by dirtgirl
5 Minutes With... Ryan Villopoto
Friday, November 12, 2010 | 12:00 PM
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PrintLast April at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, while racing with Ryan Dungey in the waning stages of the fourteenth round of the seventeen-round 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, Ryan Villopoto speared the face of an unforgiving jump with the front wheel of his works KX450 and went down in a horrific heap. The crash left him with a broken right tibia and fibula and a broken ankle. Villopoto, who trailed Ryan Dungey by only 12 points heading into Missouri, was done for the year.
Now, his leg and ankle knitting themselves together nicely, Villopoto is deep into preparation for the rapidly approaching 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, working with his team as well as his new trainer, Aldon Baker. Happy, healthy, and focused, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider has put the past behind him and is looking forward to making a run at his ultimate goal: winning the 2011 supercross #1 plate.
Racer X: Ryan, what do you have going on out here today?
Ryan Villopoto: Everybody is testing right now [at the Kawasaki track] and just getting new products out of the way that we have to all test. We’re also doing some suspension testing and motor testing – you know, the same stuff we do every year to get ready for Anaheim. Some days are tougher than others. Some days it’s really hard to tell what it is because the changes that we're testing are very small and other times it’s really easy because the changes are really big. So it just depends on what you’re testing, you know? Suspension stuff is a little bit harder than, say, you’re doing chassis stuff. That stuff is pretty easy to tell what the difference is.
Photo by Steve Cox
How long have you been back on the motorcycle now?
Well, I started riding at the end of the August, but I was just barely riding. My leg still hurt really bad. I was just out riding because they told me I could. It took quite a while to get going. In fact, I was actually getting pretty nervous. There is a plate that rubs on a part of my shin that runs pretty high up into it. I was worried that the plates were causing me pain. I rode for, I don’t know, probably three or four weeks and it wasn’t getting better and it was still bothering me and I was having problems with it. And then basically just overnight one day it got better and I was able to starting riding normal and it didn’t hurt.
I saw you in the Kawasaki pits at the Pala National and you were limping a little bit and the leg looked pretty swollen. Were you still working things through at that point in time?
Well, they told me that for a year and a half or two years the leg will be quite a bit bigger than the other one, plus I’ve got five plates in there and they are on either side of my leg. It’s just automatically going to be a little bigger, but yeah, if I’m up on it all day or flying for a while it definitely swells up quite a bit bigger than the other one.
How is your fitness and riding? I’ve heard rumors of you doing fifty-lap motos at the track.
I’m working with Aldon Baker now. We started a little bit after Pala and everything has been going good. His program is a lot more than I had been doing in the past. And obviously what I’ve been doing in the past hasn’t really worked for me the last couple years. I’ve changed it up again and I definitely feel the best I have riding and fitness-wise in a long time.
You look thin. Your business manager, Bobby Nichols, told me you’re down to 156 pounds now.
Yeah, I’m just on the edge of 155, 154 right now. I think when I started with him I was, I don’t know, 162 or something. So yeah, just shed some pounds and his program is helping.
You were off the bike for a long time. During that period, were you watching the nationals?
Every once in a while I was watching, but I really didn’t pay attention to what was really going on. I didn’t have any point to.
Photo by Steve Cox
Once things got going, nobody had anything for Ryan Dungey. Were you surprised?
I figured there would be some good guys out there, but midway through the supercross season I knew it was going to be between me and him in the outdoors, for sure. I think week-in and week-out it would between me and him.
It appeared that it took you a little while to get going in the early phase of the 2010 supercross season. What’s your take on that?
Yeah, I started way off, for sure, for me. It really was my fault. I wasn’t ready enough for what I had to do. It’s nobody’s fault except for mine. It took me quite a while. Chad [Reed] and James [Stewart] ended up getting hurt, so they were out. Even after that it took me a little while to just get to where I was able to race with the guys. But once I was in that position, I won seven races.
I was in San Francisco when you won your first supercross of the season and it certainly seemed liked something clicked for you.
