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Edited Date/Time
7/7/2014 4:38pm
Rumours had already floated across from the USA that the Monster Kawasaki rider was increasingly tired of the demands of the AMA calendar - that can now reach up to 32 weekends of racing per year for the top elite - and would consider a season competing in the FIM series as early as 2015 and the last year of his contract with Kawasaki.
“He is obviously very interested in the European scene and it a multi-time champion in the U.S. I guess at a certain stage you re-assess your career and the toll of injuries and the long season over there,” offered Kawasaki Motor Europe Racing Manager Steve Guttridge when pressed on the idea of ‘RV’ making the switch to the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team for MXGP. “I imagine he has earned his money and now it is about whether he wants another goal or wants to see things out in the U.S. and retire.”
Villopoto himself began the surge of momentum towards a Grand Prix attempt when he mentioned a willingness to try a campaign back in 2012 when he visited Bastogne and the GP of Belgium. “I think he is definitely interested in it,” added Guttridge, who frequently liaises with KMC in the U.S. and counterpart Reid Nordin. “Genuinely I don't know whether it would come down to money or to the passion. I do know he is a winner, so if he came here it would be to win.”
For Kawasaki it would mean some re-organisation of paperwork and resources but it would be hard to turn away arguably the fastest rider in the world and one of the most decorated.
Villopoto wrapped up his fourth consecutive title in the premier 450SX supercross category before electing to go under the knife to fix an ongoing problem with his knee. He was also a visitor to the Catalan round of MotoGP last weekend. “It would be stupid not to [make arrangements for RV in GPs],” says Guttridge. “Of course we would try to accommodate Ryan in Europe but as it stands he has a contract with Kawasaki U.S. Normally he would fulfil that. Until I get a call from the Americans saying ‘it is fine with us, look after Ryan’ then it is a rumour to me too.”
“If he would like to come to the world championship then it would be a fantastic opportunity to finish out a good career and be able to challenge the likes of Cairoli while they are both still at the top,” the British race boss added.
Article from Adam Wheeler.
“He is obviously very interested in the European scene and it a multi-time champion in the U.S. I guess at a certain stage you re-assess your career and the toll of injuries and the long season over there,” offered Kawasaki Motor Europe Racing Manager Steve Guttridge when pressed on the idea of ‘RV’ making the switch to the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team for MXGP. “I imagine he has earned his money and now it is about whether he wants another goal or wants to see things out in the U.S. and retire.”
Villopoto himself began the surge of momentum towards a Grand Prix attempt when he mentioned a willingness to try a campaign back in 2012 when he visited Bastogne and the GP of Belgium. “I think he is definitely interested in it,” added Guttridge, who frequently liaises with KMC in the U.S. and counterpart Reid Nordin. “Genuinely I don't know whether it would come down to money or to the passion. I do know he is a winner, so if he came here it would be to win.”
For Kawasaki it would mean some re-organisation of paperwork and resources but it would be hard to turn away arguably the fastest rider in the world and one of the most decorated.
Villopoto wrapped up his fourth consecutive title in the premier 450SX supercross category before electing to go under the knife to fix an ongoing problem with his knee. He was also a visitor to the Catalan round of MotoGP last weekend. “It would be stupid not to [make arrangements for RV in GPs],” says Guttridge. “Of course we would try to accommodate Ryan in Europe but as it stands he has a contract with Kawasaki U.S. Normally he would fulfil that. Until I get a call from the Americans saying ‘it is fine with us, look after Ryan’ then it is a rumour to me too.”
“If he would like to come to the world championship then it would be a fantastic opportunity to finish out a good career and be able to challenge the likes of Cairoli while they are both still at the top,” the British race boss added.
Article from Adam Wheeler.
If I were RV, it would sound fairly appealing. A lot less pressure and he gets to see the world!
The Shop
pffff like, what exactly does that guy know?
Rinse, repeat.
-The intensity appears to be less.
- Looks like there are less riders on the gate at a lot of rounds
... both things that would seem to make racing the GPs a wee bit safer then the US nationals.
-You get to travel all over Europe and the world riding at tracks and seeing places you've never seen on somebody elses dime.
It isnt like its going to ruin his career and he would never be able to get another ride.
A whole series? Well being on a different continent, with different language, and different food is one thing. He has the money, I don't see motivation to race the GP series at all. He's already considered the fastest in the world (european arguing that AC is fastest in 3,2,1....go)
Those are good things not bad! Quite often people site those reasons why not to do the GPs...I see it as a reason TO ride the GPs. Life's about continually experiencing news things and this would be a great opportunity.
As far as motivation, any great conquerer has to, from time to time, make war in far away lands just to bolster his ego. RV could be like the Ghengis Kahn of motocross.
As for the future stuff? It makes for good fantasy material. The amount it costs to talk about having him race over there? Zero.
Pit Row
i think it's too late in the game for him to try to tackle all new courses, all new opponents and everything else that would come with this move- plus it could severely tarnish his legacy if he goes over there and struggles- which is the main reason carioli and herlings will never push themselves to come over to the US and test their mettle.
i definitely find it funny that three media people have had to come out an tell everyone what BS it is though...
Anyway, with the growing distaste for RV among the common fans of the sport, this would be a good way to ease the hostility. Even if you're not an RV fan, you're pretty much going to want him to beat the Euro guys, and keep tabs on him and cheer for him.
Big boost for the GPs as well, most likely. Sounds like a win/win/win/win/win. The only 'lose' I can see is if Ryan doesn't think he can eventually win. And maybe in that regard he's looking more at Herlings than Cairoli.
-KTM
-Broc Glover
Drops the mic and walks off...THATS the way you do it folks.
I know a lot of motocross dads out there who were on the fence about naming their first born son either Broc or Ricky and they all told me that when Broc went to the GPs to end his career, he made the decision for them.
seriously, i'd like to think i'd entertain the possibility of a lot of things happening in motocross... but for you, Jason and Steve to come out and rip apart the rumour within minutes of it "breaking"... as if the whole idea is absurd (which it will probably end up being) amused me
Lots of the stuff you do amuses me. I guess we're even.
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