The James Stewart/Chad Reed rivalry was at a fever pitch, but there was another rider who didn’t care. Ryan Villopoto came into the Seattle Supercross in 2009 with a whole new program. After a long layoff to cure an illness, he resumed his rookie Supercross Class season with a new trainer—Jeff Spencer replacing Randy Lawrence—and a new mechanic—Mike Williamson replacing John Mitcheff—and set out to get that elusive first win on a 450. By the end of the night, he had done just that.

Two weeks later, the Reed/Stewart rivalry was even hotter as they faced off at the Las Vegas finale. Again, Villopoto couldn’t have cared less about that, as he raged through traffic, seized the lead and took off with the Vegas win, his second in three races. As they say, once you figure out how to win one, the rest come a lot easier.

Villopoto took home his 18th career SX class win in San Diego, which ties Jeff Stanton on the all-time list.
Photo: Garth Milan

Since RV’s Seattle 2009 triumph, when he’s racing, he’s been as good as it gets in the 450 division. RV won a season’s best seven races in 2010 (even though he missed the final three rounds with a broken leg) and six races in 2011, again the highest total of the season. This year? He’s won three of six, again making him the winningest rider so far this year.

Villopoto has already compiled 18 career supercross wins, which ties him with legendary three-time AMA Supercross Champion Jeff Stanton on the all-time list. And since that Seattle 2009 first win, he’s taken 18 wins in 40 starts, an impressive 45 percent against some of the most talent fields we’ve seen in the sport.

Now the question is, how much further can he go?