That first race in San Francisco was a good step in the right direction, and it kind of took off from there. I felt that I if I wouldn’t have got hurt, I would have been there until the end and it would have been a good race until the end. But things happen. I mean three of the top four guys got hurt last year.
From Daytona forward, you won four of five races. It started to look like you might have Dungey’s number—then came the St. Louis round. You want to talk about that?
I thought I did. Especially coming down to like when it was getting close to the end there. Everybody knows the pressure does get to him and that was only going to work in my favor towards the end there. Other than my big mistake at St. Louis.... That’s really where it ended. Up until that point, I knew coming down to the end there was going to be a make-or-break situation for him.
When you were laying in a hospital bed with your chances at a supercross championship shot and your chances at a motocross championship shot, what was going through your head? Did all that hurt you as much as your leg?
You know, I wasn’t really even thinking about that. I was kind of thinking about if I was going to race or not anymore.
It was all that gnarly, huh?
Yeah, just because what it was. I ended up spending three or four days in the hospital in St. Louis. They did a surgery there and put like a halo – an external fixator - on the outside of my leg to hold it straight. Then I couldn’t fly. The motor home was there so we ended up driving from St. Louis to California. I was in California for a week or so and then I flew to Seattle. They only did one surgery, or each surgery, at a time. So I was in the hospital for three or four more days right there. I’d be a week out and then right back in the hospital for another three or four days, then there would be another week out. So basically it was four weeks of being in and out of the hospital and dealing with that and drugs and pain meds.... So yeah, that was the worst part about it. I’m really not going to put myself in a position to really get hurt again so I don’t have to deal with that anymore.
Were your spirits down?
Yeah, that and Andrew McFarlane passing away right around then. I think that was around the time I did this. Maybe a couple days before or a couple days after, right around there. So that opens your eyes up.
On a brighter note, your contract was up this year. Were you confident you were going to end up here? Is this where you wanted to be?
Yeah, I really didn’t plan on going anywhere. The guys said they wanted to keep me and that I was their guy. That was great. That’s all it was really, other than just getting contract stuff done when it came time. They were relying on me coming back with this being okay. When we were talking, it wasn’t okay—it was a little bit of a gamble. Everybody figures it is going to get better for sure.
Jake Weimer will be your teammate in 2011. Are you happy about that?
Yeah, with what kind of went down last year, it wasn’t the greatest situation. To have Jake on the team is good. We’re buddies. We were buddies before anything happened. To have him on the team is cool; it’s nice. Testing-wise, we can go back and forth. It’s nice to say whatever you want. We’re all basically friends so it doesn’t matter what gets said or whatever, you know?
Photo by Steve Cox
Chad Reed was your teammate last year. What do you make of his current situation in trying to create his own team and all?
I think it’s his only option, obviously. That’s the reason why he went that way. I don’t know.… Like, I watched that interview on MC [Jeremy McGrath] the other day and I think it’s going to be harder than he thinks. That’s basically what MC said. MC said he had full factory support even when he did it. We’ll see. Who knows?
James Stewart will be back for 2011. What do you make of that?
I think James, Chad – they’re going to be fast. I think it’s going to be the same situation we were in last year, but I should be better.
Due to that St. Louis crash, do you sort of feel that maybe Dungey took what was yours?
You know, it’s part of the sport. That’s what happens. Do I think if I wouldn’t have got hurt would have won the supercross championship and the outdoors? I’m going to say probably. Definitely supercross. Obviously, you have twelve races coming up for outdoors, so you don’t know what’s going to happen through those twelve races. But like I said, I knew I had him backed into a corner. I figured the mistake was going to come from him, but it came from me.
Dungey went on a won the supercross title, the 450 nationals, and the Motocross of Nations. He’s certainly built some confidence up. Do you still think you can take him?
Speed-wise, for sure. I know speed-wise I do. And fitness-wise, I should be there. Like I said, I’m working with Aldon now and that’s a big change for me. I think that if I can just put all the pieces of the puzzle together the right way, that’s all I can do.
So come Anaheim 1 on January 8, do you come out like a boxer and use those early rounds or just feel things out or do you come out with your fists swinging?
