Ryan Daniel Villopoto (born August 13, 1988, in Fortuna, California[1]) is an American former professional motocross and supercross racer who competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2005 to 2014; a four-time 450cc AMA Supercross Champion, a two-time 450cc AMA Motocross Champion, a three-time 250cc AMA Motocross Champion & a one-time 250cc West Supercross Champion. He was also a member of the winning USA team at the 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2011 Motocross Des Nations.[2][3]
Villopoto raced his entire career for the Kawasaki factory racing team in the supercross and outdoor motocross series. His retirement from supercross was announced on January 3, 2015, on the opening day of the 2015 Monster Energy Supercross season.[4] His trainer was Aldon Baker.
AMA Supercross/Motocross career
Supercross
2010
While leading the Main of Round 14 at St. Louis, Villopoto came up short on a triple jump and leaped from his bike, landing hard. His bike dove into the face of the third jump and flipped over several times. Medical workers arrived on the scene and cut the racing boot off his foot. Villopoto had to be carried off the track. Further examination revealed a broken right tibia and fibula and surgery was performed to stabilize it.[5] He withdrew from the 2010 series after his Round 14 injury with 266 championship points, leaving him in 4th place by the season's end.
2011
Villopoto won his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, edging out Chad Reed by four points in the 17-race championship. Villopoto won a series-high six races throughout the season.[6]
Later he won the inaugural Monster Energy Cup, claiming wins in the three heats to grab a US$1 million purse.
He finished 2011 leading Ryan Dungey by 12 points to claim the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
2012
Villopoto won his second AMA Supercross Championship, capturing the title with four rounds remaining in the season. He won 9 of 16 rounds of racing.
2013
Villopoto in 2013
Villopoto won the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. It was Villopoto's third straight AMA Supercross Series championship, putting him in an elite class of off-road motorcycle champions – only Bob Hannah, Jeremy McGrath, and Ricky Carmichael have won three straight SX titles (Hannah ’77 – ’79, McGrath ”93 – ’96, ’98 – 2000, Carmichael ’01 – ’03).[7]
He would also go on to win the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
2014
Villipoto’s 2014 Championship bike
Villipoto wrapped up his 4th straight Monster Energy Supercross championship with one round remaining in the 2014 series.
On March 8, 2014, Villopoto won the 450cc Final at Daytona International Speedway. It was his 4th career win at Daytona, moving him within one win of Ricky Carmichael's all-time record of five Daytona wins.[8] He had previously won races in Phoenix and Oakland during the Supercross season. On April 5, 2014, Villopoto won the 450cc Main Event at Houston's Reliant Stadium, bringing his total career Supercross All-Time Wins number to 38, making him 5th place overall behind Chad Reed. On April 26, 2014, Villopoto dominated the highly competitive Supercross race at round 16 in New York, Metlife stadium, collecting his 6th win of the season (40th of career).
2015
Villopoto chose to compete in the FIM Motocross World Championship [9] placing first at the second race of the series in Thailand, but withdrew from the series after discovering that the injuries sustained from a crash in the Trentino GP were worse than initially realized.[10] In July, Villopoto announced his retirement on his official website.[11]
Motocross des Nations participation
2006
At 18 years of age and his Des nations debut, Villopoto went 3-2 to win the MX2 class and secure his first victory at this event.
2007
Villopoto dominated the field at the 2007 Mxon which was held at Budd’s Creek, USA. A 1-1 score led him to the MX2 class overall and a successful defence of the Chamberlin trophy.
2008
Villopoto at the 2008 MXON in Donington Park, England
Villopoto went 1-10 to win the MX2 class as well as his third consecutive Motocross of nations.
2011
After a 2-year absence from this event due to injury, Villopoto went 3-1 to win the open class and extend team USA’s win streak to 7.
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