Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
    • 50 Years of Pro Motocross
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
    • Racer X Rapid News
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • Teams
    • 2022 Numbers
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • The Mag
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Customer Care
    • Current Issue
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Subscribe
    • Free Stickers
    • Sell Racer X
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
Amateur
Loretta Lynn's
Articles
MXGP of
Sweden
Articles
MXGP Results
  1. Jeremy Seewer
  2. Tim Gajser
  3. Glenn Coldenhoff
Full Results
MX2 Results
  1. Jago Geerts
  2. Tom Vialle
  3. Simon Laengenfelder
Full Results
Motocross
Unadilla
Articles
450 Results
  1. Chase Sexton
  2. Eli Tomac
  3. Jason Anderson
Full Results
250 Results
  1. Jo Shimoda
  2. Justin Cooper
  3. Hunter Lawrence
Full Results
MXGP of
Finland
Articles
MXGP Results
  1. Glenn Coldenhoff
  2. Jeremy Seewer
  3. Maxime Renaux
Full Results
MX2 Results
  1. Tom Vialle
  2. Kay De Wolf
  3. Jago Geerts
Full Results
Australian MX
Queensland Moto Park
Articles
Upcoming
Australian MX
Coolum
Sat Aug 20
Articles
Upcoming
Motocross
Budds Creek
Sat Aug 20
Articles
Upcoming
MXGP of
Charente Martime
Sun Aug 21
Articles
Upcoming
Motocross
Ironman
Sat Aug 27
Articles
Full Schedule

450 Words: Houston

April 14, 2010 6:06pm | by: Steve Cox
  • Home
  • 450 Words
  • 450 Words: Houston

Yamaha off-road competition bikes are designed to turn enthusiasts into the best riders possible – to help them become one with their machine and win races – and to put them in the Victory Zone, atop the podium. From exciting youth models like the YZ65 and YZ85, to the legendary YZ125 or YZ250 two-strokes, and the championship-winning YZ250F and class-leading YZ450F with the industry-exclusive Power Tuner app, all Yamaha motocross bikes have one thing in common: winners choose them. Learn more at YamahaMotorsports.com

Advertisement | Advertise with Us
“I’m a better racer.” That’s something that Ryan Villopoto said to me after the race in Houston. No, he wasn’t saying he’s a better racer than any particular person, but rather that he’s a better racer than he is a practicer, if that makes sense. He rises to the occasion. I can’t think of a single time that he was the fastest guy in practice this year, although it’s possible I’m wrong on that one. However, I know he wasn’t fastest in practice seven times this year. But, on the other hand, he has won seven races this year.

He’s a better racer.

  • RV is a better racer.
And some guys are just like that. If you’ve spent any amount of time even at local motocross races, you’ll begin to notice racers who are just flat out better after a gate drop than they are during practice. And on the other side, there are a lot of other riders who can absolutely ride fast, as long as there isn’t any pressure. As soon as it’s a race, and they find themselves wanting to push an extra two feet going into a turn before they shut off, and get on the gas earlier, they end up going slower, not faster. Their timing gets screwed up, and they get arm-pump from trying to ride outside their comfort zone.

Villopoto wasn’t that impressive in Houston – that is, until the main event. He was eighth-fastest in timed qualifying, almost a second and a half slower than title rival Ryan Dungey, and he went down in the whoops during the first timed session and got up limping on his hurt left foot again. Things frankly weren’t looking too good for Villopoto.

And then in his heat race, he struggled on his way to fifth place, which set him up with the 10th gate pick in the main event – not exactly stellar to get a pick mid-pack like that.

But that didn’t stop him from getting the holeshot when it counted, thus checking out to lead all 20 laps.

And to add insult to injury for Dungey, even though he had the first gate pick in the main event, he started at the tail end of the top five, and as he was trying to work his way forward past Josh Hill, Ivan Tedesco passed him and Hill both to take over third, and as Dungey tried to pass Tedesco later in the race, he stalled his motorcycle.

And finally, as he was coming back through the pack, Dungey ran into the one person he didn’t want to run into – Villopoto’s teammate Chad Reed, who sat fourth at the time. Dungey couldn’t catch Reed, and so he lost nine points to rival Villopoto.

There are four rounds left, and both Villopoto and Dungey control their own destinies now.


  • Racer X Films: Kevin Windham Racer X Films: Kevin Windham 10:20am
Presented by:
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website
Read Now
October 2022 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The October 2022 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2022 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios