by Steve Dye
Outside the Box: RedBud
Tuesday, July 5, 2011 | 2:30 PM
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Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto had stood on the podium at each of the first five rounds of the outdoor motocross season. At about 30 seconds into the first 450 race of the day at RedBud, the series halfway point, that pattern looked to be broken – and so did Villopoto and his Kawasaki.
Midway down the first drop away hill on the course, just a few turns from the start, Villopoto was curled in a fetal position some 40 feet away from his battered bike. He started to struggle to his feet only to go down again. His helmet visor was gone. His motorcycle looked at least bent, and maybe broken.
Meanwhile, half of a big long track away, the rest of the field roared away toward completion of that first lap. Villopoto had come into the race just eight points behind in the championship. Rivals Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey were long gone, jockeying for position with early leader Davi Millsaps.
It didn’t look good. It did not look good. It couldn’t be good.
Then Villopoto picked himself up, successfully this time, and made his way to the beat-up bike. And even as his motorcycle began falling apart, RV's charge started coming together.
Hard charger award?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Reed had to battle with Alessi, but in the end would take home the overall at RedBud.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Midway down the first drop away hill on the course, just a few turns from the start, Villopoto was curled in a fetal position some 40 feet away from his battered bike. He started to struggle to his feet only to go down again. His helmet visor was gone. His motorcycle looked at least bent, and maybe broken.
Meanwhile, half of a big long track away, the rest of the field roared away toward completion of that first lap. Villopoto had come into the race just eight points behind in the championship. Rivals Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey were long gone, jockeying for position with early leader Davi Millsaps.
It didn’t look good. It did not look good. It couldn’t be good.
Then Villopoto picked himself up, successfully this time, and made his way to the beat-up bike. And even as his motorcycle began falling apart, RV's charge started coming together.
Hard charger award?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Villopoto finished the first lap in 37th, moved up to 29th in the second, and was into the top twenty by the seventh lap. His sidepanel began to drag the ground, his exhaust system began to blow apart – ultimately jettisoning the muffler altogether – and still 'Poto stormed through the pack. He'd push all the way into the top ten on lap 14 and ultimately finish ninth.
And still, it appeared that Villopoto's shot at a sixth successive podium was slim.
Up front, Reed had held off a determined charge from Dungey throughout the first race. Reed was content for a time to follow Millsaps in second, with Dungey pacing in third just behind. When Dungey made his signature mid-moto push, Reed responded by dialing it up – powering around Millsaps on the approach to the biggest jump on the outdoor circuit, and purposefully pulling a tear-off while flying over LaRocco’s Leap and into the lead.
And so it went. The defending champion managed to put a wheel alongside Reed on occasion, but could never make a pass stick. Dungey chased Reed into the sand whoops on the last lap, but the points leader went inside-out in the succeeding corner to protect the lead. Dungey's last-ditch attempt to go inside of Reed before LaRocco's Leap spun the wheel. RD cased the landing, and CR had the win. Again.
Going into the final moto of the day, Villopoto needed the win to have any chance at a podium – and more important, to minimize the damage done in the points chase. Dungey needed the win to secure the overall, and needed the points even more than Villopoto did.
Unlike the to-the-wire first moto, this outcome was never in doubt. And with 'Poto speeding off into the distance with a wire-to-wire runaway, all Reed needed to do take the overall win was secure third place. After shadowing Mike Alessi for eight laps, Reed went around, rode to his fourth overall victory of the season, and stretched his points lead back into double-digits.
Reed had to battle with Alessi, but in the end would take home the overall at RedBud.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Scoreboard, six races and twelve motos into the season? Reed has four overalls and six moto wins – including wins at five of six races, each round except Lakewood, and a 16-point lead. Villopoto has one overall and a total of four moto wins – one in each of the last four rounds. Dungey, 22 points back, has one overall and two moto wins – he’s been second overall three times, and has eight second place moto finishes including two more at RedBud.
Was RedBud a turning point for the season, or merely the midway stop on the schedule?