Well, we’ll see what happens. If everything goes as planned, if I holeshot and end up winning or whatever, then great. But just to leave there on the box or with a good amount of points would be fine.
All things considered, do you feel good about 2011?
Yeah, like I said, of my 450 career this is the best prepared I’ve felt and we still have some time. What is it, two months before the first race?
It is.
So the position I’ve put myself in as of now is way better and way further ahead than I have been. We’ll see when it rolls around. I should be good.
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Good luck RV. We will see. You say speed wise you are faster. We will see. To beat RD the speed you need to go you have shown at times you can do it but at others you self destruct. We will see RV its a long series.
A healthy RV = a season Champion........
Great to see a guy who's not afraid to say he wants to kick a**. Future 450 champ for sure.
Sounds like he has a chip on his shoulder. Maybe it'll work out for him. He definitely sounds jealous of all the glory & attention Dungey gets. I'm sure he feels like it should be him instead.
Good luck training with Aldon. That guy is good for sure. Listen to what he says and you will be fine. I think he has helped win a few Championships before.
I bet bubbles is thinking, what tha hell! Having aldon baker as his trainer, this is all ryan needed, well except for a little better luck. 2011 will be the year of RV2!!!
I like RV but i was surprised to hear him say that he is for sure faster than dungey. If you watch the last season he never proved it. Just got more hole shots. Should be a good season.
"Everybody knows the pressure does get to him and that was only going to work in my favor towards the end there." Oh that's gonna be good! RV's grandpa lives across the street from the infamous (in these parts) guy who finished this year's Idaho City 100 on a 1986 XR400. Eighty percent DNF.
I believe RV2 will have the Dunge covered in SX. They have been racing together a long time and I think RV is confident that he will prevail. He came in way out of shape lat year and still had the point lead for a while. Outdoors? Not even close. RV2 will dominate the Nationals.
Its going to be a great A1..
i love Villopotos heart and determenation.as for him being faster then RD5 ? totally, he was the only guy to beat him regulary.and that was supercross.outdoors RV2 would spank him worse !! good luck villi stay healthy and bring home all the championships this season.
RV is a badass! that being said Go RV and METTY!, should be good, hoping for a full gate come A-1.
First, I wouldn't make such a bold statement as a healthy RV = SX championship since he was healthy last season and didn't walk away with the gold. I realize RV's got confidence, but like someone else said, when he got the holeshot he won. When Dungey holeshot, he won. Their speed is equal on the SX track. I also wouldn't underestimate Dungey outdoors...RV has not raced Dungey on the 450 yet, I think he will be quite surprised to find out Dungey is the real deal.
Dude is gonna SHRED!!! My pick!! NW LOVE.
Don't understand why the riders seem to dismiss what Dungey accomplished this year. You have to be able to line up to win!
pizzacorner IMO we don't know if RD can handle the pressure now or not.... How much pressure did he get last year? Not much. I said it before and this is NOT a knock on RD but I really feel he was getting warn down tord the end of the season, His first full year. He will be stronger this year for sure so this will be good. I just want to see if RD has more in the tank if he starts getting beat or will he just do his thing and see if these guys get hurt.
Seriously? RD5 can't handle pressure? Even J-Law can see he has taken care of that. He has not lost a series in 2 friggin years dude, thats with PRESSURE EVERY RACE! Most guys, like RV, can't even finish a season. I don't even consider RV for a championship. Maybe if RD, Stewart and Reed all crash out, then maybe.
That was a great "tell it like it is", or at least like I see it interview. There was no attitude, malice, or any distain in there. It just seems like RV is saying the faster man will prevail and that he honestly thinks that he is the faster man. As far as last year went, I thought he had RD covered, I was at ST. Louis and he was not on his game that night, that is to say I had seen him ride better/faster than he was that night. As I recall he parked RD then made a run for it, RD was catching him and there was what looked like a pay back coming his way. He chanced a risky triple (he had been doing it all night), used a different line and paid the surpreme price for his indiscretion. Seriously I think RV will contend, but RD will be the least of his worries.
