Author: Kyfromca

16 rounds into the 17-round series of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, three-time champ Ryan Villopoto secured his fourth-straight crown in New Jersey after winning the 450 Main Event inside Met-Life Stadium, once again scrawling his name into the history books. His fifth win of the season also marked the 40th of his career, and his wrap-up of the championship sets him alongside only one other racer in history to win four consecutive titles: Jeremy McGrath.

Yet another storied season for Villopoto saw its absolute highs and its damaging lows, but the champ persevered and prevailed over the intense competition in the premier 450 class. With a commanding points lead coming into New Jersey, Villopoto needed only to survive the main event unscathed inside the top 18, but RV2 dominated his heat race, then rolled the momentum into the main event to take the checkered flag when the torches lit. By sealing his championship a full round before the season finale, Villopoto left no doubt of his absolute dominance in Supercross.

Ryan Villopoto is the fastest man on a dirt bike….just check the scoreboard. You are one bad man, Ryan. Congrats!

Seattle was awesome. I was so stoked to get the win in front of my hometown crowd. I had a ton of family and friends there so it was cool to win with all them at the race. Obviously we would of liked to wrap up the championship but we stuck to plan with keeping it consistent and staying up front. Now, I’m going to enjoy the weekend off and get ready for Jersey. – RV2

Irvine, Calif. (April 14, 2014) – In front of his hometown crowd of Seattle, Wash., the site of his very first 450SX win, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto captured his fortieth career Monster Energy Supercross win at CenturyLink Field on Saturday. Villopoto grabbed the holeshot in the main event and went on to lead all 20 laps uncontested. In the 250SX East Region, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Justin Hill won his heat race, the first of his career, and went on to battle to a third place finish in the main event. Dean Wilson grabbed the holeshot in the main event, but crashed while pressuring for the lead and finished fourth.

Hometown Hero

Growing up just a couple hours from downtown Seattle, Villopoto always enjoys a warm welcome from the city. The champ achieved his first career 450SX class win in Seattle back in 2009, but had not seen the top of the podium at CenturyLink Field since. A poor start in his heat race sent him to the semi for the second consecutive week, which he took the win and was set to turn things around in the main event. Almost a carbon copy of last week in Houston, Villopoto grabbed the lead out of the first turn on his KX™450F and continued to check out on the field leading all 20 laps and taking his fifth win of the season and the 40th of his career. The champ now has a 48-point lead in the championship standings with two rounds remaining.

“It feels great to win in front of all my friends and family here in Seattle,” said Villopoto. “We were a little off in the heat race, but in the main event the bike was on and I was on. We inched closer to wrapping the title up but all we can do is win races and see where everything falls.”

Electric

A hometown favorite always brings a crowd to their feet, but that was an understatement in Seattle. Villopoto’s day was one of the busiest of the year as the pits were jammed surrounding the Monster Energy Kawasaki truck all day as hundreds of RV fans looked on to get a glimpse of the their local boy. On the final laps of the main event, the crowd roared as Villopoto circled the track on his way to only his second 450SX win in Seattle.

Cross-Country

With just two rounds remaining in the 2014 Monster Energy Supercross season, the riders get their first weekend off after 15 straight races. The series will resume and make its debut at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on April 26th. The Eastern Region will be back in action as Martin Davalos plans to extend his points lead before the final round in Las Vegas, while Villopoto will have the opportunity to wrap up his fourth-consecutive championship.

Irvine, Calif. (April 7, 2014) – There were no problems in Houston on Saturday night for Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto as the three-time defending Monster Energy Supercross champion rocketed out to the holeshot at NRG Stadium and never looked back to earn his fourth win of the season. Villopoto entered the Houston round looking to regain some championship momentum but after a crash in his heat race, which sent him to the semi, the three-time supercross champ would have to dig deep. A thrilling last corner pass for the win in the semi to set up the rest of the night as Villopoto jumped out of the gate with a strong start, collected the holeshot and led wire-to-wire to get his fourth win of the season.

“As we get closer to the end of the season, I still want to win races,” said Villopoto. “There were some tricky sections on the track tonight and the whoops were gnarly. James (Stewart) has been on a roll recently and I knew I had to come out here and get a win to take away his momentum.”

With his win in Houston, Villopoto took another step closer to claiming his fourth straight Monster Energy Supercross title. RV gained 10 points on his nearest competitor and he now holds a 45-point advantage with just three races remaining.

Next week marks the return to the Pacific Northwest, home of both Villopoto and Hill. Both riders will be looking to take home a victory on their home soil as Monster Energy Supercross heads to Qwest Field in Seattle.