RedBud was just the kind of championship ride you could expect from Reed. If Chad Reed wins this outdoor championship, RedBud can serve as an example of how smooth and steady, cool and calculated he really is.
RedBud was just the kind of championship ride you could expect from Villopoto. Hard luck and hard rides… if Ryan Villopoto wins this outdoor championship, people can point to RedBud as an example of how resilient, fast, and determined he really is.
RedBud might be the kind of championship ride that will deliver a defending title for Dungey – but it really might not. If Ryan Dungey wins this outdoor championship, RedBud probably won’t come up in the discussion. For all three, the second half of the year will prove how important the last race of the first half really was.
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RV only has one overall...
Holeshot!
I like that Alessi rides hard all lthe time and doesn't take races off. At least out doors.
Takes the lead!
RV has to start winning overalls and go 1-1 for the next few races. He is 16 points down now, he cant finish behind Reed anymore, or its over.. Just my 2-cents..But kudos to Reed for running strong so far this season, he has shut alot of haters up who said he wouldnt be in this hunt with Dungey and RV there. He has won 4 of 6 overalls.
It appears that Steve dye fixed the errata...
Well, I read somewhere (or maybe I heard it on the TV broadcast) about whoever is the leader in the points after the 6th race of the season, has become that year's champion. This has occurred for maybe the last decade plus (every year)...I think that's what I heard or read (being really definitive right now...ha!).
Anyway, if CURRENT history is something to hang your hat on, then Reed will be Champ...of course, Reed is no RC or Bubba (their speed could not be matched by the contenders they raced against in these past years going back a decade or so...for the most part).
Will CURRENT history repeat??? ...or will RV or RD start stepping it up and start taking it to Reed...
Only the shadow knows for sure...
But I thought Reed was the king of second motos???? Reed and Dungey are both lucky RV went down in that pile up on the opening lap in Moto 1, or it would have been a really ugly runaway win for the RV2...Yes, it is a part of racing and RV made a great charge to salvage what he could like a true champion should, but 2nd moto he was gone and now he is even more fired up after losing points.....Reed and Dungey were both right there at the start and both fell back in moto 2 .....Is Reed really that cool and calculated, or is he just a good bull-shitter when he gets beat?.... I call BS....he was trying to catch those guys in moto 2 and got his "but kick" as he would say, even battling with Alessi for half the race.... Little set back for the RV, but he can make those points back up...we are only half way and he was further back before.....
the past few years, the leader in points at Red Bud had almost 100 points on the next guy....hard to compare when you have 3 guys withing 25 points this time.....we'll see what happens...
I am starting to think RD likes lookin at Reeds Ass!! PASS THE GUY RD FOR CRIP SAKE!!!
If thay all start out in the top 5 every moto RV wins the title IMO, He is the fastest but needs to be there on the starts EVERY time like RD and Reed, Thats the Dif right now.
To me (IMO) RV is the man with the momentum building with a few moto 1 run aways and finally the 2nd moto runaway after a disasterous moto1 at the Bud.....Although Reed won the overall this weekend, he also finished another 2nd moto way off the pace from the start and was admittingly off the pace both motos in Colorado last week....moto 1 was good for 22 at the Bud and sure, he didnt " have " to win the 2nd moto at the Bud, but I also dont think he just " rode smart" either...he was trying like hell to get Alessi and Alessi finally faded....When Reed "has" to win the 2nd moto and RV is up front, it will be interesting to see what happens when RV is 10-20 seconds ahead of him.....
Can some of you guys please get out of RV's jock strap. All I hear on this board is this is RV's championship, RV is on a roll, all RV needs to do is get out top 5 and he WILL walk away.
