What I see Villopoto doing differently than everyone else on the track.

Outsider
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Outsider 4/3/2012 4:07pm
4/3/2012 4:07pm
Yes.

This is why I became a big fan. He doesn't give a fuck about looking cool, he just wants to go fast.. like a honey badger.

His corner speed is much more impressive outdoors where he rails the outside line while most everyone else tries to go inside... RV don't give a fuck about going inside.

Like a honey badger....

Smile
Sherwood
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Sherwood 4/3/2012 4:20pm
4/3/2012 4:20pm
I see him getting more points than everyone....
Hank_Thrill
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Hank_Thrill 4/3/2012 4:28pm
4/3/2012 4:28pm Edited Date/Time 4/3/2012 4:29pm
One thing I have noticed, is that in certain spots of the track where it is flat with no jumps, he is absolutely hammering the throttle. Possibly even full throttle. It may be for only half a second to a second in duration, in one spot of the track the entire lap, but it's another place he is making up time.

This past weekend in Huston, that section right after where Barcia wrecked in the main, RV was on the gas hard after landing the small double coming out of the turn, on that straight away with the 45-degree corners.
Sherwood
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Sherwood 4/3/2012 4:29pm
4/3/2012 4:29pm
He also seems to steer with his rear. No pun intended.

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tbanks
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tbanks 4/3/2012 4:53pm
4/3/2012 4:53pm
Sherwood wrote:
He also seems to steer with his rear. No pun intended.
I think it was the first lap maybe where he railed the corner at the finish. His rear end kicked up roost from the entry of the turn until the face of the finish line double. It was flawlessly done and I had to rewind the coverage to see it again.

It has got to take total commitment and trust in that bike to steer with the rear like he does.
Twostroke Taliban 4/3/2012 5:04pm
4/3/2012 5:04pm Edited Date/Time 4/3/2012 5:05pm
fader418 wrote:
What I see him doing differntly is winning....
man, that is some forward thinking there.

if you want me to show you how to troll, i will.
Crossup
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Crossup 4/3/2012 5:04pm
4/3/2012 5:04pm
I watched him racing once at the Monroe track in WA when he was a kid. I just remember thinking that I had never seen anyone hold it wide open farther into a corner than him. He won all of the motos. He was on an 85 racing in the 125 class.
PRM31
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PRM31 4/3/2012 5:22pm
4/3/2012 5:22pm
Ever since he switched to the 2012 it has all come together for him. Clearly he is the fastest guy on the track 99% of the time, even when they're all healthy. He is aggressive and pushes EVERYWHERE. Where others pause for a split-second before braking or before getting on the gas he is on it. I think he is turning into one of the best riders ever. He is beating a very talented field, and making it look relatively easy. Tough to take for an RD5 fan...
sxracer68
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sxracer68 4/3/2012 5:32pm
4/3/2012 5:32pm
sxracer68 wrote:
Thanking Falken is no different than thanking San Manuel. There are lots of outside sponsors that give money but have no product to offer.
sxracer68 wrote:
By product to offer, I'm saying towards the bike.
peelout wrote:
you mean to tell me that Reed doesn't run Cooper Tires from Discount Tire?

bullshit

prove it, brah
I can't prove it brah. You'll just have to take my word for it.
SteveS
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SteveS 4/3/2012 6:08pm
4/3/2012 6:08pm Edited Date/Time 4/3/2012 6:08pm
enketchum wrote:
with his Falken tires?? whaaaaa?
Titan1 wrote:
I'm obviously not in the loop, but does Falken tires sponsor him even though he doesn't use their tires on his bike? I assumed they rolled...
I'm obviously not in the loop, but does Falken tires sponsor him even though he doesn't use their tires on his bike? I assumed they rolled out a dirt bike tire and kawi was using them...I guess I'm wrong.
Although they don't make motorcycle tires for motocross, Falken is currently one of the series sponsors for Supercross They became the Official Truck Tire for Supercross in 2011. They have a semi in the pits and display their drifting Mustang along with some car and truck tires. They do sponsor Ryan Villopoto. http://www.falkentire.com/wegetyougoing/Motorsports/Motocross/Ryan-Vill…
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hvaughn 4/3/2012 7:52pm
4/3/2012 7:52pm
Falken became part of Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) when they acquired Ohtsu in 2003. Currently, Falken is paired with fellow SRI brand Dunlop Tyres to form Dunlop Falken Tires, Ltd., the parent group of Falken Tire Corporation.

(compliments of wikipedia, the trusted name in all things valid, haha)
dboivin
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dboivin 4/3/2012 9:53pm
4/3/2012 9:53pm
just watch his rear tire for a complete lap. he's the only guy that has roost coming off his tire almost 90% of the time. its really noticeable when hes passing someone in corners, hes kickin roost and they aren't. he will be under power before/thru/exiting the corner...albeit he's not on it while pivoting but its rare to see him not getting traction and throwing roost.

kinda funny cuz i was thinking about this specifically while watching last race and i just watched his tire for a lap or 2. theres definitely deep contrast between him and others hes battling or passing.
Whorehay
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Whorehay 4/3/2012 10:23pm
4/3/2012 10:23pm
Since he has the title all tied up.. and he has won everything under the sun....

