Everybody’s going to be like, oh yeah, more traction, I can ride harder… But for me, yeah, I’m able to ride that edge a little bit more and push where I want to push.
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RV never admits defeat. Even when James caught and passed him and dropped a 43 second lap time "He caught up a little bit." Classic Villopoto haha.
So glad that he said what he felt about the track
Hey Villo!
Stew passed you and beat you in the heat race.
And Stew is faster than you are ,,,,
Bet it really eats you up!
has any body passed rv straight up in the last couple of years james did
Ya I bet RV lost a whole lotta sleep Saturday night because James passed him in a heat race.
JAMES IS AWESOME, FASTEST MAN ON THE PPLANET. Ryan won! took home the money. Get over it.
I will never understand the cheerleaders and haters.
Right now, at this moment, Davi Millsaps is the best!, and Dungey is second.
No one likes to get passed, so get off your keyboard, and out to your local track and ride. When you think your ready, get your liscence, show up at the stadium and pass the Ryans, or Davi or James. Then I will listen to your idiotic banter. Until then, good bye.
sxmx.....so you don't understand what you just did....? until then , good bye. RV was on it so was JS7...maybe next week...!
JS7 hasn't done good outside the heat races all year, why do people actually think he would have won? RV didn't push it when he got past, maybe he was watching Stewie's lines?? Stewart can get very creative with his line choice, in my opinion, 2nd in a heat race to learn some good lines from a guy who won't produce results in the main is a good strategy?
RV1 has caught and passed JS7 more times then vice versa. Also RV1 has beaten JS7 15 out of 20 races (where neither crashed). But who cares, JS7 rode great, had it been the main, I think RV would have turned it up.
Track sucked, the guy who got the holeshot won, Ralph Shaheen sucks, Chad Reed faded, Stewart won a heat race, Dianna Dahlgren was smoking hot, blah blah blah...same thing over and over, hopefully Atlanta will be more entertaining.
It is amazing that RV is apparently so good that people get giddy when he gets passed and beat in a heat race. Until they start paying points for heat race results, it means zilch. The results were far better for non- fans when he won the heat race and then got 8th in the main.
According to bubba.. he's feeling really good.. better than he's felt since he was 16..
But dont take it from me: http://youtu.be/hboD5w7XpG4
"He rode a solid 8 laps", I can read between the lines.
Has Dirt Werx ever consulted a geologist to try to make the dirt better?
I want to do tequila shots out of Diana Dahlgren's belly button.
Was that the worst track ever, or what?!?!?!?!
Good Heat race for James...With the year he is having, running with RV and taking the W is good for confidence....It is a shame he had the mechanical because there is no argument Dallas was the best he has been all year and if he had a good start like he and RV did on the Heat, we could of had a good battle...RV would probably come out on top, but I think James had a podium spot in him at Dallas....too bad... he did cut the dread things off....good move!!!
Pumped RV got back on top and with Milsaps netting second, RV gained on both Saps and Dungey while Dungey lost more points to Saps. Was really suprised to see Reed drop back....Did he fade, was he just not on pace....who knows, but I kind of enjoyed it because he was supposed to win Dallas according to many folks...
I dont think all you stewie fans should get all excited about his heat race win over poto. Theres alot more going on inside the heads of these top racers than just "shit stewart passed me i should lay it all on the line in this heat race and try to beat him coz wow this heat race win will mean alot for my championship tittle chase" he might have been saving his energy for the main, maybe trying to avoid a crash, theres so many things he could have been thinking about. Yea theres the slight possibility that he was actually trying to win nd got beat straight up but im putting my money on him having championship thoughts and not little heat race win thoughts. Am i the only one who doesnt think Diana Dahlgren is that hot? Yea shes got a hot face but other than that she looks pretty fat
Yeah that was a slam from Vilapoto when he said Stewart rode a solid 8 laps, meaning it was just 8 laps and not main event. Vilapoto has always been kind of a smart ass like that. Hes not there to make friends. He wants to win, make money and get out of the sport sooner than expected. I thought he would pull away more than he did but a win is still a win.
If you like your woman to be built like a boy, then yes she is a freaking cow. MOOOOO! Haha!
OK...forget RV and anything he might have said to upset you Stewart fans.....if you haven't figured RV and his sense of humor or personality out yet then you never will!
Here's an idea...next time you see a link with the name Ryan Villopoto on it...do us all a favor and don't click on it.
now to the more pressing issue? Did someone actually just post that Dianna is fat???
You say one more bad thing about her and it's on !!!
@ronb...How can you spell Villopoto wrong twice with it being to the right in the A* ad? Not picking a fight, it just made me laugh. Monday morning brain fart strikes again!
