Racer X ReduX: Going for the Record Books
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 | 9:30 AM
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PrintWith his win in Toronto, his seventh of 2012 and 22nd of his career, Ryan Villopoto now sits seventh on the all-time AMA SX wins list. Ahead of him sit six riders, four of them who raced within the last decade (Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart and Chad Reed) along with one star of the 1980s—Ricky Johnson—and one star of the 1970s—Bob Hannah. But five races remain this season, and at RV’s current clip, he could grab wins in each or at least most of them. If he wins all five, the 23-year-old could end his fourth season in the SX class tied with Hannah for all-time SX wins, and just one behind Johnson. By early next year, the all-time SX victory top five could read McGrath, Carmichael, Stewart, Reed and Villopoto.
Can you spot the trend here? That would make the all-time top five riders in supercross wins all riders that came after McGrath (AM?). MC not only rewrote the record books himself, but also rewrote it for everyone else. Now that’s dominance!
Villopoto has not even completed his fourth year in the premier SX class, and he missed part of his ’09 rookie season to illness and the last few rounds of 2010 with a broken leg. But in his limited time, he has already surpassed legends like Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton, David Bailey, Broc Glover, Mark Barnett and Johnny O’Mara in all-time wins. Just take Ward for example, who has 20 wins. He was an amazing talent, a two-time series’ champion and retired with a record of his own, having won at least one supercross race for eight-straight years (MC later broke that with wins in nine-straight seasons). But even with all of Wardy’s accolades and longevity, Villopoto has very quickly sailed past his SX win mark.
McGrath set the bar, but others have followed suit.
Fran Kuhn photo
This is a sign of how strong Villopoto has become, yes, but also a sign of the times. Since McGrath plowed through the record books, the standard of excellence has changed, and anyone who dominates is much more dominant than before. And even though McGrath’s racing days are done, that standard remains. Before McGrath, the supercross champion was expected to win a lot of races. But during, and now since, McGrath, the champion is expected to win all of the races. Because McGrath proved it’s very nearly possible, taking 15 of 16 rounds in 1996. That eventually paved the way to even more ridiculous stats, like Carmichael and Stewart producing three perfect 24-0 seasons outdoors in the span of seven years, even though there had not been a single perfect season over the previous 30.
The modern guys do benefit from a longer schedule, with today’s 17-race season dwarfing the 12 races Hannah competed in on way to the 1979 Championship, for example. And yes, we know Hannah was cut down in his prime by a freak water skiing accident that broke his leg. Johnson, too, was at the absolute peak of his powers in 1989 when he snapped his wrist. But this really isn’t a referendum on RJ and the Hurricane—anyone who watched those guys ride know they were as strong as strong could be. When those riders lined up in their prime, they were also the favorites to win every single time. But that is actually what set them apart. Hannah and RJ dominated, which was rare back then. Today, it’s totally normal.
Let’s spin the numbers a few other ways to illustrate the point. Through the 1970s and 1980s, no rider had ever won more than seven supercross races in a season. Jean-Michel Bayle broke that record with eight wins in 1991, and Damon Bradshaw won nine in 1992. Then McGrath broke that record again in 1993 with 10 wins. After that? McGrath won seven or more every time he won the SX title, seven seasons in all. Carmichael won at least seven in all but one of his five championship seasons (four total), and both Reed and Stewart also won at least seven in both of their championship years.
RV won six last year, but actually took seven wins (despite not winning the title) in 2010. In all, during the 20 seasons since McGrath burst onto the scene, a rider has won at least seven races 17 times. In the 19 supercross seasons previous to McGrath, it happened four times.
A perfect season outdoors has Stewart in elite company.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
Granted, again, many of those old supercross seasons were shorter, but even within those short seasons, no one ever built a win streak of more than five-straight wins. And when someone did win even five, it was positively huge (Hannah, RJ and Damon Bradshaw each did it once. That’s it. There were only three five-race win streaks ever prior to 1993). McGrath had a five-race (or more) streak in 1995, 1996 and 1999, Carmichael had them in 2001, 2002 and 2005, Reed had one in 2003, and Stewart had one in 2007 and 2009. That’s nine five-race win streaks. Right now, Villopoto has won two straight but is certainly in position to get a few more. At this point, a five-race win streak isn’t even in doubt for Villopoto. We’re actually wondering if he can win out for the rest of the season, which would give him a seven-race streak to end the year.