All i have to say is its going to be a great season and without doubt its going to be between the ryans. while stewarts been caught up in his hollywood life of his stupid ass tv show and reed has been trying to get his own team started, dungey and villipoto have been pounding laps, putting their testing in, and both are more determined than ever. Dungey wants to keep his streak alive and show people that what has happened has not been a fluke and villipoto is ready to come back for redemption. both are very strong riders that dont seem to crack under pressure. cant wait for A1. Dungey and villipoto baby!
Good Luck out there RV2. It's a stacked field out there. I know you'll be in contention. One comment has me thinking you're already at a disadvantage ,>> "I’m really not going to put myself in a position to really get hurt again so I don’t have to deal with that anymore." You have to get that out of your head, because just lining up next to the rest of the best riders, is going to put you in position to get hurt. " Nature of the beast".
I don't understand all the Dungey bashers. I guess people just always root for the "underdogs". Remember Dungey did what "no" other riders including the GOAT, Stewart, Hannah and so...won both the Supercross and Motocrss Championships in his "rookie" year in "dominant" fashion. This guy is "great" and until he is beaten is currently the "best/fastest" rider on the planet. Reed needs to bounce back and show he still has something left, who knows where Stewart's heart is at (i think it's gone) and I would love to see Villopotto stay heathy from here on out. He definitely has the pure heart and speed to challenge Dungey for the Championship. Let's not forget Pourcel...he clearly was faster than Dungey in 09 and I've been told has always been a "better" 450 rider than a 250 rider...He will bring in 2011...should be a "Great Season"...for now, give Dungey his due....he's earned it.
Dungey reminds me of RC so much in terms of his burning desire to sacrifice everything to win championships. I just don't see that high desire and determination from any other rider. It's easy to dismiss Dungey, but he has stepped up to every single challenge and succeeded. He will be hard to bring down.
Gotta love the guys confidence. I am a fan of RV2 and also of Dungey. Dont know why anyone would be bashing on Dungey. Unles its just that he beats their favorotes.
I don't know what "it" is but, EJ brings a little something extra to the "interviewer/interviewee" equasion. This read got my hackles up. If I were RD, AS, JG, JS, CR, TC, CP, whoever, I'd be incensed about it. RV definitely laid it out for all to see (hear). Can't wait to see what's coming..........Aldon left JS for RV 'cause he wants a pitcher, not a belly itcher.
Lots Of Confidence !!!!! Hope he Stays Healthy because he is a Bull Dog !!!!
very confident. nothing wrong with that. Until he finishes a whole season, I cant label him Champ. He says RD1 cracks under presure, but he was "not on his game" the night he wadded it in St. Louis? . And he was 12 points down, Maybe he was pushing a little too hard? I like him, but i want to see him finish, just once.......
Pretty confident for a dude that hasn't completed an entire series in the past two years on the 450. He is 0 for 4 so far! Only time will tell.
RV really sounds ready to go. BUT once that first big crash and heal takes place, its always in the back of your mind- he will have to back it down a bit. and RD does not buckle under pressure, that is OLD NEWS. years ago. heck he gets stronger during the 2nd half the motos and doesnt ride over his head like RV does.
johnson is much better at interviewing then cox... he asked many of the questions i wanted to know instead of stupid crap
I am not RD bashing, the kind of pressure I am talking about is a championship battle, RD did not have one this year, If he is as good as some of you think/say maybe he never will but I question what will happen if he is 3rd in points, 20 points behind the leader at round 14...... Does he now pucrap?? if he does he maybe the one crashing. I just can't wait what ever happens.
You know, as I read racer interviews, RD must be about the slowest rider on the planet. Cairoli compares him to some of the mx2 riders but has had his own a** handed to him for the past two years in MXDN. RV knows he is faster but can't beat him? I think what they don't realize about RD he is the smartest rider out there. He never bad mouths others riding and goes about his busines each week just trying to ride safe and fast. His only goal is always looking to get better. He will be one tough person to beat week in and week out.