RV is gonna go on a streak.
I honestly didnt realize that was a picture of Poto up there.. all I see the hottest damn female specimen .. that body... lord-a-mercy
Just remember JS7 is so far out of contention and he was out before his Clutch broke he just might get crazy and start taking people out, he has done it many times, he has taken Kdub, reed, RV1 out on numerous occasions maybe BAM BAM will take him out to retirement, but I do think James will still win some races he has got the speed, just a whole lot of misfurtune at this point but his goal of reaching MC not going to happen
BD25 and whoever else -sorry I didn't make it to the pitts entry at 5 , I got caught up in a conversation with Frank with FW excavating who supplies the dirt for us each year. I told him it was terrible and hard and slick-really dangerous. He told me thats what he was speced to bring so I told him to try to get a little more sand and loam in it, I know where he gets it and am meeting him to show him what he needs to add to it- hopefully it will be better next year- he lives 4 miles from me.
The racing was good-not great but as good as could be from the track we had (worst yet ?). Wilson was, heck we ALL wish he riding 450's, Muskin, hahn and Wharton did really well especially hahn and muscin coming from behind. Here's hoping someone can settle bell down before he ruins himself- its hard to control adrenilin when your young and racing the big show. Right now it appears DW owns the east.
I was suprised at reed but he was probably fighting demons a little- how many of you were saying here we go again its RV with CR behind him in Dallas! it was hard ans slick so I'm thinking CR was too worried to push as he has struggled with comfort and sliding out all year. I have to say knowing he can win and being in the lead is giving DM the edge to stay focused along with training properly, happy for him. I expected a little more from RD after he passed CR but then the track was tough and unforgiving. DM was the best in the whoops along with maybe JS. I was very bummed JS didn't make the night show- seems they could have gotten another bike or clutch in ten minutes- thats really robbing us fans as well as tough on him.
Stewart looked good in the heat race, passing Villopoto and putting about a two second gap by the finish but, Villopoto looked flat in the heat race, definitely different than he looked in the main where he put his head down and gapped everyone by what looked like about eight seconds at the checkered flag. Not to say that Stewart wouldn't have given him a good race had his clutch not given up at the line, but there is no way Villopoto would have just settled for second in the main like he did in the heat race.
Villopoto knew what he needed to win, a start. I am not sure is Stewart could have ran that pace for 20 laps, but it would have made the main interesting. But I thought that heat eace was pretty cool, the way James motored on by Ryan like he was standing still. Also great heat race between Gavin, Hahn, and Musquin. Now I thing aobut it the heat races were far more interesting than the mains. Even Partridges wheeling through the whoops like he did.
yo guys villopoto passed james straight up last week, the week before, and at phoenix. he screwed up in a corner and got passed 1 time. it doesnt autimatically mean js7 is faster. look at all the mains fastest lap times and i bet ryans got double what james has
I used to call it "Giving a guy his glory laps." Villopoto is smart. Stewart is not. Villopoto sees the big picture, so he keeps himself safe instead of falling for the temporary ego trip of winning a heat race. Battling with Stewart is like standing in one of those 25 cent car wash bays with the handle on the wand taped wide open as the wand flails in all directions uncontrollably. Hang around in there and it's going to knock the snot out of you. Villo can give Jiminy Cricket a heat race win, even a race win here and there, because of a Latin legal term called "No Bro Contendere." It means James is not a contender for the title, therefore any race wins or heat wins are non-issues. It's far wiser for Villopoto to stay well clear of the "25 cent car wash wand" so he has some chance of winning the title.
@SevenEight Dianna fat? She's a fitness model. Anything but fat buddy.
Can we bash James more? After all, he's the one saying he would have won the main and smoked RV and won by a mile! All these guys want to play it smart but all of them hate losing. If they have a chance at winning they will take it. If they are in second and feel they are faster and being held back they will make the pass for the win.
Stewart is the best practice rider in history...its the 20 lap main that counts.. I havent seen the "Toothperry" and his cronies shooting off thier mouths much this year.. But Stewie wins a "heat race" and all of a sudden their guy is the fastest again.. LOL!!!!
It would have been the night that James has looked his best so far, to see how (if he got a good start) he could hold his own up front for 20 strong laps. I actually thought he handled the interview with Erin pretty well considering how well he had ridden in his heat, and then to have a (mechanical) DNS for the main. I wonder if he is having any microscopic surgical tweaking to that knee. Having never had knee problems myself, I would not know if that could type of procedure could even be performed during the week and be able to race the following weekend.
