Ryan_Villopoto

Ryan Villopoto

Ryan Villopoto

American motorcycle racer

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]

Quick Facts Nationality, Born ...

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.

Career results

Career AMA Supercross/Motocross results

[3][12]

More information Year, Rnd 1 ...
Championships
  • 2006 MX Lites Champion
  • 2007 AMA West SX Lites Champion
  • 2007 MX Lites Champion
  • 2008 MX Lites Champion
  • 2011 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
  • 2011 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
  • 2011 Monster Energy cup winner(1-1-1)
  • 2012 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
  • 2013 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
  • 2013 AMA 450 Motocross Champion
  • 2014 AMA Supercross 450 Champion
Total Career AMA Wins
  • 11 Wins in 125/250 AMA Supercross (Regional): 1–2006 7–2007 3–2008
  • 20 Wins in 125/250 AMA Motocross: 6–2006 5–2007 9–2008
  • 41 Wins in 250/450 AMA Supercross: 2–2009 7–2010 6–2011 9–2012 10–2013 7–2014
  • 12 Wins in 250/450 AMA Motocross: 1–2009 3–2011 8–2013
  • 73 Total AMA Wins: 6–2006 5–2007 9–2008 3–2009 7–2010 9–2011 9–2012 18–2013 7–2014
  • 1 Win in MXGP: 1–2015

Stadium Super Trucks

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

More information Stadium Super Trucks results, Year ...

References

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