For one, Dungey did not have to worry about the pressure outdoors because he killed everyone, James Stewart included....Indoors he had pressure from Villopoto, but it was lat ein the season and I think he did one hell of a job minimizing the damage that Villopoto was able to do, yeah Villopoto was able to start winning races, but like it was mentioned earlier whoever got the holeshot ended up winning. Dungey and Villopoto were virtually equal in speed in SX and Villopoto was the one who buckled under the pressure Dungey was able to put on Villopoto after being blown over a berm. Look what Dungey has done, especially at the MXoN where Cairolli was suppose to be the man, he couldn't touch Dungey. Stewart could barely handle THE ROOKIE indoors the first three rounds before planting himself.
Nobody can catch Villopoto in MX, included Bubba, Dungey, and Cairoli, in SX, at its best level; Villo is faster than Dungey. sorry for my bad English.
I agree with 05kx250 great interview questions. I really think alot of riders are underestimating Dungey. I see him being really smart, he doesn't get too excited during the heat of the moment. He knew St. louis wasn't the last race of the season. He likes to stay within his comfort zone, but i bet when push comes to shove we could see a dungey we haven't seen yet. I don't think he will ride above his head untill he thinks he has to. I don't think he's gonna hand his #1 plate over without a knock-down drag-out fight. I hated to hear RV remind me of jason lawrence. But I believe that was a lesson RD will never forget. Great to hear from RV though, He'd better train like Rocky Balboa though if he wants the top spot.
Is he sportin' 'roid nips? Confidence and a little attitude are good to have. Being able to point at the score board without having to say anything is better. This is going to be a great season! Get ready to see surprising names battling it out in the LCQ!
I can't believe he made that comment about Dungey not handling pressure. He admits he blew the lites title a couple years ago, but who's the that blinked when the pressure started building during the last SX season? RV.... twice. Spit over the bars two times. C'mon RV...thought you had more class than that. And Dungey smoked the world's best two years in a row in the most pressure-packed event in MX!
I have to say I read what RV had said about not putting himself in a position to crash anymore, I opted to ignore it, someone else brought it to light in their post and I again mentally acknowledged, oh that's not good. Of course many, most, if not all of us are not at the level these riders are, but after coming back from injuries (we've all had them) you never know how it will be untill you are riding again. For me usually I forget all about them all to soon (and yes, I have had a few that I'd like to forget) some if not most still plague me today. I did have a point when I started this, oh, I know. The rider holding up the Big Red 1 at the end of this year is going to have to be willing and able to hang it out there, maybe not every lap, every race but for sure if you aren't willing or able, you will not be a contender.
"Outdoors? Not even close. RV2 will dominate the Nationals"..... Fearless forecast but it won't happen. He has to deal with JS7, RD1/RD5, CR22 these 2011. He may win races but certainly not that easy.... But no doubt at all that RV2 can and will win championships if he could stay healthy....
RV is my favorite, but I'm not so sure about some of these comments. From one side I like the confidence, from the other maybe it is best to not give anyone any extra incentive? I guess it doesn't matter as what happens on the track is what counts. Remember early 2010 when J-Law was trying to get in Dungey's head? Been a long time since A1 2010 and this is not Ryan Dungey 2008, RV. RV does acknowledge that he made the mistake. I think this will be one hell of a battle indoors and out this year. Meickey, don't think Stewart will be doing many Nationals.
Dungey is just as fast but does so ALOT smoother with less wear and tear on the body not to mention RV can't stay off the ground cause he rides so close to the edge all the time. Dungey makes it look like he's not even trying.
I found it odd that he said he didn't watch the nationals. If you ride but are down, wouldn't you at least watch to see what happens?, "no point to"(because I'm not there) comes across as arrogant. Doesn't he love moto like we do?
Man, I can't wait. If Stewart, Reed, RV, Dungey stay healthy you still got a field full (go K-Dub) who are like a pack of hugry wolves, ready to scarf up anything and capitalize on anyones mistakes. I just hope everyone stays heathy. I honestly believe it's gonna be a SX season where 4 wins and consistency just might be enough to win it. Just got a feeling were in for a heck of a good season of racing.
