Going for the W: Ryan Villopoto
Thursday, January 26, 2012 | 3:15 PM
Bell Sports has been the preeminent designer and marketer of branded sports helmets and accessories for more than 50 years. More world champions have worn Bell Helmets than all other helmet brands combined. Bell helmets have played a vital role in protecting sportsmen and women for generations.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintRight now, it seems the Moto Gods are obsessed with parity, and they’re not going to let one rider get away from the Monster Energy Supercross field. At least, this is the only explanation we can come up with for Ryan Villopoto’s bizarre start to the season, where he has been the fastest and strongest rider, but now sits tied for second in the standings after two tough races in three rounds.
Oh sure, we’ve seen fast guys fail to win before, but RV isn’t falling because he’s hanging it out too much. At least, we don’t think so. But include his heat races, and we’ve seen strange stuff: Off the track in turn one of his A1 heat. Crashed by himself leading his Phoenix heat. Accidentally run into by Davi Millsaps in the Phoenix main. Jumped off the track in the restart on the L.A. main.
His Phoenix last-to-third place charge actually only made him look stronger. Last to a podium? Wow. He almost turned the trick again this weekend, but James Stewart was just quick enough down the stretch to hold him off.
Early race mishaps have kept Villipoto off the top spot of the podium.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Of all the SX contenders, Villopoto usually brings the least drama. We all know Stewart, for better or worse, moves the needle in bench racing. Reed is often engaged in the Stewart rivalry, and his whole team/family veteran thing seems to resonate with fans. Dungey gets praised and criticized for being either consistent or not aggressive enough, depending on your view. And others, like Trey Canard, unfortunately, seem to be involved with too much bad news. We would love to see Trey’s injury woes stop forever, and who wouldn’t?
Villopoto? Not much to say except he’s a butt-kicking machine. No drama. Not known for being too aggressive or not aggressive enough. Doesn’t always get the biggest cheers, but you don’t hear anyone not like him, either. He is defined not by personality or controversy, but by his results, and even when he does get involved with something crazy, he usually pulls back to center quickly. J-Law rivalry? Missed the main event in J-Ville? He righted the ship right quick and just went back to winning.
Will he get another win this weekend? The pieces are certainly there, but we’ve seen that even Mr. No Drama isn’t immune to some craziness here and there.
Did you like this article?
Check out TEAM HONDA AT DAWN
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Forty years ago, Team Honda arrived on the American motocross circuit with a brand new motorcycle: the game-changing Elsinore CR250. Page 170.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
RV IS BEAST !!!!!! No other way to put it !!!!
Mostly true except there's plenty of people that don't like him. They don't hate him because he doesn't do anything hate worthy like you said but they definitely don't like something about his little pitbull, confident personality.
RV is for real and he is who he is....he isnt trying to fool anyone, being fake or play mind games...He is a determined racer and does his talking on the track....Often he will crack a joke and be sarcastic, but most the folks dont pick it up and think he is being arrogant....Jeff Stanton made the comment that RV was arrogant... Stanton, who was known for having the personality of a door knob was probably one of the arrogant and uliked guys on the track....but he didnt care....neither does RV....Some other guys out there seem to be to concerned with being in the spotlight...going out of there way to be in it......RV just does his thing....I respect that.
Its just a matter of time before the new sheriff will pull the trigger. I like how Reed can pull some speed out of his a*s whenever Havoc7 is near. I'm starting to like that guy. I know its free and better than nothing but CBS's coverage is D- only getting that by actually being on. Not at all cool with party time while riders lay on the track....somebody wipe the grease off that baloney on the rear of Havocs bike.... Dungey please have Goose and Roger build a Reed anti-passing force field disabler ,besides that You and the KTM look great. GO RV , there can be only 1....
He gets criticized for having no riding style and being a boring interview? Personally I like his dry sense of humor and his cool, confident attitude. He's not interested in the limelight like some of the others he just wants to race.
As far as having no riding style? He's my absolute favorite to watch ride......he's the definition of aggressive! I'm hoping he gets a clean start again Saturday and obviously hopeful for no more Red Flags for many reasons. He deserves better results. Go RV!
People didnt like Jeremy either. He seems like a pretty good guy. Its hard to like someone who can hand you your ass at any time. I think MC had a few last to poduims too. RV in LA looked like he was a BMX bike through that high speed triple triple. Havent seen someone that dialed into his bike in a long time. If he can keep the bonehead mistakes down he's untouchable.
@ Ripdown...Indeed...a lot of folks dont get that dry sense of humor and sarcasm. My wife always tells me that people dont always pick up on my dry humor either....And usually when I type it out on here, its met with backlash and STFU's......I have stated before, most my comments here are usually in a joking fashion, but like many of these interviews, you dont know the actual verbal delivery...so you take it you take it...
he's RC reborn....not real fan friendly, way too serious, no charisma, but dedicated to destroying the field as RC was...
