Ryan Villopoto

Last updated
Ryan Villopoto
Ryan Villopoto.jpg
RV in 2013
Nationality Flag of the United States.svg American
BornAugust 13, 1988 (1988-08-13) (age 35)
Fortuna, California, U.S. [1]
Motocross career
Years active2005–2015
Teams
  • •Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit Kawasaki (2005-2015)
Championships
  • •2006 AMA Motocross 250cc
  • •2007 AMA Supercross 250cc West
  • •2007 AMA Motocross 250cc
  • •2008 AMA Motocross 250cc
  • •2011 AMA Supercross 450cc
  • •2011 AMA Motocross 450cc
  • •2012 AMA Supercross 450cc
  • •2013 AMA Supercross 450cc
  • •2013 AMA Motocross 450cc
  • •2014 AMA Supercross 450cc
Wins
  • •AMA 250cc Supercross: 11
  • •AMA 250cc Motocross: 19
  • •AMA 450cc Supercross: 41
  • •AMA 450cc Motocross: 12
  • •AMA Total: 83

Ryan 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]

Contents

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 in 2013.jpg
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 Kawasaki KX450F in 2014 AMA Supercross An FIM World Championship.jpg
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. MXoN Sat177.jpg
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.

Career results

Career AMA Supercross/Motocross results

[3] [12]

YearRnd
1
Rnd
2
Rnd
3
Rnd
4
Rnd
5
Rnd
6
Rnd
7
Rnd
8
Rnd
9
Rnd
10
Rnd
11
Rnd
12
Rnd
13
Rnd
14
Rnd
15
Rnd
16
Rnd
17
Average
Finish
Podium
Percent
Place
2006 250 MX5112111164221-----3.0867%1st
~2007 250 SX-W1211111-------121-3.3389%1st
2007 250 MX222117221112-----2.0092%1st
2008 250 SX-E-------22221-114-23.8875%2nd
2008 250 MX2111111122120-----2.8392%1st
2009 450 SX57433OUT43969OUTOUTOUT1414.5338%6th
2009 450 MX121OUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT-----11.0050%24th
2010 450 SX5271411191141120OUTOUTOUT4.8557%4th
2010 450 MXOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT-----OUTOUTOUT
2011 450 SX1214237111OUT9234132.6275%1st
2011 450 MX331223221212-----2.00100%1st
2012 450 SX1343111215111119OUTOUT3.0086%1st
2012 450 MXOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT-----OUTOUTOUT
2013 450 SX1621186121111122112.8282%1st
2013 450 MX113122115111-----1.6792%1st
2014 450 SX415132424126211112.4171%1st
Championships
Total Career AMA Wins

Stadium Super Trucks

(key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.)

Stadium Super Trucks results
Year12345678910111213141516171819202122SSTCPtsRef
2017 ADE ADE ADE STP STP LBH LBH PER PER PER DET DET TEX TEX HID HID HID BEI GLN GLN ELS
10
ELS
10
20th35 [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Fortuna-born, Washington native Ryan Villopoto wins AMA Supercross race in Seattle". Times-Standard . April 14, 2014. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  2. Ryan Villopoto wins AMA Supercross title. Usatoday.Com (2011-05-08). Retrieved on 2011-12-05.
  3. 1 2 "Ryan Villopoto career results". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  4. DiZinno, Tony (July 9, 2015). "Motocross/ legend Ryan Villopoto announces retirement". NBC Sports . Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  5. "Ryan Villopoto Injury Update". Kawasaki.com. April 19, 2010. Archived from the original on May 8, 2010. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  6. "Villopoto wins AMA Supercross championship". 5 May 2011.
  7. "Ryan Villopoto – 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Champion ! | Supercross.com". supercross.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-30.
  8. Kelly, Godwin (March 8, 2014). "Villopoto captures 4th of last 5 Daytona Supercross events". News-JournalOnline.com. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  9. Smith, Shawn (October 1, 2014). "Ryan Villopoto leaving American motocross, will race MXGP series for 'final year of racing'". motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  10. Kimball, Chris (April 20, 2015). "Ryan Villopoto Crash At MXGP Of Trentino" . Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  11. Villopoto, Ryan (July 9, 2015). "Farewell: Motocross and Supercross legend, Ryan Villopoto Announces Retirement". rv2.com. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  12. AMA Supercross Results Archive. Results.amasupercross.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-05.
  13. "2017 Overall Point Standing". Stadium Super Trucks . Retrieved February 7, 2018.