Ca207, I wondered the same. I think most of us would be at every race still while we are injured. Maybe when it is your job, it becomes more like a job? About watching on TV though, I'd be freaking studying what everyone is doing and taking notes on weaknesses and strengths. You'd think they'd watch each moto over and over and over, like they do in the NFL. In a sport where every edge and angle can be a benefit, I would think this would be another angle to use. Maybe that is why he thought Dungey still cracks under pressure?!! I think of that Grant video of him BMXing in an old pool on his week off and wonder.......did that help him at the next race?
Any tentative thoughts will be out of his head once the racin starts. Right now there just to much time to think. He's a great racer with what seems to be a good group of people and family around him. I cant wait to see him get back to it. Go RV2
I hope RV can claim in 2011 what Dungey did in 2010. SX, NATL. MX & MXON Championships. What Dungey did this year, reminds me of what David Bailey did in '83. He won the SX, Outdoor MX, Grand National Championship, and was a member of the winning MX des Nations team. Bailey won his SX and MX titles after Bob Hannah broke his wrist at the Orlando SX (June 11,1983) Hannah was leading the points at the time of his injury. Dungey/Bailey - Villipoto/Hannah
I'm pumped that RV is healthy again and seems to be gettin his fitness together. But why do people hate on what DUNGEY has accomplished? The kid (RD5) is fast and has caught up to RV a few times in SX. Ya sometimes RD cracks but i gotta say RV cracked WAY more (broken leg, massive get off) when the pressures on... just sayin. Gonna be a good year for sure though.
Hey guys don't forget about Bret Metcalf I think he's going to be a front runner too..he's looking good on that Suzuki!
I predict a major crash out of all top riders again, with KW taking the title before he retires.
Haha RV is getting faster but hey So is Dungey. And Dungey is doing it all with the pride of 100% dungey and no trainer. If Dungey beats RV that will really get on RV's head bcoz Dungey does not have a trainer and is self motovated. If I have to bet on a rider for 2011, I would say RD will walk with points lead but JS will win the most races but JS and RV will crash some races leaving consistent Dungey with points. If JS doesnt crash then he will win for sure. It comes down to consistent and right now Dungey is the most consistent rider just like RC used to be.
to be fair to him, it does sound like he went through a lot of pain and misery and admitted that he was wondering if he'd race again, maybe he was so bummed at the thought(of not riding) that he didn't have the desire to watch what he may never get to do again. (you know how we can go through a negative thought period while hurt)
when RV said he wasn't going to put himself in a position to get hurt again, I think he was saying he wants to be consistent from the start and not have to ride "balls out" trying to play catch up.
Imagine this, RV, RD, and JS all stay healthy throughout season. During the season points lead changes, All kinds of contraversy develops.. bikes are pushed over, pickles endorsed etc. etc. Then the three have to come together and race the MXON!!! JS somehow has to race the 250 class and shows up at the gate on a 125!
another big difference, Dungey isn't "healing and recovering from a major injury". RV is. by definition, Dungey is already in better shape, right?
RV is one of the best for sure, but he needs to forget about Dungey right now. RV2 RD5 CR22 and everyone else are gonna be playing catch-up to Stewart.
Agreed JS is still the fastest man and even tho RD has the red plate every top rider is gonna be looking at JS7 lines. Remember all season Chad would look to see JS lines then try the same. Chad never tried a section until JS did it. Basically no other rider has the balls to try a new trick 1st unless JS tries it so there you have it. JS would be fastest but that doesnt mean that he will win the title bcoz Dungey is more consistent. SO JS and RV will win a lot of the races but Dungey will capitalize on mistakes. Its hard to say.
Theyt should change the points difference like they do in F1 racing. 7 points difference btw 1st and 2nd or may be 5. That would make it more interesting.
If being the No. 1 guy on the Motocross Des Nations team, and winning both motos, and winning the 450 title indoors and outdoors isnt handling pressure. Then I guess I dont know what pressure is. There cannot be any more pressure on a moto guy than at the starting line at this year Des Nations. He was the No. 1 guy on the team, and the whole U.S. fan base was counting on him to put big mouth Caroli in his place after saying Dungey wasnt that fast. And Dungey came through. But he cant handle pressure?? I disagree. I think the long supercross season wore him down some last year, but I dont think any pressure bothers him much any more. Nobody tries a new "trick" unless Stewie tries it?? DGIZZY, do ypou enen watch moto?? Please. Get off of it. You act like the guy is a god or something. Whats he have, two supercross title on the big bikes?
