Hope he can finally smile now..

moto0852
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moto0852
Edited Date/Time 7/18/2015 4:11am

This guy put in a lot of work. (Racer head photo credit)


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langhammx
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langhammx 7/17/2015 4:27pm
7/17/2015 4:27pm
He was fortunate to be able to make a shit load of money, but racing Dirt Bikes, is a TOUGH WAY to make a living.
moto0852
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moto0852 7/17/2015 4:31pm
7/17/2015 4:31pm
What's interesting to me is the dynamic of him clearly being pushed into racing (by dad) and never really showing a love for it but clearly recognizing he was talented and he put in the work. Usually great talent with no desire creates poor endings.
kawasa84
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kawasa84 7/17/2015 4:32pm
7/17/2015 4:32pm
God I would have loved to have retired before age 30. All that hard work would be worth every bead of sweat and all the stress put on me race teams, family, sanctioning bodies, sponsors and fans.
Retired before age 30. Think about it, I have and working for 40 to 45 years sucks shit.
kawasa84
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kawasa84 7/17/2015 4:33pm
7/17/2015 4:33pm
moto0852 wrote:
What's interesting to me is the dynamic of him clearly being pushed into racing (by dad) and never really showing a love for it but clearly...
What's interesting to me is the dynamic of him clearly being pushed into racing (by dad) and never really showing a love for it but clearly recognizing he was talented and he put in the work. Usually great talent with no desire creates poor endings.
I know his grandpa loved MX, maybe thats where it came from

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racinstation
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racinstation 7/17/2015 5:07pm
7/17/2015 5:07pm
No one know what he loves or doesn't love except him. He was an awesome MX/SX racer, that is a fact. Whether he enjoys it or not is not our lot to judge.
moto0852
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moto0852 7/17/2015 5:10pm
7/17/2015 5:10pm Edited Date/Time 7/17/2015 5:12pm
racinstation wrote:
No one know what he loves or doesn't love except him. He was an awesome MX/SX racer, that is a fact. Whether he enjoys it or...
No one know what he loves or doesn't love except him. He was an awesome MX/SX racer, that is a fact. Whether he enjoys it or not is not our lot to judge.
Not sure if you are new to the sport but it's common and accepted knowledge he didn't love it. There no judgement in that. Just fact. Most of us don't love what we do for a living.
mayzo
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mayzo 7/17/2015 5:24pm
7/17/2015 5:24pm
With anything in life, the moment you stop enjoying it is the time to walk away from it but maybe the desire to be the best was what drove him all these years.

Time to enjoy life again, good luck mate
newmann
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newmann 7/17/2015 5:41pm
7/17/2015 5:41pm
He will take some time off and end up bored out of his mind. Then he will find himself a job, probably one with zero stress....

kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 7/17/2015 5:43pm
7/17/2015 5:43pm
newmann wrote:
He will take some time off and end up bored out of his mind. Then he will find himself a job, probably one with zero stress...
He will take some time off and end up bored out of his mind. Then he will find himself a job, probably one with zero stress....

Subway or Jimmy Johns!
hillbilly
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hillbilly 7/17/2015 5:45pm
7/17/2015 5:45pm
newmann wrote:
He will take some time off and end up bored out of his mind. Then he will find himself a job, probably one with zero stress...
He will take some time off and end up bored out of his mind. Then he will find himself a job, probably one with zero stress....

kkawboy14 wrote:
Subway or Jimmy Johns!
Subway needs a new spokesperson,the old one is in large trouble right now.
newmann
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newmann 7/17/2015 5:46pm
7/17/2015 5:46pm
Maybe he will get another factory ride and hang out with gramps. CZ anyone?

