Monday Conversation: Ryan Villopoto
Monday, October 17, 2011 | 1:40 PM
Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for almost 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars. Welcome to the Racer X Monday Conversation.
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Ryan Villopoto just completed arguably the greatest season ever for a rider in the U.S.—topping off his Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championships with a Motocross of Nations win, and now, a three-race sweep and $1 Million bounty at the Monster Energy Cup.
Racer X: Ryan Villopoto, you are the Monster Energy Cup million dollar winner. Man, you really killed it tonight. You looked great.
Ryan Villopoto: Yeah, dude.
You rode really good. You were on it. How’s that sandwich?
It’s really good.
A million dollars….
It is. Man they got Mandingo Pickles full sliced on there.
So seriously, though. You were on it.
Hey, how about my tweet the other day about pickles? I didn’t even get a hit-back or nothing!
Ryan Villopoto caped off an amazing season with a clean sweep at the Monster Energy Cup.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Let’s talk about the race. Pretty easy?
Eh. I mean, they were only because of my starts. But obviously if I wouldn’t have had the starts I had, they would’ve been hard.
Looked to me like you didn’t always get the greatest jump, but once you shifted to third, you yarded those dudes.
It’s Kawasaki. What’d you expect?
What’d you think of the track? It looked fun.
The inner—the stuff inside the stadium—wasn’t too bad. It was one lined. But they need to do something about the dirt outside. It was really rocky. Other than that, it was fun. I was fortunate enough to have three awesome starts and the third one I had to get around Mike [Alessi], and I did that right away.
Aside from the start, there must have been other places where you were killing it.
I didn’t see the lap-time sheets, but yeah, lap times were good. I mean, obviously it was a little bit everywhere, I guess.
What are you going to spend the money on?
Black #2.
Black #2?
Yeah, roulette table. Let’s go. What’d you think? Is that a good idea?
As a poor journalist, no. That’s not a good idea. You should invest that in a high yield bond.
Woah! Woah!
Villopoto and the Monster Million.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Anyways, we talked on Thursday and you said it’s gonna be tough to win all three races.
If I hadn’t had the starts I had, it would’ve been tough to win all three.
Obviously you’re in shape, but what about the format? Three ten-lappers. Guys I’ve talked to so far are like it’s a lot of riding.
Well, when the lap times are a minute twenty-eight, yeah, it’s a lot of riding. It was a lot of riding, actually.
I tweeted before the first main event that I did not like your gate selection. I thought you didn’t go far enough inside. Clearly I don’t know what I’m talking about. But did you see something in that gate?
I hit that gate every time. Every time. Same one.
I know. But Dungey was on the inside of you and Metty was on the inside of you.
Yeah, but if you didn’t see my qualifier, I started down that way, around where Dungey started that last time. And I got pinched bad in the turn. So I moved over a couple. That’s why.
OK. Well Ryan Villopoto, you’ve won the Monster Energy Cup and a million dollars. You glad you did the race?
Are you gonna come out with us tonight, Matthes?
I don’t know.
Ah, you should.
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Sound financial advice, Matthes!
I've been reading a lot of comments about the track, people are saying it wasn't one lined etc....the RV ripper himself said one lined.... anyhoo not stoked on the track myself, maybe I just don't like Supercross compared to outdoor, but great job by all the riders and of course the million dollar man......
Some of it was for sure one lined but there were some good passing spots but you had to wait for tham whitch stinks and if you don't make the pass you needed to wait till the next one. Thats why RV made quick work of Alessi in moto 3. RV gets things done fast.
Dumbest interview I've ever read in my life.... Can't believe this was even posted on here.
Pickles...so that's the training secret. I knew it! You're right, Tom, not very in-depth at all.
This interview is why I am not a big RV2 Fan. He really doesn't say much. He always just gives the bare minimum of information to get onto the next question and then get out of there.
He sure did look good and fast out there at MEC though. He is going to be tough to beat come A1.
I feel as if my little cousin in elementary school was the interviewer, horrible.
@BillC hey man, you know RV always gets it done. that's why he's your man! Do you think the funny interview was cuz of all the flack he gets for saying I can't thank whoever enough. Man people get worked up over the darndest things. I found it funny the way he is so casual after winning the million bucks. He is prolly sick of being interviewed and critisized for his comments. And is programmed as to what he can and can't say. New sled yet?