Too bad for TC41 about his shunt that put him near the back, only to come up to a respectable finishing position. The same with "Mild Mannered Marvin" in the 250 class. I was hoping he would catch back up with Vincent to see if a payback was in order. Marvin caught and passed him without incident, as the class act, that he is. Blake (Slash) Wharton is digressing to his old tactics of jungle-rules-riding, and someone may be playing (payback) with him if he keeps up his sabotage antics that he's perfected, time and again.
Matthes is it nice and cozy and warm up in Villos @ss! Man, you are a suck up. Why is it we don't ever see a Matthes Dungey interview? Oh yea, too many bridges burnt.
@pw29...let me get this straight...if a guys in second they want to try to pass for the win.....shit...now I know what i've been doing wrong....!!!!! with advice like this and eyesite like seveneights....i could really have a shot.....!......JS7 hauled full a*s and was riding VERY controlled (speedshift ....carwash wand ??? what race where you watching) then he broke ..blah blah...give the guy at least tiny bit of credit then move along....BK-R RV1 is that good. and someone straight up passing him for the LEAD doesn't happen much ..does it.
Typical RV race. His first 9 laps were in the 54's then he settled in to cruise mode. DM had 6 laps in the 54's and RD had 3. That was the difference.
It's like amateur racing, the person who gets the holeshot wins. Pretty boring.
They need to do something different with the tracks.
Its called move to the outdoors and quit being pussies
Meant 44's of course
does anyone remember shorter laptimes in supercross ? I was pissed last year when they got to 47 secs, now we have 44's- whats next?
Move the races to smaller venues and call it, ah, I got it, arena x.
@tonewall
Not sure who's side you think I'm on here. I was trying to make the most of your jiberish that you are spouting. In case you did not know. I'm on Stewarts side. People are bashing him for comments that other people are leaving. My point is, these guys will make a pass rather then play it same if they feel the guy in front of them is a road block!
RV needs wins to make up points. He can tell himself what ever he wants to keep his mental game under raps but he knows makeing up a point every race will not get him the championship. If someone in front of him is slowing him down and he can make up 3 points he will go for the pass.
Did I make it easy enough for you to read? You need me to put the letters in all CAPS for you?
@tonewall
In case you still don't understand. If RV was faster he would have at least trailed Stewie a little better and or made a pass. JS7 was faster look at lap times, if it was the main I think their times would have improved more not slowed down.
Actually Davi was the "fastest man on the planet" Saturday up until the main event...
I'd love to see lap times over a minute. Guess that might hose up the TV schedule, but longer mains I'd like to see.
I cant believe there is this much talk about a heat race win! Who gives a rats about heat races,or qualifying! These 5-6 guys can all win at any time,and they all know when it needs to get done.I know RV has had his struggles this year,but he has proven in the past,he is one of the best at getting it done when he needs to.
GO MILLSAPS. MILLSAPS FOR THE WIN IN ATLANTA. HIS HOME RACE
@PW29....ah ok...., i guess.......put it in all caps for me.....It was a joke (on me) that obviously blew over your head faster than Partridge went by that guy on the rear wheel....I don't have sides on JS7...I thought he railed and what woulda shouda happened in the main we'll never know.......I still think your stating the completely obvious ..like 3 times now...are you convincing me or you....@overskil ...in case you haven't noticed Starts REALLY matter...and how do you get the gate pick...WIN THE HEAT...it all matters. It doesn't guarantee a holeshot but looks like everybody out there is trying to win the heat and lay down fast practice times...I guess it only matters to the guys that are racing.......lol. More sand , more corners(maybe even an off camber or 2.....heaven forbid ..maybe to technical )= better safer racing.
True.Gate picks are essential now!I just meant they are not going to fight like they would in the main for a heat race win.
Has anyone heard anything about Stewart "jury-rigging" his clutch so he could get some much-needed sleep? Stewart wouldn't do that, right? I don't think he would, and I'm not suggesting he did that.
Stewart does give the RX staff plenty of new opportunities to incorporate the word "clutch" into their articles, for which they have quite the penchant (look it up, Stewart fans). I can say that this was Stewart's best clutch ride of the season.
Some fat guy with a John Deere hat suggested that Stewart "double-clutch it," so the team is following that advice and installing two - count 'em - two clutches on the bike so that if one fails, the other one won't, and if any "jury-rigging" is taking place, it will take twice as long to do the job, so there will be a higher probability of catching the culprit in action. Let's hope this strategy cuts down on the length of Stewart's excuse list in the future. The added clutch makes the right side case stick out another three inches, which gives Stewart the ability to ride a really wide bike, even wider than it was before. Two added benefits are that when he crashes, the right footpeg doesn't even fold, and the brake pedal suffers no damage.
43 second lap time. lol No one else did that. That's called dropping the Hamma.