Is 2011 Ryan Villopoto's Revenge?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 | 4:30 PM
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PrintThere are questions about all of the contenders for the 2011 450 Supercross Championship, for example-how will Chad Reed adapt to the Honda and running his own team? Will James Stewart’s wrist hold up? What about his bike set-up, and is he going to be rusty after only three races in 14 months? Can Ryan Dungey repeat and build on his incredible 2010 season? What will the departure of manager Roger DeCoster and Suzuki motor guy Ian Harrison do to Dungey’s psyche and machine?
Unlike some of his competitors, not much has much changed for Ryan Villopoto. Same basic bike, same team manager, same mechanic, personal sponsors, etc, etc. but along with all that normality is the same question that we’ve been asking Ryan for two years. Can you stay healthy?
Is this the year Ryan Villopoto finally stays healthy?
Photo: Simon Cudby
The three-time AMA Motocross Lites Champion from Washington State blasted upon the scene winning pretty much everything you can name as a smaller bore rider, and he’s certainly shown us some greatness in his limited rides on the 450 (Glen Helen MX win in ’09, seven supercross wins last year) but he just can’t shake the injury bugaboo. First up it was his getting sick in his first year of 450 SX, then the knee after that Glen Helen win the same year, then last year it was a horrific crash at the St Louis SX which resulted in a broken leg, knee and spirit. I spoke to Ryan the other day for a little while and I asked him the question that’s on everyone’s mind.
Villopoto is looking to get back on top of the podium for 2011.
Photo: Simon Cudby
“As far as race wins, if I win again it will just be a race win. I have a bunch of those. Don’t get me wrong, those are great but I have to step up and win a 450 championship and by hiring Aldon, that’s the direction towards winning one that I thought I had to go,” adds the man known as RV.
Ah yes, the Aldon in question is trainer Aldon Baker who made his name working with Ricky Carmichael and most recently, James Stewart. Baker is the big addition to Villopoto’s program (Says with what has to be a smile, “I know that Dungey wanted him bad so that made it all the better for me to get him”) and if you’ve seen any pre-season videos then you know that the money laid out for Baker has been well spent.
Villopoto is at a trim weight right now, lean and ready to race. He’s been bicycling a ton and adhering to a program that Baker set up for him. It’s a program that has been proven before (for examples of Baker’s program see; Carmichael, Ricky and then count the titles). If there was one problem for Ryan last season, it was in recovering from his knee surgery and not being at the, uhh, ideal weight to start the 2009 SX season. Those problems are over now.
There are a few people who find Villopoto a little quiet and a little bland in interviews but I think it’s the opposite. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent enough time at the Kawasaki truck over the years to get my own locker (making sure Tim Ferry was doing ok) but I find RV to be refreshingly open and isn’t beyond a little trash talking of his fellow riders. He usually follows everything up with that little cackle of his to make sure people know he’s half-joking.
Villopoto and Weimer will be running FMF exhaust in 2011.
Photo: Simon Cudby
From asking about the switch to FMF exhausts (“They’re impressive”) to how his teammate Jake Weimer is doing coping with his broken arm (“He’ll be fine, he was riding great”) to how our mutual friend Nick Wey is looking (“If he races like he’s been practicing, he’ll be solidly in the top ten. But that’s his biggest problem”), RV is incapable of giving anything but his real, true, honest opinion on a subject. Much to Kawasaki’s chagrin sometimes, he’s a refreshing breath of air for us media types.
All of this is well and good but can he win? I believe he can and here’s thing with Villopoto: He’s a racer. That’s the simplest way to put it really, he may not have the fastest lap time in practice, he may not be the smoothest, most technical rider out there but there aren’t too many others out on the track that, when he’s chasing you, will go as fast as he absolutely has to in order to pass you.
But therein lies the rub. With the ability to go very fast comes the ability to cartwheel spectacularly at times. He won a season high seven races last year and going into 2011, the question is--can he make it to the end?
We’re all waiting.
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Great write up Matthes. Its good seeing you back on Racer X again.
FMF exhaust.. On one of Mitch Payton's bikes? Huh?