I said it before and i'll say it again. Trey Canard. I only saw his initials mentioned once. He reminds me of RD. When they were on 250's, you could see how they rode the wheels off those bikes. Used every bit of hp they had. With the 450's having more power, they can ride a bit faster with less effort. They both have the heart of a lion. I see something in those two that i don't see in the other riders. Maybe it's focus. RV is sometimes the fastest guy out there, but only sometimes. Like Stewart, he hangs it out a bit too much at the wrong time. Either way, it's gonna be a great season. But you better include Canard being among the frontrunners, cause he'll be there. Good luck to all the riders.
I can't wait for A1 !!! I think Dungey is going to have tuff time keeping up with RV this season!!!!
Dungey,Metcalf,Byrne,Canard,Grant,Windham,Reed,Stewart,Milsaps,Hahn,Tedesco,Weimer,Short,Allesi,Pourcel....no pressure
"Dungey was wearing down at the end of the year". WTF??? I could have sworn he went 1-1 at Pala and then 1-1 the Des Nations. If that is worn down, I would hate to see him fresh. Now, RV is a mean SOB and he will be right in the mix. But I think we are gonna see RD 1 take down another two titles next year. Also, %25 chance Bubba retires/quits before the SX season is over.
I believe Villipoto will absolutely destroy all , outdoors, but will have a tough championship run for supercross,and will win it!.
Frolives, my bad, I will explain myself better. Dungey said himself at the end of the "Supercross season" he was wearing down. He didnt expect it to be so grueling. He said that himself. 16 weeks is a long season, and he said he was tired. Which kinda showed , he backed off in a few rounds and looked kinda human. KW got his wins then.
Big RV fan look forward to see him on the starting gate. But "IF" James shows up fit & prepared I think he is the rider to beat. It will be competitive, James may not be as dominant as in the past, but I like his chances. Many questions will be answered in January. Hope that injuries stay away.
As far as RV thinking that RD would have folded under pressure, when in fact he was the one that crashed out of the season when the pressure was on, I think a racer has to rationalize things to some extent to get himself mentally ready to win. The year RC had his perfect season, after sitting out SX with injury, he kept saying how people were "counting him out". I don't really remember any journalists saying anything of the kind, maybe some clowns on message boards like this, but RC used that idea as motivation to go out and smoke everyone. If RV is using the idea that he would have won it all had he not got hurt to help his motivation, it doesn't matter if it's true or not, as long as he he truly believes it. Should be a great season. I can't wait.
RV sounds a bit scared. It honestly reminds me a little of when MC talked about 'losing his edge" after his hip dislocation. He also sounds a bit Cy too though. Canard is definitely going to be on the podium some this year. He is an extremely hungry rider who charges every second of the race.
wow ignorant fan boys!!! u all kiss rv's butt now that he is back!what were u all thinking when he kept crashin last year in sx horrble starts!!!!i mean just cuase someone can go fast 40% of the time u call him a champ???thats a fan boy for sure!i like both rv and rd i will say rd is my boii!!!!but look at the last 4 seasons dungey wins 250sx 250 mx 450 sx 450 mx ur tellin me that in the last 4 seasons he hasnt had any pressure???dam i would like to think we are watching the same races.dungey has proved that he can handle pressure and yet step it up when he needs to i think u guys should pay attention more,at pala he let short get on his rear tire and then sure enough twisted the throttle a little more and pulled him to me thats embarrasing so ya maybe u ignorant moronsa are right he hasnt had any pressure lately cuase no one has been fast enough to bring him out his comfort zone becuase before they even get close the other dude is out of his zone and crashes anough said dungey has fuflilled more then any roookie and is only gunna be a big time champion !!!!havin said that cant wait for sx-11