Ryan Villopoto retired?

According to MXGP commentator Paul Malin, there will finally be a press release on Tuesday concerning the future of Ryan Villopoto.

But with Steven Frossard leaving STR KTM and rumoured to be heading back to KRT Kawasaki for the rest of the season, it would appear pretty clear that the statement will confirm the end of Villopoto’s motocross career.

This is not the way Villopoto wanted to leave the sport. Pic: YS

It had been thought that Villopoto would return for the last few races so he could race the US GP in front of his home crowd. But with the difficulty RV was already having at winning in MXGP before the crash, the thought of doing all the work to get fit again for a couple of final races clearly wasn’t appealing to the American once his world title dreams were over.

It isn’t the way the multi-time US champion would want to go out but Villopoto’s loop-out trying hold off Desalle at Arco di Trento appears to be the final (and memorable) moment of a successful and storied career.