by Aaron Hansel
Bench Racing Ammo: Massive Point Leads
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 | 11:25 AM
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What do you get when you combine mind blowing speed with the ability to stay healthy? In Ryan Villopoto’s case, you get a massive points lead in Monster Energy Supercross. In fact, if Villopoto wins in Houston this weekend, and James Stewart finishes worse than third (if he even races), RV will wrap up the title with four rounds of racing yet to go. That’s pretty impressive, and it got us wondering whether or not Villopoto has a chance to set the record for the largest championship lead in the sport’s history. In order to find out, we did a little research to come up with a list of every championship that has ever been decided by 50 points or more.
1975 Jim Ellis Can-Am 202
1978 Bob Hannah Yamaha 52
1984 Johnny O’Mara Honda 53
1986 Ricky Johnson Honda 52
1989 Jeff Stanton Honda 57
1991 Jean-Michel Bayle Honda 72
1993 Jeremy McGrath Honda 57
1995 Jeremy McGrath Honda 50
1996 Jeremy McGrath Honda 132
1998 Jeremy McGrath Yamaha 51
1999 Jeremy McGrath Yamaha 83
2001 Ricky Carmichael Kawasaki 64
2007 James Stewart Kawasaki 51
2010 Ryan Dungey Suzuki 70
Villopoto is on his way to one of the biggest points lead in history.
James Lissimore photo
If you look at these results, the initial conclusion is that it’s highly unlikely that Villopoto could match Jimmy Ellis’s 202-point lead form 1975. Even if Ryan Dungey and Stewart don’t return, RV would still have to put a good 100 additional points between himself and Davi Millsaps in the remaining five rounds….but wait, there’s more!
The AMA used a different points structure in 1975 when Ellis beat Marty Smith by 202 points. That year, wins earned 150 points! The season was also much shorter, and consisted of just four races, only three of which paid points.
So if we want to compare apples to apples, we have to hold Villopoto’s current situation against a season with the same point structure. McGrath set that record with a 132-point lead in 1996. This is what happens when you win an astonishing fourteen of fifteen races.
With five races to go, the return of Dungey and Stewart (second and third in points) in question, and 102 points already separating Villopoto from fourth-place Millsaps, a 133-point lead is not out of reach for RV. He would have to put about seven points per race between himself and Millsaps, and, by the way, he scored exactly seven more than Millsaps in Toronto.
Of course, things get a little complicated when you consider the fact that RV has two more races in which to gain points this year than McGrath did in 1996. But either way, when the discussion is not if you’re going to win the title, but by how many points the final gap will be, you’re doing something right!
Can Brayton, Millsaps and the rest of the Supercross class slow down Villopoto in Houston?
James Lissimore photo
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RV winning everything last year and mugging everyone so far this year, we are looking at a future legend. The midas throttle.
Does RV get an appearance bonus since he is the current #1
If not, and I know it won't happen, race Houston (indoors) wrap up the title.
Skip the rest of the SX races, show up for autographs, take a break, start getting ready for the outdoors. I know it won't happen but I think it is a LONG season and he will have nothing to prove and everything to gain by being ready for the outdoors.
No way you mess with a winning program. All conventional wisdom is to keep your foot on the throttle when you are at this level in your game/program.
Keep on keeping on RV, and roll into the outdoors firing on all cylinders!
Appearance bonus? Seriously?
Not racing is no way to ensure you are ready for the outdoors.
Oh, and give us another 3-4 years of watching you attack tracks and blowing up corners!
Yes appearance bonuses
Different sports want top athletes to show up, so they get paid to play.
Tennis, Golf, etc... Also I know in one sport the organization would pay that years #1 to race in each of the next years races.
"WHAT IF"..? 1.) Reed never crashed.! 2.) Stewart never crashed.! 3.) Windam podium finished all season.! Dungey was on Suzuki and consistant.! "VILLOPOTO WOULD STILL BE THE GUY TO BEAT".... j.p.
RV's the man!
Can't wait for Barcia to move up to the 450 class and give RV a run. It'll be a couple of season before he'll win a Championship, but I think he'll match RV's speed.
Until JS get's his swag back, he's done. CR has the heart and will, but after the last few crashes does he need to put it all on the line anymore? Dungy's a great guy, reminds me of a young CR, consistant, but conservative. TC need's to shed the bad luck. Brayton is coming along nicely, not sure of his full potential.
AGMAN, go back to watching more golf, and asking less questions on here. That is the dumbest thing i ever heard
In AGMAN's defense they do offer gate money for the top guys to show up, but typically it's for one off deals like Bercy. I know Jeremy offered gate money. I don't think the AMA does it and I would assume RV has contractual obligations that require to "represent" (for lack of a better word) for his sponsors.
