Bench Racing Ammo: SX Title Clinched Before Lites
Thursday, April 19, 2012 | 11:30 AM
MOTOREX is used by factory teams worldwide, by independent pros and by top amateurs who demand the best performance from their race machines. The complete MOTOREX line includes a broad range of synthetic engine oils, lubricants, aerosol sprays, cleaners and care products. MOTOREX is available at dealerships nationwide.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
Print
We already know Ryan Villopoto wrapped up this year's Monster Energy SX Class Championship earlier than anyone in history, but did you know he also wrapped up a Lites SX title faster than anyone, either? On February 17th, 2007, RV clinched the 2007 Lites West SX title. Yes, in February! He had won all but one race—Phoenix, which went to Christophe Pourcel—but Pourcel was soon out of the series with a broken leg, and there weren’t any challenges left for RV. After that, there was nothing but domination and a number-one plate for Ryan.
Wrapping up a supercross championship in February is impressive, but what RV did this year is even more amazing: He managed to lock up the SX Class title before either of the Lites titles were clinched!
Considering that the 450 Championship goes down to Vegas and, up until last year, Lites East did not, this is not easy to do. On most occasions, both the East and West titles are clinched before the big bike title. In fact, we could only find one other occasion where a rider wrapped the big title before either Lites or 125 Championship's had been sewn up.
Villopoto joined McGrath as the only two riders to clinch an SX title before either Lites/125 titles were claimed.
Simon Cudby photo
Of course, that happened in the 1996 season, when Jeremy McGrath completely and totally dominated the 250 class to the tune of 13-straight wins, and 14 total in 15 races. In 1996, MC clinched the title at Pontiac, Michigan, with three races to go. Meanwhile in the 125s, the championship favorites ran into trouble and had to mount comebacks to grab their titles. Kevin Windham broke a collarbone out West and missed San Diego, so he had to go all the way down to the season finale in Denver to clinch the #1. And in the East, Mickael Pichon crashed out of the Atlanta opener in a huge wreck, putting him way down from the start. He managed to reel in John Dowd to clinch the title in Charlotte, a week after McGrath did.
This year, Villopoto clinched the SX Class crown a round before Justin Barcia wrapped up the East Lites title in New Orleans. After a few nail biters last year, RV is surely happy to get back to his old habits of wrapping this stuff up early.
Did you like this article?
Check out CAUGHT OUTSIDE
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
One of the most successful—and controversial—team managers of all time, Larry Brooks is looking to return to the races. Page 146.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
It is interesting that this guy has been so dominant since coming in, and almost everyone has discounted him. Even the media for 2010 and 2011 at the start of SX. NONE of the great tv analysts (including fro and RC) picked RV as a contender. They all had CR, JS, Dungey.
Hell RV was on a terror toward the end of 2010 and might have taken it if not for "the crash".
Then in 2011 they again did not have RV as a guy who could win this thing.
Hell it took almost to him wining the Monster cup, sweeping everything before the media started jumping on the band wagon.
Bout time.
What are you talking about? everyone had him as a contender in 2011 and even 2010
I kind of agree with open class... when Dungey took the titles in 2010 with an injured field, he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.. But if you take out injury in 2009 and 2010, RV has won just about everything he has completed. Other then 1 or 2 lites SX titles...
what the hell is open class talking about? rv has been a contender his whole life. and dont put words in peoples mouth saying emig and rc didnt think he was a contender.
what the hell is open class talking about? rv has been a contender his whole life. and dont put words in peoples mouth saying emig and rc didnt think he was a contender.
This guy is on a tear. Aldon Baker, redesigned KX450F, injured competition, whatever, he is just having everything fall his way. Don't take it as a slight Villo fans, he's put in the work to have earned the accolades but, I do hope there's some competition for him on the horizon. I'm tired of seeing runaway victories / championships.
In the early eighties there were around ten guys on the line that could win on any given night. Yes, I had to go to the way-back machine but, a championship won back then was an all-out brawl. You KNEW you were going to see a great race no matter what happened because there were numerous guys to fill the void of a fallen rider, mechanical or what-have-you.
As an example, David Bailey didn't have the number of wins that these racers do today but, because of the depth of his competition, you knew he was a phenomonal racer because of the wins that he DID get.