Yeah, but this year’s field has been ravaged by injuries. True, but even last year, in an incredibly deep field with five riders capable of winning each week, Villopoto won six times. Jeff Stanton won three supercross titles and never once won six races in a season. Neither did Ward, O’Mara, Bailey…you get the picture.I think of this in others ways. In 2009, James Stewart crashed out of Anaheim 1. Some folks started immediately doing the math on how many races Stewart would need to win in a row to make up the points he lost to Reed. He left A1 down 21 points to Reed, so the math said Stewart needed to simply reel off a seven-race win streak to make those points up. And that is exactly what he did! In 2009, this didn’t seem all that impressive. It really just seemed like business as usual. But consider that until McGrath came along, no rider had ever even put together so much as a six-race win streak! Ever!
Villopoto has become the new standard.
James Lissimore photo
At the end of the 2003 SX season, the field had been depleted by injuries in much the same manner as has happened in 2012. In fact, it was actually worse, because in ’03 teams hadn’t really picked up on the replacement rider thing yet. By the end of that year, the field was so thin that the last six races had the exact same podium at every race. Reed won the last six, Carmichael was second every time, and Ernesto Fonseca took third. Six-straight times! Once Reed won a few races toward the end of the season, folks once again started doing the math and realized that even winning six in a row against Carmichael’s six-straight runner up rides wasn’t going to win him the title. And so Reed won six straight in a casual manner, with most fans just shrugging their shoulders saying, “Ah, he’s too far back in points. Oh well.” The six race win streak wasn’t getting anyone excited by then.
If Villopoto keeps on charging and does get into that fifth place spot on the all-time list, with just MC, RC, Stewart and Reed ahead of him, the numbers will obviously point to something. The modern era simply produces more wins for fewer riders than ever before. Somewhere, there has become a greater level of consistency at the front. Maybe the bikes are more reliable, or less varied from year to year. Perhaps the mental game has changed, and the riders that do win have a bigger mental edge over those that do not. I really can’t say why things have evolved to where massive win streaks and win totals are the norm rather than the exception; I can only say that it’s definitely the new normal.
In fact, in an injury-ravaged season like this, perhaps the only race left is to watch Villopoto go after the record books.
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17 rounds of sx is too long, 12 is a good number and it would leave a solid month of outdoor testing after the season ends.
Not going to happen......greed.
Its got to be brutal on the riders to spend December getting ready, race 17 rounds, no time off, race through outdoors through October, then off season races, then do over. That's nuts.
California could stand to loose a couple SX given the attendance this year.
Great read.
. It's all in the Head, RV has it. Few do.
We have a lot of hype and excitement about the 'big five' riders, but anyone who doesn't believe we are in the RV-era is in denial. I know because I have been too.
Good read but I don't think "The modern era simply produces more wins for fewer riders than ever before." holds much ground. If anything its the other way around. This year was just a fluke season, but last year had 5 different winners! And next year, with new blood, that number could be even higher.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Stewart will be back and Dungey may be back. Especially in the situation where he wraps up the title this weekend, he wont have any real reason to beat them and they will have every reason to beat him. I don't see him winning out unless Dungey doesn't come back and Stewart doesn't have one of his now rare good rides, of which I think he'll have another before the season is over.
Not sure I agree with the assertions in the article either. As much of an RV fan that I am, I think that this season would have produced a lower number of wins for the champion than the previous few years. The talent is to great at the top producing different potential winners.
That said, winning is much harder and the titles harder to get.
Time will tell, we just need to wait a few years.
I agree with factory1, 12 races in the season would be better.
RV is a cut above everyone. He's wired in mentally and physically- and his bike is dialed in too. When he 'holeshots' the field, it's usually over. Everybody's then fighting for 2nd. Give him a bad start and we get to watch him methodically reel in the competition. It seems like they all just know it's coming too- and it's only a matter of time before he passes them.
Nascar is a perfect example of a Racing series/season that has become far to long and drawn out... I realize these series and teams are providing jobs and careers for many people but friends I know that work in or affiliated over 'there' talk about the l-o-n-g season of travel, etc. For most I know [who are not drivers making millions], its really hard on a family. The 'Chase' is a joke too. Yeah great, let's race 20 races that really won't count toward the Championship unless you're averaging a top ten finish and then restart the top 10 in points from Zero for an equal shot at the title with 10 races left in the season. The added this to jump-start some enthusiasm for the series because the racing is a snooze-fest. Band-aid solution to problems they don't want to recognize and solve. Brilliant leadership and marketing too.