Sorry Heywood but it does happen
RV will not push as hard but will still be the fastest there. He will get a jump on his outdoor testing. I would like to see RD come back for the last 2 or 3 but would rather see him just test and work on his outdoor set up. JS is the wild card. Has nothing to lose so will go for wins and RV I hope plays it smart if he does.
How did Ellis get such a big lead? It was a 6 - 8 race series. Maybe a better measure would be how many rounds are left when they clinch.
Maybe RV cold drop down to the 250 class and help Wilson win a title. Even if that was allowed, that would be almost unthinkable these days, for a top rider anyway.
RV's speed has put so much pressure on his main competitors this year that they have all hurt them selves tring to match his speed. That has got to be a record in it's self.
Interesting bit of thought on the subject, and research for that matter, Aaron. What with all the inconsistencies in point tallies, races per season, I just don't see Villopoto spending sleepless nights over, total point wins over his current gate-mates, let alone past Champions. He (in my opinion) is just too business minded, plain and simple. The outdoor season is just to near and why would you ever jeopardize any possibility of successfully defending your immediate Championship, with a few ambiguous point totals of the past. That consideration of (record points) should be right up there with which Trophy to polish first every morning when he gets out of bed. Now, just because I make a, (from out of my buutocks) prediction (which I am so hesitant firstly) he will come out of the closet and say, " My primary and most important goal is to break Jimmy Ellis' Most Points over 2nd Place Record."
That is why I despise the, "Crystal Ball" and all it doesn't realistically stand for.There ain't one, not in this sport. This is Motocross, Baby!
Is it Houston yet? That is about as (real) of a prediction that I dare make. Ha!
JS7 broken hand. He's out till after the break. Maybe they can get the piece of Sh*t Yamaha dialed for outdoors. Yamaha come out with your 2013 already.
Obviously, Jim Ellis' record is not valid to compare to because of the point difference and number of motos.
Are works bikes of relevance?
Are works tires of relevance? Once Bridgestone (factory support) left the sport, I've never heard of so much tire testing in my years of following the sport.
Are tracks relevant? I've never seen so many skid-steers on the tracks between motos as nowadays.
Are trainers relevant? Since Jeff Spencer (I believe to be the first "moto-specific" trainer) to Aldon Baker, the level and focus of ability has changed dramatically IMO.
Is marriage of relevance? Seriously, look at the married champs vs the single ones (this would be a good piece to look into Racer X).
I think there are too many variables to compare objectively. Same as comparing Joel Robert to Stefan Everts, the only common demominator was that they rode motocross.
When you get a stud horse like RV you have to handicap him, like 15 pounds of lead strapped to that KX then you keep adding until its sort of even for the other boys.
Guys STILL blaming the bike--hilarious!!!
@db200 I've heard that the yamaha doesn't have enough weight towards the front since the exhaust is in the back and the air box in the front, seems pretty reasonable especially with the type of crashes he's had... things could be alot different if he was on a suzuki
So, if you are RV do you bail on the last couple of supercross races to start getting ready for the outdoors?
Not sure if his contract would allow that but he could certainly afford to do it.
Sky....No if you are RV, you just keep on doin what you do. Then roll into the outdoors with your steal city settings and keep on smokin em :-)
liked the bench racing question just knew there were too many variables to make true comparison's.
I dont think RV will show up and just cruise, but I would not take any chances cause its not over yet.
It seems the current events will give Villo a head of steam heading into the Nats as well as extra time for testing.
That is a uphill battle, coming back from injury, missing testing time & track time while your #1 competition has not and only gotten stronger. It would seem beating RV right now is going against all logic and odds. I hope that proves false.
MX BOB... . Reread the article and it states the AMA gave a 150 pt. win back in the day which is how Ellis was 202 pts ahead of #2 pts holder
@ resolution........Nothing would be different if he went to Suzuki. He picked that "POS Yamaha" over all other options, he didn't just start crashing when he got on that bike and Millsaps seems to be just fine. The others are better and want it more, the excuses are old news.
Wow RV is really fast, everybody got hurt because RV is so much faster than everyone else, his lap times I'm guessing are 3 or 4 more seconds than dung, stew, reed and the rest of them no wonder the others didnt have a chance, there's no way its te bike RV could win on a Yamaha after riding a Kawasaki all his career no problem why don't we just give his first place trophy befoebefore the main starts, he should just sit out the remainder of the sx rounds he should skip the first few outdoors races them other guys don't have a chance he's the new fastest man on the planet and now we will have Ryan's world, its funny how fans jump from one sack to the other retards.couldn't have any thing to do with a little bit of luck.