@JohnCras, i agree with you, but i also consider who is interviewing him. Matthes is a funny dude who always cracks me up, so maybe some of the riders dont take his interviews as serious. Plus, he just won a million bucks!!!! I wouldnt be to serious either!!! Props to RV2!!
Go to pulpmx.com and listen to the MEC podcast with RV. That's where your Monday Conversation comes from. I like Matthes, but think it's lame to use the same material in multiple places (I've noticed this has happened on a few occasions lately).
Anyway, sounded like RV's focus wasn't really on Matthes, and there were multiple people around him providing distraction during the interview. Either way, he was hauling that night. Would've liked to see closer racing, but whatever. Congrats to RV, as well as all the others who put in good rides (Wey, Dungey, Davalos, etc). Oh, and Alessi can bow out of this sport any time now...
^ ^
Almost forgot Metty. Good ride by him, too.
If you go over to Puplmx and hear the interview instead of reading it I think you will find it amusing. Villipoto was goofing around, he obviously didn't want to be serious.
Really guys???? Would you prefer if RV spent 5 mins telling everyone how great he is? Cut the guy some slack.....he doesn't really take himself all too seriously which is kind of refreshing.
It's too bad you don't like his interviews cause there's gonna be a lot of them over the next few years! Dude is the real deal.....
RV is the new RC. He carries the same confidence and swagger that RC had. He is usually better prepared and in better shape than the others. He bullies the competition just like RC did. RV has more comp than RC did so he may not put of the same career numbers, but he is now the best in MX and is going to take a bunch of titles before he is done.
We need some scientists to reasearch which gene sequence makes these MX gingers so dominant.
I voted for RV's 2011 as the best year ever in moto, and was surprised so many people voted for RC's '05. 12 overalls is pretty amazing, but the competition in both SX and MX probably wasn't much stiffer than what Dungey was up against in 2010.
Villopoto's year was the best, even more so after his injury last year, the DNQ, etc. Anyone want to convince me otherwise?
@johnny Crash - I can understand your view based off this particular interview, however when RV is being interviewed by someone who isnt clowning around, he usually does a pretty good job, if its a serious interview...Matthes tries to be a comedian with these dudes and RV just gives it right back....In this interview I am sure RV just wanted to get it over with and go party !! If you watch a lot of the video interviews Matthes does, most the guys seem annoyed that he just tries to be funny rather than "interview"..... RV is also trying to be humble I think,... he made a statement at the conference and people burned him at the stake for saying it....but he was clearly joking....RV is like Nick Wey....they like to goof around 90% of the time when off the track....
I do agree...this was however more of a goofy conversation than an interview.....
...plus winning a massive cash prize in a format that's set up to make it hard to win the massive cash prize...
You're bang on Whoopster!!!
@bob the builder
I actually heard pretty recently that redheads are "natural warriors," like they used to be feared and revered in spartan times because they were kick-ass. Or something.
Now we just make fun of them, like Jews and Mormons.
I'm dying my hair red before my hockey game tonight!
Let me know how that doesn't work out for you. haha
Dang! He was riding that 450 like it was a super-mini! I can't believe the way he seemed to throw it around. That one move in the hairpin at the top of the stands!! Holy Kaw!!
@TrendKiller. Speaking of Nick Wey, I swear that RV's mechanic must be related!
Someday at one of these races we are going to wind up with an all-ginger podium. I think they are all decendants of the same evil leprechaun tribe that traded their souls for competitive dominance. TC is trying to throw everyone off by thanking God all the time. RV is hording all the championship purse for his pot of gold.
@ mrb186
Yep, he's back to the same form he was at when he was throwing the 250 around like a mountain bike and stomping the best in the world.....
He's a lot of fun to watch when he's got his mojo going.........
@Whoops_Blitzer RC did it on the unproven suzuki and after sitting out the entire 04 supercross series, he absolutely dominated outdoors, he won BOTH races at the MXoN, won the U.S. Open.. It's close but RC's 05 year just edges it IMO out of pure dominance.
fun to see mx on tv,but lets be honest the racing blows.mostly becouse of the dirt.you can only go so fast on blue groove strights and corners! can you believe villi has to hand over 500large to uncle sam. the mexican community in cali. thanks you ryan! oh also the welfare recipiants in the hood also thank you ryan!
RC season gets my vote because he completely dominated everything he rode. RV did not dominate SX or MX at all, so he comes in 2nd in that poll. Also.......
plus winning a massive cash prize in a format that's set up to make it hard to win the massive cash prize...