c_dub
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c_dub 7/17/2015 5:47pm
7/17/2015 5:47pm
kawasa84 wrote:
God I would have loved to have retired before age 30. All that hard work would be worth every bead of sweat and all the stress...
God I would have loved to have retired before age 30. All that hard work would be worth every bead of sweat and all the stress put on me race teams, family, sanctioning bodies, sponsors and fans.
Retired before age 30. Think about it, I have and working for 40 to 45 years sucks shit.
x 2. Retired,with no finance issues, in the prime years (in my opinion) of a man's life. And I'm sure know of that is lost on one Ryan Villopoto. Smart dude.
langhammx
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langhammx 7/17/2015 5:56pm
7/17/2015 5:56pm
moto0852 wrote:
What's interesting to me is the dynamic of him clearly being pushed into racing (by dad) and never really showing a love for it but clearly...
What's interesting to me is the dynamic of him clearly being pushed into racing (by dad) and never really showing a love for it but clearly recognizing he was talented and he put in the work. Usually great talent with no desire creates poor endings.
I'm not going to speak for Ryan, but I watched him grow up racing since he was on a 60 and he was "all business" at the races, for the most part. Having Alessi in front of him, during his amateur career, like a dangling carrot, kept hm motivated. He lined up to WIN, not just race. Say what you want about Dan (pops), he deserves a lot of credit for Ryan's success. Keeping a teenager motivated and disciplined to be a Pro Athlete is not an easy task. So many distractions and temptations..... Ryan stayed GROUNDED and that made a big difference.

One thing for certain... He put in the work and it paid off. Alessi could've been on the same shoes, but I think Tony went about it all wrong. Ryan made more money going to Europe for 3 races, than Mike has made in his whole career. That's got to keep Tony up at night ! Lol. Oh wait... Tony has something else "keeping him UP at night now".
Sir Roostsalot 7/17/2015 6:05pm
7/17/2015 6:05pm
Sorry to be harsh but I'm not shedding any tears for any pro racer, (except for those with catastrophic injuries), not saying it's easy but let's put the violins away boys. No sob story needed.
ryandiezic757 7/17/2015 6:06pm
7/17/2015 6:06pm
I knew this would be about rvLaughing but yeah I think he enjoyed it more than you guys think. He was actually pretty happy of a guy he just didn't like the press and the fame. He had a bad rep because cameras constantly pushed in his face and he wasn't like bambam who loved it, I am pretty certain he had a great time.
Dx3moto
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Dx3moto 7/17/2015 6:20pm
7/17/2015 6:20pm Edited Date/Time 7/17/2015 6:21pm
I think Ryan loves to ride dirt bikes, but he doesn't love the continuous pressure, nonstop schedule, risk of serious injury, and racing through injuries of racing professionally. You can give nothing but respect to him, the guy is the best racer of all time if you ask me. He doesn't have as many wins or titles of some of the other great riders of the sport (MC, RC, JS7, etc), but man he is one hell of a racer and has overcome more in a few seasons than most riders do in their entire careers. RV is the man.
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 7/17/2015 6:53pm
7/17/2015 6:53pm
racinstation wrote:
No one know what he loves or doesn't love except him. He was an awesome MX/SX racer, that is a fact. Whether he enjoys it or...
No one know what he loves or doesn't love except him. He was an awesome MX/SX racer, that is a fact. Whether he enjoys it or not is not our lot to judge.
Very well said.
Aceofspades 7/17/2015 7:07pm
7/17/2015 7:07pm
Id wager he loves the sport, but the 24/7 training probably made him hate being a professional in the sport.

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dboivin
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dboivin 7/17/2015 8:09pm
7/17/2015 8:09pm
he's going hunting. i wish i was him now more than when he was #1 rider in the world. no pressure, do what he wants....able to travel and start checking off those boxes on his bucket list. envy him.
fulltime wrench 7/17/2015 8:22pm
7/17/2015 8:22pm
newmann wrote:
Maybe he will get another factory ride and hang out with gramps. CZ anyone? [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/04/12/87135/s1200_Grand_Pa_Villopoto.jpg[/img]
Maybe he will get another factory ride and hang out with gramps. CZ anyone?