Factory Kawasakis aren't Mitch Payton's, they've just been running PC exhaust for a long time
jake thats not mitch paytons bike
good write up, i've always said rv2 might not be the fastest in practice, or mr. holeshot, but he is the gnarliest. his outdoor record proves it, the kid will drop the hammer on whoever is in front of him, i just hope he can hold it together through vegas! it'd be sick to see a washington native with the #1 plate! GO RV! BRAAAAP!
RV vs Bubba is going to be the main rivalry this year. RV is gonna suprise you all with his 'ricky speed'.
If RV can beat Bubba, He will be the champ. RD and CR wont even be in the hunt. 4 more days!!!!!!!! Yeyah!!!!!
Matthes is the man, I love reading his articles
Nice interview and read Matthes. I feel like a kid waiting for christmas. Can't wait till the gate drops!!!!!!
Oh right I guess not.. I always just sort of thought of him as being the head guy. Mike Fisher is the team manager.. My bad, dumb comment haha. Thanks guys.
man, this guy is gonna kill it this year, think about the desires he has to redeem his last year crash. he'll clean his pride this year.
RV is a walking, talking, a** kicking bad mother. Good luck, I think you are going to crush them.
Everybody remember what The GOAT said. U cant forget how fast James is. If he stays on two wheels Hes goin to make everybody look like C riders!!
RV2 will be the champ in 2011. Stay healthy Ryan! Budds Creek 2007 MXon----World F!!ckin Domination!!
If the field isnt diluted from injuries after 3-4 rounds, I actually believe 6-7 Wins + some boxes + LaRocco-esque consistencey can win the championship this year, the field is stacked, and all the major players have their own specific motivation to win. It will just mean a heck of a show for us LaZboy main riders lol. Bring it, can't wait.
RV2 will be a championship contender now...He got aldon baker...
WELCOME BACK STEVE, AND WHAT AN ARTICLE TO FIRE RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE! MOSER WILL NOT BE HAPPY YOU DIDN'T START WITH SHORTY
STARTS!!!!!GET THOSE AND HE WILL OWN THEM!!!!!
Who is this Carmichael, Ricky that get's mentioned all the time?
Agreed Mathes, "hes a racer" it should be good....
Spell "no parts" backwards
Can't wait for saturday! My money is on RV2
heres how it will go down this year. A-1 dungey/bubba drop the hammer and dust all the rest. everyone else will play catch up until 1/2 way or till someone crashes. reed will get smoked and canard is the wild card peace.
Its RD's title until someone takes it from him..... I'm pulling for Reed!!
Huh!!! Wait a minute Mathes on Racer x again!!! Well done Mathes. 2011 is all about Bubba. Bubba is nasty after being tricked for MXON. The guy is mad and he is gonna kill the competition 2011. I bet my money alraedy on JS7. He may not win A1 but he is the guy to beat hands down. RV will be a close 2nd with Canard and DUngey right in tow.
Villopoto has beat Reed, Stewart, and Dungey no problem before and you can't say the same for Dungey. In fact you can't say much for dungey because last year was his no pressure rookie season without any top riders. He's never passed anybody good. so I would say it's stewarts to lose because he owns the record for most wins in a sx series. Dungey is nothing yet, 5 wins lol. good luck I say
RV has the speed and the potential to win. I'm excited to see good racing from him, and I hope he keeps it on two wheels so the entire season is up for grabs. But, I still can't believe people think that Dungey has no shot against a healthy Stewart or Villopoto. The guy has gotten faster every year since turning pro, he's learned to handle pressure, and he's got more momentum than anybody else right now. I'm not saying he's gonna win the championship hands down. He's got a lot on his plate, but he's ready for it. All these fools who think Dungey has nothing on Bubba or RV are going to be sorely disappointed this next season. Kinda like this year, and last year...
the greatest 4 riders like bubba,reed,dungey and villopoto faces the greatest rival on supercross..they have all the spirit of a rider,..only the best and only one will be on the throne...i bet on bubba,second from him will be villopoto and dungey...reed...i dont think he can ride as fast as them right now...i rather bet on windham than reed...
the greatest 4 riders like bubba,reed,dungey and villopoto faces the greatest rival on supercross..they have all the spirit of a rider,..only the best and only one will be on the throne...i bet on bubba,second from him will be villopoto and dungey...reed...i dont think he can ride as fast as them right now...i rather bet on windham than reed...