Agree with factory 1 that there should be a longer stretch/break for these guys between SX and MX... for testing, healing and just general decompression from racing for a little while. This is the most exciting kind of racing out there. I hope the Series Governing Bodies and Promoters [AMA, Monster...] don't ruin it by adding more events. Bigger is not always better..., Quality vs. quantity...
"Chad Reed has said himself, that this is the fastest he has ridden his whole career. He has also mentioned the insane pace him and Villo were going when they were battling,."
"Tim Ferry was never fast, thats why."
One of Carmichaels perfect seasons was against Reed when he was 22 years old- and one was against the 27 year old Timmy Ferry... So now in 2012, Reed is 'way faster at age 30'- since he is matching Villopotos 'blistering, insane pace' (and he was actually leading Villopoto in outdoors points before his big crash). But in contrast the 33 year old Timmy Ferry was not a worthy, competitive opponent for Stewart in 2008 when he recorded his "gift" perfect season.
So.. let me get this straight- Timmy Ferry got slower with age- and in 2008 he wasn't going nearly as fast as that guy that Carmichael had to deal with 6 years earlier in his first perfect season? And in contrast- Reed is going way faster now than he was 8 years ago- when he finished second to Carmichaels percect season?
Hmmmmnnnn...Back in '06 they were still running the semi's in supercross- and not smoothing out the tracks after the Lcq- Same goes for outdoors- the second moto was always way rougher. But now with our big time tv package- they are smoothing out the tracks between motos and before the mains- so the riders can attain higher speeds- which looks better for the tv show. But according to some- Villopoto and Reed are now running a pace that is faster that Carmichael and Stewart were running when battling in 2006?
So, Carmichael and Stewart weren't going as fast as you could go on a bike? There was still a level above that speed that Carmicheal and Stewart couldn't find, and Reed and Villopoto are racing at that speed right now? And Stewart is as fast as ever, but is not able to keep up that 'insane pace' without crashing? And they are going at a faster pace than Carmichael was- even though Carmichael said that he elevated his game to run with Stewart when he moved up?? And if Reed could have gone as fast then as he is right now- he would have dethroned the goat, and beaten Stewart as well? Hmmmmnnnn....
WFO - Totally agree. All you have to do is watch youtube videos of Stewart and RC going at it. The speed to this day is still untouched. People can say what they want but even with technology advances and changes in training that speed is untouched. If you took RC,CR and Stew in their younger days and matched them with RV and RD now, I believe you would see RC and Stew batteling out front with a huge gap over CR in third while there is another huge gap where RV and RD are going at it. Similar to the days of when Stew and RC were killing it. I'm 26 and I can feel the difference of getting up every day from 3 years ago. I would imagine it gets worse each year. I would think it would slow you down a little not make you that much faster.
Hard to think someone who is 30 with a ton of cash still wants it as bad as they used to at the age of 23.
@ wfo and pw29,
Men reach their athletic physical peak around 30 so it's is very possible the pace they are running is faster than before.
I dont think the RV now vs. RC, CR, JS of say 2006 is relevant. I believe those 3 were in their prime in 2006 and they finished up sx in vegas seperated by 3 points. Fast forward to 2009 and i believe stewart and reed are still in their prime, if not faster. Remember the crazy battles they had that year? Well that was RV's rookie year and he beat them twice. He is obviously way faster now then he was his rookie year... just saying. And remember when RV beat the GOAT while on a 250F at mxon at budds creek? Thats some kind of proof that he was at least somewhat on pace with RC... you guys on here are clowns. Why cant you just enjoy the racing for what it is?
Stewart and Carmichael each had a dnf- thats why reed was so close because of his consistency.
First RC and JS were going as fast as they could, I didn't buy into the we are going as you can go statement. There will always be room for improvement and their lap times were varied as they are today.
I watched them closly in person in 2006 and was AMAZED at their speed, especially outdoors. The speeds those two were going was thrilling to watch. I do not feel RV,CR and RD have attained that pace. I know its a judgement call and there is really no way to know but that is my take. On the other hand the top guys only go their fastest when they need to and the raw adrenalin is flowing. JS pushed RC and RC stepped it up, More recently we have seen the same thing when JS passes CR and witness him going to the edge to stay with him. If RV gets pushed that hard I feel he to will step up the pace.
