Monday Conversation: Ryan Villopoto
Monday, February 6, 2012 | 8:45 AM
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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Anaheim 2 ended in similar fashion to Anaheim 1, with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto jetting off to an early lead and a big win. He’ll also leave with red plates (signifying the points lead) on his number-one KX450F. When we finally caught up to the champ after the race, he was about to head out in his new Range Rover, but he stopped and let Matthes ask a few questions.
Racer X: Great ride out there, it really seemed like laps seven or eight you started to pull away.
Ryan Villopoto: Yeah it was good. I don’t know how….first of all, I got the holeshot, that was awesome. Then I don’t know how Chad got next to me, and he ran me a little high. But that was okay.
Yeah nothing wrong with that.
Yeah that was all fine. I just don’t know how he got next to me, that’s all. I was able to get around him on that triple, I stayed a little lower, then I went inside. Then after that I was trying to get away.
Basically from there, Stewart got into second, and you were marking him. Any problems for you?
No, it was all good. I was clicking off laps, and then I saw he [Stewart] was taking a low line over those tabletops. He was going on on off, instead of tabletop on. I started doing it the next lap after that, and it was all good.
Villopoto led every lap at A2. And A1!
Cudby photo
What about the track?
It was tough, it broke down quick. The whoops broke down. I don’t know what it is, the tracks are really breaking down quickly.
I was talking to Windham, and he says he can’t wait to get to the football stadiums. He thinks the baseball layouts this year haven’t been the greatest. Would you agree?
Yes and no, it’s hard to say because every track is different. It’s hard to say if baseball stadiums are better or football stadiums are better. I think what makes it better when we go east is it’s close to home, the flights are short, obviously we’re not flying here in California, though. But also the dirt is a little bit better other than those races when it’s really soft, and then it gets really rutted and kind of sketchy.
You’re the points leader again, how is that?
Yup. The bike looks better with red plates.
Villopoto will have his red plates back next weekend.
Cudby photo
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I like it - to the point.
on another note RV says of the track conditions: "It was tough, it broke down quick. The whoops broke down. I don’t know what it is, the tracks are really breaking down quickly."
Wouldn't have anything to do with madmen riding 60HP missles would it?!?!
I think Seeley said it was down to the wood where he slid out in the main. That's more likely to be a track building issue.
But yeah, 60 hp 450 four strokes is pretty dumb for supercross.
It's not like I know him, or pretend to know what goes on in any of these guys heads. But this kid seems to have his head on straight. When he gets a bad start, he rides smart and works his way up as if not faster as anyone else ever has. When he gets a good start he rides smart and smooth. So, I think it's the key word.........Smart.
RV simply STRIEGHT UP smoked them Fastest man on the planet !!!
RV is the entire package, aggression, talent, intelligence, tenacity, and humility. It seems he comes from that rare GOAT mold.
RV rode smart the previous round by not bungholing himself trying to catch Reed. Get a better start, win. Simple formula for him.
Wow! He could SEE Stewart behind him, doing the tabletop thing! Must be nice leading the race and still checking out the lines of the competition, behind you!!
What is it with these redheads with quiet personalities ???
GO RV !!!!
RV fan for sure and smart is a good word for him. I think his crash in St Louis a couple years ago while very bad at the time, taught him some valuable lessons about patience. I think he will be strong all year and ride within his comfort zone to win the championship.
RV fan for sure and smart is a good word for him. I think his crash in St Louis a couple years ago while very bad at the time, taught him some valuable lessons about patience. I think he will be strong all year and ride within his comfort zone to win the championship.
Stewart isn't done. He is going to be rock solid back on the east coast. RV and CR and everyone else needs to get as much of a point lead as they can before they get back over to the east coast. We are going to see a freak of nature on an SX track in JS when he gets close to home. Guaranteed!
mrb186...that is exactly what I was thinking....how the hell could he see Stewie back there doing that section? Pretty amazing.
Totaly agree with Claxton. RV really is the TCP and reminds me very much of the GOAT. Not just this season, I've felt this way since he became a pro. He was a go for broke bulldog in the 250's especially outdoors, just like RC. He still has it in him to dial it up not only when he needs to but when he thinks is safe to do so. He has definitley matured and is a champions champion IMO.
Awesome ride for my ginger RV.....As many have stated as well as myself, RV and JS7 are going to be the two guys to beat....they start up front, the others will have to fight or hope something happens....While JS7 is more prone to crahes, RV doesnt have the cleanest plate either....But JS7 seems to be handling the "pressure" related crashes this year and his heat race digger on Saturday was knarly....Again, anyone who questions JS7 heart or desire.....watch that hit again....many riders would have called it a night after that.....let alone get 2nd in the main ...Hope to see a few good (clean) RV and JS7 battles here soon.....Notice Reed almost run RV off the track?? RV says "its ok"....but he knows that was crap move....
What is with Ricky and Emig talking so great about Bubba! I mean come guys RV just pulled away from Reed and never let Bubba make any time on him and you guys just can't stop talking about him. Bubba was so far over his head anyone could see he was ready to go down again.
I think it might have something to do with RV breaking there records at Kawi or something!
I like Ricky and Fro....but come on guys! 2 weeks ago RV went from last to 2nd and now he has the point lead again. He's the best rider out there right now and you guys know it....so start showing it! Every dog has his day and Bubba becoming a crash king!
Changing of the Guard Boys wake up!!!
I have to say I'm actually proud of Stew's riding this weekend. I'd say he rode just as smart as RV. He rode real fast but didn't overdo it. As for how RV looked "behind" him to see Stew's lines, he wasn't acually looking behind. After the turn he just had to look to the side at the previous straight where he just was and oh F it, figure it out yourself!