1. Reed has won 4 of 6 overalls so far, he's been the more dominant rider.
2. Bar RD running out of gas, he is your points leader, being the most consistant rider on the track
3. One race ago RD beat RV straight up at Colorado. They also had 30 seconds on him earlier in the year.
That said, I do think RV has the most raw speed right now, but its going to take more than that to be the champ, ask JS in SX. RV was hauling the mail in that 2nd moto, especially the sections right before the finish line, I was in awe how aggressive he was. I'm also see myself yelling at RD through my TV set screaming at him to make a freaking move and get by the rider in front, especially Reed at several rounds this year. I am waiting for the day he finally says fuk it and stuffs the rider in front to get by! ha.
@ Motohead279 the start to your last though it why people are on RV's Jock, Reed has won but not because he was the faster guy so thats why RV gets talked up.
Man, when did it become a such crime to root for someone? Easy boys its all for fun and who cares what anyone else thinks, especially those 22 fans HAHAHAHA Winning the O/A doesnt always mean your the "dominant" rider....more consistent on the day yes, but the most "dominant" no sir....too me, especially when just a few short weeks ago Reed was being crowned the "king of Moto 2", when your the points leader and your getting beat by over 20+ seconds the 3 of the past 4 motos....your not dominating anything...
Ya dont see nobody squirming under the factory Hodaka tent. R.i.p. Josh
Dungey just needs to find the right flour to baking soda ratio, it's all good.
BillC, not always does the fastest guy wins. 92 SX is a great example. RV is a freaking rocket, but from a lot of people on here you would think he would be having an undefeated season the way he is talked about. Every week all I read is "he was sick", "He didn't have time to test" "just wait until next race, he'll go 1-1".
I'm a true fan at heart and want bar to bar racing every week, no matter who wins. I respect every rider that is fast enough to make the National gate. But, I have found myself rooting for RD this year, and for one reason only. I don't think he got much respect by a lot of people for what he did last year. Last year he and RV were neck and neck in SX then RV torpedoed himself, and a lot of people then said that was the only reason he won. It was anyones title last year as they were both making mistakes, but was very close. Same thing for the nationals. I wish RD would ride above his comfort zone at times when he needs to (when he sits on Reeds wheel and eats roost for 10 laps) but then again, thats when you can easily throw away a race, riding over your head. RD in my mind needs to hang it out a little more.
I really feel bad for RD this year. Loses the SX title by 10 points. He was the only rider with a mechanical DNF that was out of his control. Runs out of gas on the last lap this year while a mile out front. Not that he "was" going to repeat outdoors this year, but he would have the points lead and at least be in the chase halfway through the series. Unless CR and RV make more mistakes, or have mechanicals of their own, they are too close in speed and now consistency is not going to win it.
But, no excuses, its all part of racing. Last year all of the stars were aligned and he could do no wrong, Some times you are the windshield, some times you are the bug...
All of the Villamaniacs on here want to put an asterisks on Dungery's season last year, which is wrong. That being said, to be fair, If Dungey loses the title by less than 25 points this year, then should he have the same? Especially since RV made the mistake that ended his own season and Dungey ran out of fuel. (Suzuki problem, as Metcalf also ran out riding to the pits)
Good thing JS7 is not racing. He would be in 4th or worse and that does not go over well when your an immature, self absorbed, cryababy loser.
@El Chupacbra where is it that you feel James Stewart could barely run 4th? He won the second most Supercross races and was CLEARLY the fastest guy most weeks....tell me what changed?? You guys kill me with this stuff, Tell me at what point in the Supercross season aside from when James had self inflicted crashes did Reed, Poto or Dungey catch him, pass him and leave him in the dust? I'm trying to remember but I only hear crickets cause it NEVER happend! He's not racing outdoors...GET OVER IT! But to think he can't run with these guys....your dreamin pal
mechanix, ever wonder how fast RV, RD, 22, etc could go if they didn't care if they wrecked themselves out of every other race? It seems JS7 cares more about being regarded as FMOTP than winning races. It's a gaping hole in JS's package. Btw; the GOAT recognized this and played JS like a fiddle. If he would just ride at 99% instead of 102%, he would (and would have, at least since RC) win everything. He actually says he knows this but refuses to do it. I think it is immature but that is only my opinion and I respect his choice. But next time he crashes his way out of a race or championship, remember that he chose it so. And the guys who beat him chose differently.