Oh, and Greg, Dungey has beat Villopoto and Reed straight up in Supercross multiple times. Reed was right behind Dungey in 2nd at the Vegas SX and couldn't get close enough to pass him. The other races, Reed wasn't even close. Reed beat him one time this entire year at the Hangtown opener, and we all know how many times Reed beat Dungey after that. Also, if I remember correctly, it was Villopoto that buckled under pressure twice in the same race at St. Louis. He rode like a fool and took out Dungey and took himself out in the act, then made a big mistake that cost him the series. Dungey didn't take anybody out all year, and didn't make any stupid mistakes. Dungey was also giving Stewart fits at A1 this year and nearly passed him back on the last lap. Dungey may not be the fastest on the track at any given time, but he rides like a man with the championship as his ultimate goal. The other top guys blew it, he didn't.
Wait I thought everyone said RD does not have or want a trainer?? I like RV a lot because he is like RC, Never give up and leave it all on the track. Someone passes ya you find a way to pick up the pase and get back by them.
My favorite thing about 2011 SX -- it seems like nobody is expecting domination from any one rider! RV is a pure animal, Stewart rides like he's in The Matrix, RD has a gift for putting himself in the right place and you can see him learning every second he is behind someone until he uses their own lines against them, and good old Reed might just be back on a bike he is 'happy' with. Perfect storm baby, perfect storm!!
16 races...consistency wins championships. The championship cant be won until round 16 but it can be lost before then ask Stewart, Reed, Villipoto. (although Stewart did win championship after a DNF rd 1 which is incredible) A guy can win 14 races and lose the championship to a guy who has 16 2nd place finishes.
I bet reed still stays up at night thinking about the year JS DNF round 1 and still won it.
An article by Steve Matthes has a tag which says, "In this article" and "Tim Ferry." Shocker! Haha.
I hope RV2 stays healthy, if he does he has a chance. Big surprise Dgizzy picks Stewie.. but alot of guys say Dungey doesnt have a chance. I remember Stewie having to run down and pass Dungey at A1 last year right?? I am sure Dungey has found some speed since then. so you never know. Haters dont forget how fast Stewie can be also. everyione says he is done, I'll bekieve that when I see it. I hope RV2 gets it, but he has alot of competition out there..
This is an easy call. It'll be a repeat of '09. Villopoto is not JS7 fast!! Why do people think this? He never beat him straight up. Vegas didn't count since Stewie didn't even try in that race since he already won. I don't even like stewart, I wish someone would stuff his*****y ass (you almost had him 22!). But he's just not human. He should've been next MC, RC, but he just hits the ground a little more. But regarding Poto, he does have Reed speed. But so does Dungey, so the battles on for second. And Reed can stay off the ground better than both those guys.
Chances of JS, or RV staying in one pc. if the pressure is on is slim. RD is smart enough to stay in the hunt, keep up the top 3's and not through it away if he isn't winning. Reed...who cares? Canard, He will show some speed, and get a top 3 more than once. Get some bad weather, look to #14. Grant won't be in it by round 5, Short will, but it will be back around 6th. Alessi?...Again, who cares.
Why would Dungey want Aldon? He's done everything by himself and he has won 6 straight championships. His program seems to be working so that doesnt make sense.
Nice write up Steve. Things are really picking up around here!
Rv will do good until he gets epstein bar from aldon...hahahaha
I am a big RD and RV fan. Either winning would be great. However, my dad once said never get into a fight with a guy that has nothing to lose. I suspect Reed and Stewart have nothing to lose at this point.
RV for president
acejace, RV2 did beat Stewie "straight up" at Seattle a few years ago, so get your straight up crap out of here.. The 2009 season I believe, RV2's first supercross win on the 450, took down Stewie and all "STRAIGHT UP"
bd200, I looked that up right now and found out you can shove it. 2009 seattle- Stewart stalled first lap, came all the way from behind to get 2nd. Counts as win over stewart same as if he crashed. Plenty of pros can claim that.