Not sure how that makes it more impressive from a riding point of view. And can someone tell me where the formats are that make it easy to win a big cash prize? My guess is the same place all the 'easy to pass, multiline tracks" are located at that everyone refers to.
Wow, finally a day when people are actually speaking nice about us gingers....!! For a while there while Broc Hepler was still around...there were gingers all over....
@ ripdown - You play hockey! nice...my favorite "team" sport and I playe from age 4- 15...then I got a motorcycle and no more hockey....funny...my parents thouht hockey was expensive...HAHAHA!
@BobTheBuilder
"Someday at one of these races we are going to wind up with an all-ginger podium. "
how about 3 on the top step of the podium at MXoN 2007. (RC,RV, and Ferry)
@Trend Killer
"Wow, finally a day when people are actually speaking nice about us gingers....!!"
no doubt!
might I add the names Shaun White and Tim Farr to the list of ginger bad asses
The kid is like 21 years old.. in Vegas.. just won a million dollars .. not to mention every pro championship there is to win.. and its the off season (summer vacation) .. and people on here are critiquing the way he interviews?
What the hell is wrong with you people?
He's obviously having the time of his life. Awesome job RV!
I forgot to add Rattray to the list.
Spotted Marly - Indeed ...RV is on cloud 9 and I think he handles himself very well even when he is not winning...Plus, Matthes is kind of a clown anyway so RV is just dishing right back to him.....Anyone watch Reeds old interviews....you want to critique someone...go listen to that ass hat piss and moan
No sled yet Bucky :-(
.I Voted for RV also, The crash he came back from to do what he did this year, Beat the defending Champ in both clases something RC did not do, Also in SX there were 3 former Champs in there something else RC did not have to deal with, Also way more Comp over all than RC had to deal with and to sweep all 3 with a Mil on the line is the iceing on the cake!!
Steve Matthes good work-
sometimes it's nice to know something that is not just about racing.
What do the pilots, as they have fun, their vices, etc.
and I think this interview was held well, who knows what he's done with that money Villopoto.
from the boys over to the bike there is also the partys. a lot of partys
@ Trend Killer
At my age and current level of unfitness it's more like skating around for an hour so I don't feel too guilty about all the beer I drink after. Haha.
And ya. MX makes hockey seem cheap.
I think he did his talkin on the track.....the interview is just fodder for ridiculous internet blather like I am doing right now. I'm sure he had more important things to do like like folding hundies or chomping a fine poke chop and mandingo pickle sand.or learning to hide credit cards from the wife. I would like to hear a KDUB interview of with a play by play of the wonderful slap down he put on #45. It would be a great help to Dungey to learn and use this acceptable (and widely practiced in the past ) wonderful technique.
i beat ryan treated kevin to a steak dinner for punting vinnie - way to go windham
i bet - sorry
Ryan started earning this million dollars at least ten years ago when he was putting in all the hard work to get to his level.He put himself in position with total dedication to racing,It may have been a one race payday but he did not earn the money in one night.I was happy to see him win it,well deserved.I also think the sx and mx races should have a much larger purse,maybe a pecentage of the ticket sales.All the riders are making someone alot of $.
There always seems to be a weird awkward vibe between RV and Matthes. That intervew was like pulling teeth. I guess RV was letting the money do the talking for him.
Some guys on here are just whiney cry-babies. I thought the interview was pretty funny. What do some guys want, RV1 to give his life story?? Get over it all you professional journalist out there..
Why would sign a contract with a woman ,marriage is a business! if it were only for love ok, yet it is about love and money, that is when you sign the marriage contract ,she becomes a possible money spending _hore?I appreciate seperate bank accounts ...Works very well, just saying wish him well!!!!
Not that it matters, but RV is "only" paying $350,000 of the MEC $1M to Uncle Sam. as the top marginal income tax rate is 35%, not 50%. If he lists Floria as his residence, which I suspect he does given his set-up for training, he will pay no state income tax as Florida has no state income tax, just like Nevada.
Way more funny on pulpmx.com
@Whoops_Blitzer I agree, RV's year was top notch except for one thing. Yeah he won the titles. But no, he did not dominate at the level that RC did. Had it not been for Dungey's mechanical, he would not have won the outdoor title. RC was in no jeopardy of losing any titles. He absolutely owned that year and several others.