It wasn't until Bradshaw came along that we would see 8 or 9 + wins in a season, after that was McGrath and the start of streaks.
Since '93 there's been 7 SX champs in 20 years and only Emig & Dungey (so far) have been one-time winners. I suppose domination & streaks are the way of the world now but, I sure do miss seeing multiple lead changes, multiple race winners in a year and championships decided by a handful of points. Like Supermouth Huffman used to say, "you pay for the whole seat but, you'll only use the edge".
Ever since poto showed up on the 250, RC and the others always commented on the new redhead in town and how dominate he looks. He was coined little RC I believe.
He's never been off that list.
Not an RV fan but he has always been on the radar. That is stupid for someone to say he wasn't. Especially after his 2010 race wins.
From what I hear JS7 will race but in that slight chance he doesnt, I really hope RD dials the KTM in. I didn't enjoy the 2010 season and only watched some of the races. 2011 season was a whole different ball game and it realed me back in. I really hope this 2012 MX season is not a dissapointment like much of the SX series.
Open Class is correct. At the season preview for 2011 none of the announcers picked RV. That was RC, Emig, Shaheen and a couple others. I thought they were wrong then and obviosly they were.
Everyone had him as a contender but nobody had him as a favorite to win it.
Its funny but when you mention Bailey, Hannah, Johnson, Ward, O Mara, And more title contenders you were looking at relatively older seasoned pros. Guys who came up from the late 70's early 80's. They hung on through numerous changes in bikes and tracks.
Bradshaw, Emig and MC came up later and things changed. I wonder if the amature ranks is causing burnout for kids under so much pressure from a very early age. If it werent for the euros coming over every year the ranks would be even thinner.
WOW!! Ryan Vilopoto and McGrath, the only two guys to clinch so early.. Not RC or Stewart or Reed. That is quite impressive.
Open_Class is right to an extent, people have said RV could win races and be a contender, but no one really thought he would win. Going into 2010 all we heard about is JS and CR and the odd Dungey and Villopoto rightly so because of the year before. Going into 2011 all we heard about was JS and RD and a little RV once again, rightly so because RD was so dominant in 2010 and JS, no matter what happens the season before, he's always a overly hyped rider (atleast the last 3 years). RV has always been on the radar, yet off of it at the same time...
Yeah, RV has been a contender, but Open Class is right that he has been not picked as a favorite by any of the aforementioned guys. Think back to 2010 and because Reed and James got hurt, even they thought Dungey and RV were just picking up the sloppy seconds of what they left out there. I remember Reed making more than one comment about the poor "kids" competition out there and remember James thought he would show up at Unadilla and whip Dungey's ass? Don't forget going into 2011 RV was coming off a horrific broken leg, and if I am not mistaken he is the first to win his first title fight back after such an injury. RV wasn't picked because of the unknown of that injury. Then for 2012, many still thought James was magical and would return to his former glory, simply because he felt like it, and knock RV off his false perch. RV is a lot more secured on that perch than Reed's Kawi was when James knocked that over. If anyone wants ot knock RV off that top step now, they better bring some friends and maybe more than a weapon or two.
I like how people say that they didnt watch motocross in 2010 because it was boring. If you dont watch it because of boring-ness than you are not a true motocross fan. Who cares, still great to wa dfg
Anyone who claims this (or any other) SX/MX race is boring has obviously never watched mainstream stick and ball sports.
So no one thought RV would win at the start of 2010 or 2011? It was only the cyber-geniuses on here that had that brilliant insight? Is there more than one moon oribiting your world?
These are observations and not declarations of any particular genius, unless it is the lack of intellect of the collective group think within the industry.
Open_Class is right and back then I did pick RV to win the title in 2011 and even said i can't believe almost everyone picked RD to win it again.
Didn't remember Pourcel breaking his leg. I remember he traded wins with RV the 1st two races (CP's 1st SXs), then in the third I thought he just hurt it. He was leaving anyway for the GPs and might have been better off if he hadn't been able to race the GPs (got crippled and paralyzed at the Irish GP). Wonder how it might have been for him if he had just stayed.
"I picked so and so to win," etc..... do people think they have a following here? And in this case, thinking RV would win was a stretch? Most everyone I know thought he would.
All I know is 50% of former JS nutt huggers are now clawing for a spot on RV,s nuts now.