FUNCHAL (Portugal), 1 October 2014 –
Nine-time US champion Ryan Villopoto will contest the FIM MXGP World Championship for the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team in 2015, while Jordi Tixier will defend his MX2 world title in Green.
Having won the Monster Energy FIM Supercross world title for the last four years, 26 year-old Villopoto, a loyal Kawasaki rider throughout his professional career, will take on the challenge of the world’s premier outdoor motocross series with the intention of bringing Kawasaki their first World Championship in the MXGP class; the worldwide series will host 18 rounds on four continents in 2015.
“I am ready for the next chapter in my career and to accomplish new goals,” said Villopoto. “I’ve never been one to look at the record books so when an opportunity like this comes around, to race against the best in the world and represent USA, I have to see it through. It will be a major change of pace, but I am extremely excited about the opportunity and also to be joined by a former champion like Tyla (Rattray). He knows what is needed to succeed on the world championship stage and I know I can learn a lot from him.”
It looks as though we’ve seen the last Villopoto/ Stewart battle indoors. It was certainly special while it lasted. photo by James Lissimore
He’s Going To Be Missed
So there it is, the official PR that Ryan Villopoto is indeed headed to Europe next year to compete in the FIM MXGP Championship. Although the rumour has been out there for some time, it’s taken to awhile to get all the formalities sorted out. I for one am very excited to see Villopoto race on the world stage. It will no doubt put a nice exclamation mark on his storied career.
While on the surface this move may seem like a puzzling decision, if you look beneath the surface I think it makes perfect sense for him. First off, the surgery that he had on his knee after the Las Vegas SX was more serious than first thought so the longer than expected recovery time will not allow him to race Supercross in 2015 anyway. With the chances of that championship gone, all that was left for him was a run at yet another outdoor title on the same tracks that he’s ridden for many years. With the physical effort required in the next few months to get “race ready”, maybe the thought of going back to the same old, same old didn’t excite the multi-time champion one bit?
I feel like Ryan Villopoto is cut from the same cloth as Ricky Carmichael, two riders that are very talented racers but not necessarily talented riders. For individuals like him, nothing comes easy, every little inch of speed and success on the race track comes from hard work. This “lunch pail” way of competing in a sport that so many people do strictly for enjoyment, must suck the life out of you over time. Save a few precious days during the off-season, motocross and supercross at Villopoto’s robotic level is a 9-5, 7 day-a-week endeavour with riding, training and nutrition. Every sport has these types of athletes and it seems like while they’re competing and winning, they’re focused and 100% committed. However, when they’ve had enough, they’re done! For these types of extraordinary humans, there are no short cuts or thoughts of maybe “milking it” for a season or two. They dig deep and push right to the finish line, however once they’ve crossed that line, there’s no looking back.
Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, Ryan Villopoto has been on top for a long time. photo by Virgil Knapp
I think Ryan Villopoto feels like he has 365 days of extreme hard work left in him. The type of work that he’s shown for so many years on American soil has made him one of the most successful racers we’ve ever seen. While he no doubt received a large pay cheque to go over to Europe in 2015, at this point in his career he needs a brand new, two wheeled challenge. With new tracks, a new team and new people to deal with, I’m sure the thought of all of this is very exciting. Not to mention that he and his wife will get see the world as they chase this World Championship. At 26 years-old, no kids to worry about and an already large bank account, it seems like the perfect time for the Villopotos to take on this adventure.
I guess the biggest question is, how will Ryan do against the GP regulars? Well, not to take anything away from the European riders, but I think Villopoto will destroy them next year. He is the very best outdoor rider this world has ever seen. He has the perfect combination of old school grit and new school style, he’s fit and fierce like Ricky Carmichael but he can also scrub like James Stewart and Ken Roczen. He’s going over to Europe because he wants to, not because he lacks opportunity in North America. It sounds like the ideal recipe for success.
Now with Villopoto leaving, James Stewart’s career hanging by a thread and Chad Reed in the twilight of his illustrious career, there’s definitely a changing of the guard in US racing. It’s going to be weird not to see the big #2 lined up at Anaheim in January and beyond. It’s actually going to be sad as the name Ryan Villopoto has been such a large part of our lives for a long time. However, in an age when this sport is so global and reaches so many, it’s going to be fun to watch him compete in every corner of the world in 2015. Good luck Ryan from everyone in Canada!!