We can only hope that happens and I believe it will as some of the next gen racers come into their own. I do think RD will continue to improve. It would be amazing to see RV getting pushed to the limit and answering the demand like we saw RC just a few years back. I think we havent seen 2006 speed yet but I feel we will in the next 2 years. ! ! !
Brian, remember RC had epstien bar virus at that race and didnt ride anymore til he recovered. Not taking ANYTHING away from RV as I feel he was incredible, but I was there and feel RC was faster at most of the nationals that year and I was wondering why he seemed off a tad, then we got the news of what he had.
Dude I AM enjoying the racing as much as ever and also enjoy posting on here !!
GO RV !!!
Vital mx: "Ricky Carmichael, in his final Motocross of Nations for Team USA, took the moto win. In the first moto (combined MX1 and MX2), he'd had to work his way up from the back of the pack after a first-lap incident, to finish third.
The third member of Team USA, Timmy Ferry, did everyone proud as he had to overcome adversity much like RC did in his first moto, coming back through the pack to finish fourth in his first moto. He finished a strong second in the final moto, and finally added a Motocross of Nations win to his long resume. "
So as amazing as Villopoto's ride was- he did not 'run R/C's pace'. And as you can clearly see- Timmy Ferry was not uncompetitive in fall 2007- also In 2008 he won the mxon for us by coming from 22nd to 5th, after Stewart stalled it on a hay bale.
And you shouldn't call other people clowns on here.
Clown huh tough guy? I can't enjoy it because it’s not that great. At least the west coast lites were decent. I would like to see VT do a post if they haven't on age muscle growth, endurance etc. I know that sports science did a test on Randy Couture with a clinch. His strength increased over time instead of growing fatigued like most normal people. He was also tested for HGH, Tes and Steroids while fighting and came up clean. Don't think it's possible for a guy at his age with his physique to show these types of results without using some type of enhancement. It goes to show you that even if you blood test you can still go undetected when you cycle right.
Seems to be an issue of the difference in funding and technology. When was the last time a REAL privateer won a race? ricky ryan?
without the technology and funding the large teams have there is little or no chance of anyone beating any of the top 4-5 guys.
we talk about the mental aspect... which could be totally related to the fact that some of the other privateer guys know before they are even on the track that they have basically no chance of winning a race.
Great article and as someone who's lived through every single season it was still very informative and offered a good perspective.
What you cannot do is try to compare riders speed from era to era. Impossible. You could just as easily say Roger D would have handed RC and RV their friggin hats, but we'll never know. Just be happy at the excellence we're seeing right now. I do think we have way more parity than we've seen in years past. The early season here proved it. Last year proved it.
And for those recommending less SX rounds you should know most riders would happily axe the Nationals in half and keep SX the way it is.
What a hoot! People actually tink the speeds 4-5 years ago are as fast or faster than they are today!
CR and RC have booth said they are faster today than they were then, but hey...I am sure you folks now more than the actual racers do. :-)
Ding dongs. Hell the advances in power delivery in the last 2-3 years ensures the bikes and riders are going faster..unless you somehow think the talent is getting worse? You probably do. :-(
You want to see the best speed the world has EVER seen on a dirt bike. Steel City last year with RD and RV was absolutely unbelievable!!!!
Holy cow!! Fastest bikes in history being ridden at the limits. 8 seconds a lap faster than 3rd place!
Yeah, keep dreaming that the guys a few years back where as fast or faster.
Pipe dream. Hell Crack Pipe Dream
Open Class you're on crack if you think otherwise. You tube it bro compare and contrast. C*ck monkey.
Ok, I am going to date my self here. Back in 1884 I lined up at Saddleback park for the Golden State Searies, I hole shot the 250 class and when RJ passed me I thought that I could follow him and learn something. Well I did learn something,"I was not fast enough to follow him let alone see his lines" the top guys are so fast it is insane. Watching them ride is so deceiving the speed that they carry is unbelievable. I have so much respect for those guys.
I think the field was MUCH deeper in the early / mid-eighties. There were 10 guys on the gate that could win any given race. That is not the case today.
A Bailey, O'mara, Hannah, Ward, Barnett, Johnson, etc. would not stand for another racer beating them on a regular basis. They used to stuff a competitor just to let them know "I am still here". Those days quite possibly were the zeinith of the "rubbin' is racin'" methodology of motocross (barring the "Beast" VS "Chicken" dust-ups).