If he was a real man... he'd pull out that KX250 mitch gave him as a gift a while back and run one of the last four races on that mo fo!!!!
He could then fill in for Windham as fan favorite while he's on the couch. Thus killing two birds with one stone.

The handicap might help the other riders not be embarrassed so bad and we would all be able to cheer like school girls for someone!

whorehay for president.
Cook441
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Cook441 4/3/2012 10:49pm
4/3/2012 10:49pm
I think what you are seeing is a guy that has perfected the rear wheel style- Yes he is in tune with his bike but he rides the rear wheel while most these other guys are centered or forward. I suspect it's much harder to do but once perfecrted it gets or keeps traction to that back tire saving tenths all over...check out the slow mo... https://youtu.be/luSuPbVn4qI
Cook441
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Cook441 4/3/2012 10:55pm
4/3/2012 10:55pm
If You watch this one you can almost see the pains of perfecting his craft
TDeath21
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TDeath21 4/3/2012 11:11pm
4/3/2012 11:11pm
Cook441 wrote:
I think what you are seeing is a guy that has perfected the rear wheel style- Yes he is in tune with his bike but he...
I think what you are seeing is a guy that has perfected the rear wheel style- Yes he is in tune with his bike but he rides the rear wheel while most these other guys are centered or forward. I suspect it's much harder to do but once perfecrted it gets or keeps traction to that back tire saving tenths all over...check out the slow mo... https://youtu.be/luSuPbVn4qI
If I were to race him on my 250 against him on that 85, I would be so far behind I wouldn't even be able to see the dust.
Motocross83 4/4/2012 12:00am
4/4/2012 12:00am
Twostroke Taliban wrote:
Back in about 96, when MC was demolishing everyone, there was an article in MXA that really outlined why he was destroying everyone. It mentioned whoop...
Back in about 96, when MC was demolishing everyone, there was an article in MXA that really outlined why he was destroying everyone. It mentioned whoop speed, corner speed, and just being smoother than anyone else.


Now, I have noticed some stuff, week in, week out about RV, that I never see people seeming to acknowledge.

1. The most obvious is corner speed. RV comes into and gets out of a corner so fast, that on TV, you cant even tell what the hell happened. often, he doesnt even take a foot off the peg. he is in and out so fast its like he was never in the corner at all. and there is roost flying, the whole time. into and out of the corner. roost. steering with the back tire, but telling people how his falken tires "hook up just fine"

2. his bike is straight as an arrow. since about 03 or so, probably due to JS, its become uber-cool to toss your bike every which way. some riders make it work, like James and CR22. But RV has shown (or maybe not shown, yet) that you dont have to drag a footpeg up every jump to stay low and go fast. You CAN absorb the take-off with your arms if you are in the right position on your bike, and your elbows are up. Elbows up seems to be a forgotten thing. I see so many guys, albeit fast, with their elbows in their laps.

3. He has a blatant disregard for downsides. this ties in with #2. so a jump is 60 feet, with 10 feet of run-in to a turn. 19 riders will scrub or slowdown to do the 60 feet and catch backside, then roll into the turn. What does RV do? He jumps the whole 70, lands flat, changes direction (see #1) and keeps truckin.

4. He seems to be the only rider out there who doesnt care what he "looks like" going around the track. Style is so important these days. You see kids commenting on things around here to the tune of "that looks cool". perfect example, the Bogle leg-dangle which is the moto version of the Rossi (valentino) leg wag. Is it faster? god no. but you see people saying 'it looks so sick, dawg!" Well, RV doesnt give a shit what he looks like and it shows. he has this crouched-like-a-tiger riding position. its ugly. but it allows him to soak up shit without swinging his bike sideways and dropping his elbows (see #2)



I just hope everyone competing against him took a note this year Especially Dungey. He is so incredibly smooth, that it almost seems he could turn it up a notch.
Absolutely spot on analysis, very good post!

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Derpin' DJ
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Derpin' DJ 4/4/2012 12:00am
4/4/2012 12:00am
Whorehay wrote:
Since he has the title all tied up.. and he has won everything under the sun.... If he was a real man... he'd pull out that...
Since he has the title all tied up.. and he has won everything under the sun....

If he was a real man... he'd pull out that KX250 mitch gave him as a gift a while back and run one of the last four races on that mo fo!!!!
He could then fill in for Windham as fan favorite while he's on the couch. Thus killing two birds with one stone.