Amen guys, some good comments. Villopoto is a MACHINE. To those who say no style I say REALLY.....REALLY, Blazing fast aggression is not a Style, Head forward always charging is not a style?
GO RV2
Red Storm Rising
i wouldn't want RV to change one bit. Each rider brings it's own style to the class......Dungey is calculated and smooth with not much flair, where Reed is more calculated but has some flair in his riding style....(looks like he's going slow but deceivingly fast), RV ...balls out, head down, attacking every inch of track, and then you have JS who is flashy, and also very fast and attacks the track aswell.
@Tonewall, Goose is not Dungeys mechanic man....c'mon, get the facts right.
Well said by everyone on here. I'll never forget RV just absolutely,flat out destroying everyone at the mx des nations! RV does remind me of RC too. I am a little biased being from washington though.
Yeah Tonewall Goose already installed it but he put it on Reeds bike....!
Villopoto's looking great as far as speed goes right now, incredible in fact. The problem is his legion of Nazi fans. Without having to hear their constant BS, I would be pulling for him more than I am. These people see what all this "fastest man on the planet" garbage did to Stewart, and they insist on putting the same crap on Poto, which I'm sure he hates. Dungey's the points leader right now but the Nazis won't allow him to have an ounce of credit. Get a life all you PotoNazis out there.
Watching RV1 ride is awesome! His aggression is off the charts, it looks like he is mad at the track and is taking it out on the throttle cable. He let's his results sleek for him.
Yeah killomoto, you and RV are just alike...now STFU!
I like the way RV never complains or makes excuses about the track being bad or one-lined and hard to pass on. He adjusts to every condition and makes the best of it. HE ain't no quitter. I think he'll be fired up more than ever for a win this weekend..
What is the point of these "Going for the W" articles?
This piece says effectively nothing.
RV started to seriously resemble RC last season and the start of this year has only strengthened the resemblance.
Damn @warrior462, you must be jewish. Our apologies.
Why do people think he has a over confident attitude, I have never seen that in him. When JS and CR are winning they definitely have a confident attitude and talk like they can rule the world. No disrespect for JS and CR cause I will never be any where close to as fast them but it's what I see. RD, RV and TC over seem to be pretty mellow with their interviews and such, RV sometimes cracks a joke or two or is a bit sarcastic (which is where I think people get that he's over confident from, because they don't understand it). I think that most riders don't talk about themselves all that much to none at all.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I told you guys that #1 plate is heavy. He'll be alright though.
Anybody happen to be at Budd's Creek in 07 at the MXoN ?? You should have know he was going to be the "next RC" !!!
Yeah, I was there, now that was a show! The people saying RV is arrogant or conceded just don’t know him, at all. I’ve watched him race for 10+ plus years and he’s anything but arrogant and conceded.
RV and RD need to take lessons from Bob Hannah! RV so he will not sound like a machine during interviews and RD to get a little more aggressive.Anyway I hope KW gets in the mix this weekend...that will make things more interesting anyway! GO KW!!!
Never saw RV as arrogant or over confident. He is actually a little shy if anything. He seems like the type of guy that does not want to complain too much and just get the job done. So far it has worked for him pretty good. I've a hard time believing by the end of the season that he will be anything less than 30-50 points ahead of his rivals after Vegas. Nobody has RV's speed this year, he is all alone on top.
@steve179 lost my mind...i no that , oldheimers kicked in.......my mistake. Warrior426 "potonazis" really... really???
RV is not close to RC yet c'om on man!!!
RV is badass but never will he be the next goat.....GO RD5(1) plus i think JS7 has something cooking...
Ryan 'The Machine' Villopotto is the fastest man on the planet.
true he cannot be compared to RC's skill and racing career yet, however demeanor and attitude is just like RC's.....RV is a red ass !....he's just likes to win and go home and not have to deal with the spot light and fan autograph signings and all the distractions that go with it. I think it goes back to the different types of personality's and styles each of these guys brings to the track and if they where all the same it would be boring, but personally i like RV's red ass persona, and im just saying he reminds me alot of RC...but Go Reedy !
I'm won of the biggest RC fans there is and comparing anyone to him is kind of iffy but I gotta admit......RC never had a field of talent this deep to contend with.
Ryan Viliopoto hands down is the fastest man on the "planet"... Bad starts is only a speed bump for him.. If he gets the in the top 5 in a start he will win... Just read what the GOAT is saying about Viliopoto. The GOAT is the fastest of all time... Just saying..
Article mentions "J-Law." Who is this J-Law?
Come the end of the season there will be a ton of band wagon jumpers into the RV camp and claiming they have been fans forever. Just remember us original Potonazis rule dude.
Imagine if Dungey would have laid that pass on Wiemer last weekend- people would be applauding him for finally getting more aggressive.