The mental makeup of a champion racer will not allow them to consider that one racer is simply faster (more dominant) than them. Smith & Tripes didn't with Hannah, Ward, Glover & O'mara didn't with Barnett, Johnson didn't with Bailey, Emig didn't with McGrath and I'm certain Reed, Dungey & Canard don't with Villopoto.
Yes, I said Villopoto so, let the howls of disaproval begin.
Also, the tracks ARE different so, that has to be accounted for as well as the bikes.
Good job Weege, the peeps will be on fire over this one.
don't tell me, tell it to RC who said they are faster now.
Sheesh. LIke it is personal or something?
Reeds Done , Rd and KTM nah ! , JS who knows , still the fastest guy though ! RV will not have it so easy if JS figures it out , and Barcia will never let RV get anywhere near RCs record .. MC RC and JS records will probably stay safe for a very long time ... JS will most likely move into second on the all time win list .no one will get near those two for a long time , if at all !
Every year the riders get faster, every rider will at some time reach his peek and not get any faster. It is at that point a new rider takes over. Sometimes this comes because of injury, age or just plain and simple some one comes along that is just faster. RC beat MC when MC was in his prime. I do not think the domination that MC had the year before was a flook, RC was just faster than MC.
PW29
sorry gotta agree with Open Class.
think of it like this. it was 2007 MXoN when RV smoked everyone include RC on a 250! You really think RV isn't faster now on a 450?
We all like to live in the glory days but speeds always get faster.....just ask Stewart who is having a real hard time keeping up these days.
2007 MXoN MX1 - MX2 best lap times
RV 2:08.691
RC 2:11.910
http://www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx
PS...I know RC was coming from the back of the pack but I'm guessing he had a lap or two with some open track??? I'm one of the biggest RC fans there is but I also believe in evolution and if you don't believe the bikes are faster and the riders more refined in technique and skills then you're in denial. In my opinion.
I think the technique across the board has been refined but not speed. There is no way a 30 year old CR is faster than a 23 CR thats hungrier and can't stand being beat. Say what you want but JS is on a crap bike. If they ever jump brands it will come out, just like it did when he switched teams. Before you come back and say he did it for Money read on. There were only two options where he can win a championship with the right technology and money to back him, Yosh/Suz and JGR/Yam. Suzuki couldnt do it when they were factory, how they going to pull it off through Yosh? JGR stated they signed the Yamaha deal before JS7 was signed. You need factory support to have elite bikes. The bike was totally changed to suit JS7's liking. Everything is great until he's put into a race situation. Sh*t happens in racing, all this talk about how RV is dialed with his bike and nothing can stop him. I remember the 2010 season and he looked pretty dialed too. Facts are its MX and anything can happen. It's about how elastic you are and how well you can bounce back. TC beat RV for a title RD beat RV for titles, he is not unstoppable.
Yes they are going faster now- the bikes are faster and the tracks are smoothed out more often. But the argument is not about MPH. If you want to look at it that way- then the guys who cant even make it out of the LCQ in 2012 would have lapped Bob Hannah on his Yamaha- does that mean they are better riders? Or you could say that Adam Ciancarulo will be going faster than Villopoto is now by the time he gets to the premier class- does that make him better? Chad Reed is the 'constant' through all of this- he was here when he beat Carmichael six races in a row (no one else has ever done that) and he is still here now. He is traveling faster than in 2002- but only because his bike is better and the tracks are smoother- not because he has increased his level of skill and fitness. 5 or 6 years ago he was not even a contender for an outdoor title- and now all of a sudden he is at age 30. Everyone else is on the same level of bike- but suddenly he is competitive again. Explain that.
I cant believe anyone is questioning RC's speed!! RC was and is the flat out most dominate fastest motocrosser ever. And Stewie tried to run with him and crashed his brains out like he is doing now..Period.. Stewie crashed thrying to catch RC. I give him credit, because nobody else was running RC's pace at all. But I think RV could probably run that pace.. Reed was also very fast outdoors too, dont think he wasnt.. He was the only one whoi kept RC behind him at the Des Nations when RV won the moto after RC gave up his gate pick to RV. Then RC got in a first turn crash and had to run the pack down. Reed finished behind RV but ahead of RC.. He was fast then too.. I think Reed may be exaggeration a little saying he is the fastest he has ever been.. He isnt going to say "I'm slower now, but so is everyone else">>> He wants to keep those sponsers happy
@WFO-- They dont smooth the National tracks anymore between motos..That went out a few years ago. I havent seen them touch the track between motos at Red Bud in a few years now..And Reed didnt race outdoors 5 or 6 years ago.. When he did, he finished second only to RC, but nobody beat RC..
