The talk immediately after Saturday’s Seattle Supercross indicated Ryan Villopoto suffered minor injuries (including a handlebar to the gut) during the first lap of the main event. A press release received by MD today, however, states Villopoto will miss the remainder of this year, including outdoor racing, as a result of a knee injury that will require surgery. The press release (below) does not specify the nature of the injury, but given the amount of time Villopoto will be recovering, it appears likely it involves ligament damage. Villapoto is the most dominant Supercross and motocross rider on the planet at this point, and is the defending champion in the AMA National Motocross series. Here is the press release.
Irvine, Calif., (April 24, 2012) — Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto will not defend his AMA Motocross title in 2012 after injuring his knee at the Seattle supercross on Saturday night. The two-time AMA Supercross and defending AMA Motocross champion will undergo surgery on his knee this week.
“I’m pretty disappointed right now,” said Villopoto. “I have trained hard for this season and even though I won the supercross title, I really wanted to defend my outdoor championship. I’ve been through injury before and I know how hard I have to work to get back.”
Villopoto is coming off of a dominant 16 months where the Poulsbo, Wash. native earned two AMA Supercross titles on the strength of 15 wins, the AMA Motocross Championship with three wins and also the richest payday in supercross with a million dollar win at the Monster Energy Cup.
Barcia mature?!!!
Yeah right. Him roosting riders/medic team at the finish line in Houston show imaturity.
I remember motocross when it was a cross-country event on a closed course. Jumps/bumps/whoop-do-doos were what occurred naturally.
Those WERE the days !!!! 🙂
That sucks, I like Motocross more than Supercross. Heal well and soon Ryan.
I sometimes lose perspective as a fan, my minor diminishment in the perceived “quality” of racing viewed equals Major pain or worse for the actual Competitors.
BTW What’s up with the CAPTCHA? Is that level of “security” against automated “replies” really necessary? Hope third times the charm…
There has to be something fundamentally wrong with SX when EVERY rider with a chance to win the title including the series champion himself has crashed out for the season.
I agree totaly !!!!
I don’t enjoy watching anymore. You hit the nail on the head.
Blame it on extremes. I remember motocross when it was a cross-country event on a closed course. Jumps/bumps/whoop-do-doos were what occurred naturally. But that wasn’t enough. Everything these days is taken to extremes. Promoters designed the obstacles to launch riders higher and higher. Whoops became small hills. Doubles/triples deliver severe punishment, should you come up short. Fun to watch, but sure is hard on the bones. I am glad I raced motocross when it was fun and challenging; not a threat to live and limb. Prolly makes me sound old … but my limbs are all intact and I can walk upright.
Unadilla is still a very natural race course. The SX set would call it boring. It’s always a great race though.
They need to drop the displacement of the bikes. There is no need for 65+hp bikes and the tracks they can design to exploit them. Huge jumps with super short approaches leave little room for error. 200 and 300cc would do it and we’d never know the difference while watching the racing.
Of course, it also comes down to the decisions the riders make. You can rack yourself up just as bad on a 250 as on a 450..
Pity. RV seems injury prone. Could well keep him out of the record books. Here’s hoping he makes a full/speedy recovery.
Why oh why did Villopoto have to get needlessly hurt? Sucks major.
(in Brady Bunch Jan voice) Barcia! Barcia! Barcia!
Barcia needs to step up to the big bikes now.
With all the big names hurt, he has a real chance at winning the title.
Bam Bam has some adjustments to make. He rides like Vilopoto did when he was in the lights (maybe a little slower even). Last year was the 1st time RV FINISHED a season on the big bike. Barcia would do well to come in a little cautious.
Barcia has shown incredible maturity this season in the east coast lites. Even his riding style has been reined in to 95%. He looked great this season. I can’t wait to see him on a 450 fulltime.