@Elsinore I am fully aware that JS cost himself the title, JS is fully aware of that also, IF that is the way he choses to ride than who are we to criticize? RV is a bad comparison because I'm sorry but he has folded himself up many times trying to turn fast laps....you are who you are and I don't think it's as EASY as backing it down! Some guys only know one way, James has won a ton because of it but he has also lost. At the end of the day James is already a legend so it really doesn't matter what he wins from here on out. I would say he's had one hell of a career at age 25 and doesn't owe any of us explainations of why he rides the way he does
@VilloMoto ... you seem to be incapable of any original thought regarding your name. You took it from Villomoto. But since he/she has not yet seemed to say anything about it, perhaps your unoriginal name is now yours.
As far as my prediction regarding Dungey, I was wrong and he did not win both motos at Red Bud. However, I will stay with my prediction as far as Dungey at Millville (1, 1). Any challengers?
I accept the challenge of "the crab." Reedy will win Millville.
RV's winning one moto for sure and taking the overall with a podium. he's coming on every week minus the setbacks but still coming, he'll be fightin for sure!
The Chequered flag is all that counts, The people who say Reed isnt as fast as Bubba or RV, eat the dirt...........I dont see Bubba at any of the races...I love RV, he will have his day, but please give credit where credit is Due..........Reed is winning races and overalls. Bubbas sitting in his mansion playing with Sorby.
a rider died and people watched it happen. Nice job. everybody
nice comment none, too bad you weren't there, I'm sure you would have been on top of things, and the mx world would have been spared this traggety. RIP Josh, SO SORRY it happened, but comments like this one are just uncalled for. In my mind anyone there would have done anything they could have to save your life. Name calling is so wrong, it gains nothing, but I do have a few floating around that I would love to print, but I choose not to stoop to your level.
@none - I beleive Josh passed at the hospital, not at the track..It is very sad and even more so that it happened in the sport we all love. I had a friend pass from a moto related crash almost a week after the accident....until we know what exactly happened, its best to share your condolences and support or shut the F*ck up .......
Pretty sure I came up with this fancy nick name during the SX series. I did notice somene using the name, but what can you do.
Here is the deal.... RV is awesome, Reed is awesome, all these guys are awesome or they wouldnt be on the frickin' boob tube every Saturday since January if they were not....Not sure why folks get all butt hurt when others say their guy is going to good....Saying, " yeah, RV is going to suck this week" doesnt make much sense.....
Although Reed stole the overall this past weekend (a few weeks ago it was all about Reed taking every 2nd moto and this week he barely took it), there is defineltly blood in the water and 3 of the last 4 motos he has finished a distant 3rd while RV and RD have turned things up a notch....If this trend continues and RV avoids any disasters (which can happen to anyone at anytime) things will get very interesting.....Its obvious that Reed, RV and Dungey are in a league of their own....but now we head down the stretch.....this is when things count.....a DNF by Reed or an outside the top 10 finish could be fatal, same as for RV and RD...
C-C-C-C-C-C-OMBO BREAKER!!!!
The first half sets up the second half. Dungey better start riding to win or crash or he won't have a chance to catch Reed.
He needs a couple 1-1 overalls. then the last couple of races will be very exciting for us and very intense for the 3 of them. What a great year.
I do send my condolences and I do care. I am so sorry for the loved ones. I am pissed, this is the supposed to be the highest level of motocross. There is TV cameras there, And nobody could that josh was falling down and stumbling around. I was a privateer for a couple years. Josh was riding his ass of all day just to get to the first moto. he just wanted to get some points. But he doesn't have a trainer checking his heart rate, a nurse to administer an IV. Yes go the astrisk truck you say? and wait inline until the big boys are taken care of. All I am saying is that this should not be happening at this level. Ok maybe he had a heart problem? there is alot of what if's. But from what I have gathered with the info avaliable was that the proper eyes did not see a rider in distress on the track.