Ryan Villopoto competed in AMA Motocross Championships from 2005 to 2014. He is four-time 450 AMA Supercross Champion, two-time 450 AMA Motocross Champion, three-time 250 AMA Motocross Champion and one-time 250 West Supercross Champion.
He was also a member of the winning USA team at 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2011 Motocross Des Nations. Villopoto raced his entire career for the Kawasaki factory racing team.
His retirement from supercross was announced on January 3, 2015, on the opening day of 2015 Monster Energy Supercross season. At the end of 2014 fans received unexpected and unbelievable rumours that Ryan Villopoto will be heading to race in Europe.
Shortly after, the rumors were finally confirmed that Ryan indeed will be competing in 2015 FIM World Motocross Series in the MXGP class.
The nine-time US champion has signed with the Monster Energy Kawasaki Team of Europe with the intention of bringing Kawasaki their first World Championship in the MXGP class.
Sadly, we didn’t get to see Ryan compete for full season as he crashed at round 4 in Italy and injured himself.
Let’s take a look at how Villopoto was doing before his crash and his experience in Europe in general.
Words and video credit: Alanas Šaulys