The consistently quick lap times, smarts and good start finally added up again. The only difference I see between RV and JS besides marginally different lap times is control. One of them rides in it, one rides out of it. I was waiting for a second JS crash in the fast step-on, step-on, step-off section. Was it only me who thought JS looked a little sketchy through there? It was kind of freaking me out considering how much speed was being carried through there. As much as I'm an RV fan I still don't want to see JS wad up hard.
Acejas........He augered himself again doing an unnecessary section, that's not smart in my opinion. I guess any variance to the "normal" line through any section could be called unnecessary and these guys do it weekly. But......please don't tell me I'm the only one on here that understands how sketchy a wheel tap is at that speed under those slick track conditions, regardless of who you are.
Yeah! - Go DUNGEY!
I dont think JS7 looked like he was riding over his head at all, he looked pretty smooth for the most part.......When you watch RV, he has those moments as well when he looks like he could go down....I think since James and RV are on the shorter side compared to Reed or Dungey.....Both RV and James push it to the next level...that is why you see them pass guys like Reed and Dungey with ease....James zipped past Dungey in the sand and was gone, then passed Milsaps , Brayton and a couple others within 3 turns to get up to 3rd in one lap.....then he passed Reed a few laps later.....Dungey was in 5th most the race and Brayton seemed to just give up that 4th place finish.........
@psserve. your talking about when they get to the east coast james is going to be "a freak of nature" lets see that freak of nature go up against a BEAST named Ryan Villopoto.
why is everyone wondering how RV saw Stewie? he was watching him going the other way that's how far ahead he was.
I keep hearing how Stewart will really get on it when the series heads east, but last year he won 3 of the first 5. Repeat, 3 wins in the first 5 rounds out west. He then won 2 of the final 14 races after heading east. RV won 2 of the first 5 and then won 4 of the next 14. I have a feeling RV is going to benefit more from the move east which won't be such a good thing for James. As weird as it is, I've actually started rooting for James to get the other guys. What is that about? I would love to see a 20 lap brawl between James and RV but I doubt RV would want to risk getting knocked down or landed on. Even though I'm starting to root for Stewy some, there's no doubt that risk would be real. Interesting comment from Reed that if it was later in the season he would have knocked RV off the track! RV needs to watch out for him as well.
I don't think we will see a battle between RV and JS because according to the pro's opinions on here, when RV gets near a "sketchy rider" he falls back and does not want to risk it.
@ Chillmatic.........Whether it is true or not that is the smartest approach for RV to take. Someone on here said a while back the safest way to race JS is to be nowhere near him. That statement to me is 100% true. Just ask Partridge, Thomas, Windham, Reed (anyone else last year?) about it, and those names only come from 2011 SX. The list goes on and that's not hate, it's just reality sadly.
About CR's comment about knocking RV off the track if later in the season. Well I noticed RV gave it back to him by sort of brake checking him after that pass and forcing CR to check up. If CR gets into it with RV or JS he loses because they have superior corner speed. Looks like CR is spending a lot of time looking back for Bubba then pulling over like a girl when he passes.
If Stewart can handle pressure in the mains as well as he has in the past 3 races, I think if the two start up front, 1 & 2 it should be a great race. Last weekend they were side by side over the triple and Stewart won, i really don't know what happend to RV though. But he won this weekend and the only thing that matters is whose got the #1 plate in may. We've got a long way to go so I am just going to sit back and watch the madness unfold.
Gotta agree the Kawi with the white #1 looks weird. They should be able to run their original numbers also.
@claxton, where did Reed say he would punt RV off the track? I never heard/read where he said that.... Just curious. I did hear him say Poto and Stew beat him sat. night. Nothing but respect. Sounds like you are stirring the SH%t.
Great interview on RV1, I like his honesty, and he is a bad ass on the track.
I normally like black numbers on white backgrounds, especially with a 1 one it, but the white part on the backgrounds on RV's looks like a cartoon cat head.
BigTireGuy, I saw it on Vital under "results sheet: A2". Here is the text of it. Not a big deal, just keep it in mind RV.
From Vital: Chad later said, “I was fighting for it down there, and all day long out of the first turn I’d been kind of blitzing and somewhat wheel-tapping off of that, from the small one to the bigger one and I felt I was better than Ryan at least at that. He’s vulnerable in the next turn because he almost has to set up for the whoops and I just kind of went in there and it was interesting.” Chad chuckled, and continued. “Fifth round? You kind of be a little nice. But if that was the last round and we’re going for a championship, he was on the ground.”
Thanks for the post BK-R..... Yeah, that door goes both ways Mr. Reed.......
@bigtireguy, Check out B-KRs post 4 above mine here is what he posted.
"
Interesting comment from Reed that if it was later in the season he would have knocked RV off the track! RV needs to watch out for him as well."
ok that makes sense. But I've gotta defend my guy. If the title is on the line and its the LAST round.... Its a no-brainer! Anybody would start punting, including RV, Would you not agree?? Maybe punting is a harsh word, but run them high, rub a little more than usual. A title means a lot. round 5, lots of racing left....
That wheel tap was sick! Right up to the point it took him out. JS7 needs to smarten up!
"We are going to see a freak of nature on an SX track in JS when he gets close to home."
Yeah, we saw that 'freak of nature' last year in Houston when he landed on another rider. Just hope other riders 'see' him coming.
"The safest way to race JS is to be nowhere near him. That statement to me is 100% true."
100% True!!!
I agree, any one of these guys would do it if the total was on the line and the opportunity presented. Reed just says what he thinks and doesn't care if you like it or not.
Claxton...Reed doesn't care about bubba, he can read between the lines. Long season, no reason to get put on the ground like Dallas. You never know when JS is going to get clapped out and t-bone you. Plus Reed was gaining on him at the end, put a full second on him on lap 17.