Yep, Carmichael's season sounds worthy enough...but his dominance wasn't really any more impressive than Dungey's dominance last year, and hardly anyone voted for RD.
In SX, RC really only had competition from Reed, and I don't think Reed was as fast then as he is today. Third place, Windham, was eighty points behind by Vegas. Like BillC said, RV handled 3 former champs quite easily (4 including Canard), and doing it on the rebound from his injury was HUGE.
Outdoors it was the same story for RC. 12 overalls is sweet, especially on an "unproven bike," as someone above pointed out, but Dungey had 10 overalls AS A ROOKIE in the class, so he was himself unproven. RC's competition was Windham, who finished the season 90 points down.
(Actually, now that I think about it, Dungey's '10 was damn good, too. He was a 20 y.o. rookie! And you know he would've won the U.S. Open, too, had it been run.)
To the bro who said RC sat out SX '04, RV sat out outdoors '09 and '10, AND battled a supposed sickness for the first several rounds this year.
So I'll stick with RV. Dungey, Stewart, and Canard better up their stuff if they want to check this guy's momentum. He's a killer.
can not even read with that f-ing A-star add blinking in my face don't get me wrong I ware A-stars BUT REALLY!!!
CR500AF yes the top rate is 35% but there are other taxes as well, SS ect bringing the totle over 40% and if there is a state tax you get close to 50% in some states.
Bill, can they track it? When does it snow out there? We don't usually get it until late Nov, or early Dec. Sucks to not have it and be ready(sometimes we get a big blast early and we go ride the roads before it all melts. Scratches the itch.) Do you go as BillC @ dootalk.com? Checked it out a few times, thanks for the tip, but am unable to log on. Still workin' on that one. Later, Bucky
cr500af,not sure what marginal tax is? i do however run a buisnes in fla.he has to show a shiz load of expenses to get that adjusted gross down to 35%. these top guys do spend alot of thier own money on there compounds,and he may well be able to do it.i still bet its higher than 35%. anyfu#$ing way the check he has to write to unclesam is way to fuc#$ing big,and i bet it pisses him off! we need a consumer tax only!
RV got a 1 mil bonus for supercross and nationals, all that race winning purse money, MEC 1 million, etc. He's probably had a 5 million dollar year, at least, because of his endorsements too. Nice!! He's going to need a good accountant.
Can you imagine how much more money Villopoto would have made this year if he was of a particular minority? There would be a lineup for endorsments. Unfortunately the hardships faced by gingers isn't recognized. You're only automatically disadvantaged and overcoming adversity if you're a member of a certain minority lol. Settle down, I'm just kidding (but not really) haha.
Bucky weGet snow late nov early dec but not ridable till mid dec most years at home.Not sure about trackin Bucky, But there are a lot of people still waiting. Seems odd there are some af all models shipped some where but not everywhere. It's machZman on dootalk look me up. Ya can PM on there to talk also. Went to a sled show on Sat and got my studs so i am ready to roll as soon as it gets here. My Buddys new 800 Cat is there so we will get them both when mine shows up. Now we can have our own shoot out!! LOL
lots of talk about us gingers now that RV is on top of the world!!!.....RV and RC have made us proud...but true, if you think about, the Gingers of the world are often treated badly like other minorities have been and Gingers do face hardships.....for sure..Seriously, is there a "kick a black guy day"??? ...not saying its right, just saying....cant we all just get along.....
RV my fellow ginger....good show man....good show !!! this one is for you gingers out there!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UokUC1-GcNA
BillC You heard it from me first. In your shootout with the Cat you are gonna go ALL R. V. on him!! Total domination. You notice how the new cats are dead ringers for the sled Ski-Doo came out with in 08? lol Ski-doo is prolly about to turn the page on what's next, and they're gonna have to sell a ton of kitty's to pay for the tooling to build these. Always tease my cat riding buddies that "cats lick thier butts and hack up hairballs!!!! " But truth be told, I'd prolly pick cat 2nd. But seems like they go through a lot of clutches. Later
Retardcross, I hope a chimp--or a descendant of a chimp, perhaps--tears your hands off at the wrists. Maybe then you'd sell your keyboard since you'd no longer have any use for it.
Settle down, I'm just kidding (but not really) haha.
LOL thats what I told my bud when we first saw the new cat. He says what do you think?? there pretty nice right? I said yeah its a green Ski-Doo it should work pretty well LOL You take of the body work and its a Doo!!