@sarinat46--Its a medical fact that men start losing testosterone when they turn 30..And lose HGH, after they past 22.. So your theory about men hitting their physical peak at 30 is insane. Name a track athlete that wins a gold medal in any sprint at age 30?? Mens physical performance peak is around 22-27, then its starts to drop off.
BS - I'm 35 and I'm mother effing fit!!!! Just kidding. ...agreed bd200.
Who faster? Good question. I used to listen to the webcasts on the puter when Carmichael and Stewart were battling. I would then have live timing in another window. Something I did observe at that time their lap times were 2 to 4 seconds a lap faster than the rest of the pack. AND at least 3 to 5 seconds faster than any of the 250 lites . I still run live timing , but have noticed the lites guys (top 3) are running a repectable supercross time. Many times only a second seperates the top lights to the supercross class. It never used to be like that when Carmichael was around. Always a huge gap. Don't beleive me ? Look at Tomacs times compared to the supercross class. Is everyone going faster than 5 years ago ? Sure. But no one seems to have crazy fast lap times like Carmichael , Stewart , and occaisionally Reed.
On a different note Reed was going really fast just before his crash. He was on RV's pace and I think he would have had some great battles but just was not meant to be. Not sure if he would have messed with RV's head but I can say this . You will have less confidence if you win by a second than if you win by 20 seconds. We will never know. Hats off to Villopoto though. He kept it on 2 and rode fast and smart.
I don't think I've seen anyone go as fast as Carmichael outdoors in '07, but Villopoto last year was pretty darn close.
I agree. Carmichaels' % of wins per # of starts has to be high. JS even admitted one of his problems was being passed by someone. That had never happened in his career until RC. It kind of messed with his head. He never gave up but did have some pretty horrific crashes trying to keep up. But then he has had pretty horrific crashes for no reason.
To see if RV could run RCs pace, this sign of the lap times says it all. While on a smaller bike he was laying waste to RC... and everyone else
http://www.racerxonline.com/2007/09/25/sign-of-the-lap-times-red-bull-motocross-of-nations
RV was faster on that day. He nailed it. Ricky had the Epstein thing going on but RV was fast. However, go back and look at the outdoor national times from that summer. Let me know if RV's lap times were faster at each national. RC's lap times were faster at every national.
Villopoto laid waste to everyone at 2007 mxon- he was on a different level than everyone else. But it's not like he destroyed everything that he touched that year- His national outdoor title only contained 5 wins out of 12 -against Townley.
dz958... Them MXD times are SICK!! RV 3 sec faster then RC!!! WOW. I was there that day and he was crazy fast. The fastest I heve EVER seen someone go...Bar none!!
Stewart used to run faster times then big bike class on a 125. 250/450's were about mainting throttle control. Did you not read the comment above RC gave up gate pick to RV and RC tangled in the start. He was coming through the pack. RV will never be RC.
2002 Reed finished a distant 3rd to Stewart in the 125 outdoor- 138 points back. He competed in seven 250/450 outdoor series. He has a 1st- ahead of Short Tedesco Byrne and Hahn- a 2nd which was 124 points back- 2 distant 3rds- a 6th an 8th and an 11th (Some of these were due to injury). He is a great rider- but as you can see he hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire in the outdoors during his career- he is much better at indoors. But now in 2011- he is leading Villopoto at the 2/3 point, and having his own way up until the big crash. So how did he suddenly turn into a true 'championship contender' after having failed badly at it in six of his previous seven tries. Also he is now 30 years old, very very rich and has a little kid to look after. That's all i'm sayin. Villopoto is the best rider right now- but he could break his femur this weekend (I hope not) but it is possible. His 4 closest competitors are all out with injury- so it could happen to him too. He very well could jump off of the track and land in a boat or something. Then Dungey comes back all healed up- and sweeps the last 2 rounds and becomes the 2012 champ.... Stranger things have happened in motocross.
Guys are forgetting that RC was coming through the pack, RV had an open track ahead of him. You would think some comments on here are from guys who has never raced before.. Not bagging on RV, he is the man, but the truth is nobody was as fast as RC, check the titles. If anyone can be that fast, it is RV though.. No doubt.