I don't have anything of value to add to the thread, but.......

Where the hell is #914's head?
motogrady
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motogrady 7/17/2015 8:23pm
7/17/2015 8:23pm Edited Date/Time 7/17/2015 8:25pm
Heck, he's been at it since he was maybe, 5 years old?

What, may one ask, doesn't get old after 5, let alone 25, years?
jeffro503
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jeffro503 7/17/2015 8:46pm
7/17/2015 8:46pm
I don't think he really hated riding / racing dirt bikes. I think what he couldn't stand is all the constant pressure to be the best and win , win , win.

Some people are under the illusion that he's gone for good , and that isn't the fact. He'll be around doing special one off type things here and there and still working with Kawasaki. The difference is , no pressure! Time to have fun again on a dirt bike. Smile
kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 7/17/2015 9:15pm
7/17/2015 9:15pm
newmann wrote:
He will take some time off and end up bored out of his mind. Then he will find himself a job, probably one with zero stress...
He will take some time off and end up bored out of his mind. Then he will find himself a job, probably one with zero stress....

kkawboy14 wrote:
Subway or Jimmy Johns!
hillbilly wrote:
Subway needs a new spokesperson,the old one is in large trouble right now.
Oh man your right I forgot about that
peelout
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peelout 7/17/2015 9:50pm
7/17/2015 9:50pm Edited Date/Time 7/17/2015 10:35pm
I love (no pun) when people pretend to know what a guy enjoys and doesn't enjoy. Wh are any of us to say he did or didn't love it. And who cares either way? I'm glad I got to witness his career from start to finish. Watched him kill it at Lake Whitney,Budds Creek MXDN, SLC supercross twice with the title on the line, and many other times to even list. I saw a dude that was more committed in every way to twisting that throttle than anyone in the last decade. And it was a fucking awesome career to watch. Put the care of whether he loved it or not aside, doesn't matter. It's a little different than any of us "loving" taking 3rd at Chicken Licks Raceway.
JB479
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JB479 7/17/2015 9:57pm
7/17/2015 9:57pm
Cool photo, i noticed he was wearing a Wrist brace on his right hand. ( Complete photo on Racer x)
CrGuy2T
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CrGuy2T 7/17/2015 10:45pm
7/17/2015 10:45pm
Never would have thought the kid seen at a track in Nacona, Tx on a 65 then a few years later at Mosier Valley would have turned out to be what he did.
imoto34
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imoto34 7/17/2015 10:58pm
7/17/2015 10:58pm
To be around 30 and able to do what he wants for the rest of his life, you can bet your ass on a many of smiles, bro!
KMC440
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KMC440 7/18/2015 12:49am
7/18/2015 12:49am
newmann wrote:
Maybe he will get another factory ride and hang out with gramps. CZ anyone? [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/04/12/87135/s1200_Grand_Pa_Villopoto.jpg[/img]
Maybe he will get another factory ride and hang out with gramps. CZ anyone?

fulltime wrench wrote:
I don't have anything of value to add to the thread, but.......

Where the hell is #914's head?
I don't race wigh headless people ... grandpa is a badass ! ! Shocked
ChrisB10
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ChrisB10 7/18/2015 3:22am
7/18/2015 3:22am
Time to get fat, drink beer, hunt, fish travel and relax whenever the f*ck he wants
mehow2g
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mehow2g 7/18/2015 4:11am
7/18/2015 4:11am
moto0852 wrote:
What's interesting to me is the dynamic of him clearly being pushed into racing (by dad) and never really showing a love for it but clearly...
What's interesting to me is the dynamic of him clearly being pushed into racing (by dad) and never really showing a love for it but clearly recognizing he was talented and he put in the work. Usually great talent with no desire creates poor endings.
There's an interview of him when hes about 12 saying he doesnt want to ever work so that motivates him, pretty crazy having that mindset back then.

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