The handicap might help the other riders not be embarrassed so bad and we would all be able to cheer like school girls for someone!

whorehay for president.
They can't race bikes that aren't homologated and are older than 3 years.
gnarwhip
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gnarwhip 4/4/2012 12:53am
4/4/2012 12:53am
It's his leg and core strength. He squeezes the bike with his legs more than any rider I can remember, it frees up his upper body to stay stronger longer. I remember him at A1 doing that step-on-step-off and he was standing up in attack position and just leaning the bike over so far through the whole section, pointing it wherever he wanted to go...damn impressive
JB 19
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JB 19 4/4/2012 1:28am
4/4/2012 1:28am
Hank kind of talked about this, but RV is killing guys in the rythem sections between the jumps. Most guys are riding fast enough to do the jumps. RV is racing between the jumps.
motokiwi 4/4/2012 1:39am
4/4/2012 1:39am
Cook441 wrote:
I think what you are seeing is a guy that has perfected the rear wheel style- Yes he is in tune with his bike but he...
I think what you are seeing is a guy that has perfected the rear wheel style- Yes he is in tune with his bike but he rides the rear wheel while most these other guys are centered or forward. I suspect it's much harder to do but once perfecrted it gets or keeps traction to that back tire saving tenths all over...check out the slow mo... https://youtu.be/luSuPbVn4qI
I wonder If Albee knew he was riding with the future champion that day...
1-forty-8
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1-forty-8 4/4/2012 3:04am
4/4/2012 3:04am
I find it strange that people are saying his style is ugly because when I watched the guy in 06 at the MXdN I was more impressed with his style than I was with Stewarts! Something I'll never, ever forget was in one of the practises, RV2 whipped the bike so hard over this big table that I swear the whole crowd gasped at the very same time.. It gave me goosepimples man.. Saying that though, RV was only what, 17 then? So maybe his style has changed now since then. It's hard to tell these things just watching it on TV ya know.. Saying that mind, like others have said above me, his corner speed is just stupid. RV is the man. And when ya think of the ego's that some of the other guys have in this sport, a class act.


I can't wait to see him put a beating on Barcia next year.
BR_HERO
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BR_HERO 4/4/2012 5:45am
4/4/2012 5:45am
Twostroke Taliban wrote:
Back in about 96, when MC was demolishing everyone, there was an article in MXA that really outlined why he was destroying everyone. It mentioned whoop...
Back in about 96, when MC was demolishing everyone, there was an article in MXA that really outlined why he was destroying everyone. It mentioned whoop speed, corner speed, and just being smoother than anyone else.


Now, I have noticed some stuff, week in, week out about RV, that I never see people seeming to acknowledge.

1. The most obvious is corner speed. RV comes into and gets out of a corner so fast, that on TV, you cant even tell what the hell happened. often, he doesnt even take a foot off the peg. he is in and out so fast its like he was never in the corner at all. and there is roost flying, the whole time. into and out of the corner. roost. steering with the back tire, but telling people how his falken tires "hook up just fine"

2. his bike is straight as an arrow. since about 03 or so, probably due to JS, its become uber-cool to toss your bike every which way. some riders make it work, like James and CR22. But RV has shown (or maybe not shown, yet) that you dont have to drag a footpeg up every jump to stay low and go fast. You CAN absorb the take-off with your arms if you are in the right position on your bike, and your elbows are up. Elbows up seems to be a forgotten thing. I see so many guys, albeit fast, with their elbows in their laps.

3. He has a blatant disregard for downsides. this ties in with #2. so a jump is 60 feet, with 10 feet of run-in to a turn. 19 riders will scrub or slowdown to do the 60 feet and catch backside, then roll into the turn. What does RV do? He jumps the whole 70, lands flat, changes direction (see #1) and keeps truckin.

4. He seems to be the only rider out there who doesnt care what he "looks like" going around the track. Style is so important these days. You see kids commenting on things around here to the tune of "that looks cool". perfect example, the Bogle leg-dangle which is the moto version of the Rossi (valentino) leg wag. Is it faster? god no. but you see people saying 'it looks so sick, dawg!" Well, RV doesnt give a shit what he looks like and it shows. he has this crouched-like-a-tiger riding position. its ugly. but it allows him to soak up shit without swinging his bike sideways and dropping his elbows (see #2)



I just hope everyone competing against him took a note this year Especially Dungey. He is so incredibly smooth, that it almost seems he could turn it up a notch.
Motocross83 wrote:
Absolutely spot on analysis, very good post!
x2
Twostroke Taliban 4/4/2012 5:59am
4/4/2012 5:59am
hvaughn wrote:
Falken became part of Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) when they acquired Ohtsu in 2003. Currently, Falken is paired with fellow SRI brand Dunlop Tyres to form...
Falken became part of Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) when they acquired Ohtsu in 2003. Currently, Falken is paired with fellow SRI brand Dunlop Tyres to form Dunlop Falken Tires, Ltd., the parent group of Falken Tire Corporation.

(compliments of wikipedia, the trusted name in all things valid, haha)
Makes sense.
FroDiddy
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FroDiddy 4/4/2012 6:02am
4/4/2012 6:02am
tbanks wrote:
x2 I haven't seen aggression like this since RC. The sad part about it all is that Ryan is totally in control while destroying the track...
x2

I haven't seen aggression like this since RC.

The sad part about it all is that Ryan is totally in control while destroying the track.
Maybe Ryan Hughes was right afterall. Whistling

Now all Chad has to do is unlock his hips and he'll be set.
Hman144 4/4/2012 6:13am
4/4/2012 6:13am
Outsider wrote:
Yes. This is why I became a big fan. He doesn't give a fuck about looking cool, he just wants to go fast.. like a honey...
Yes.

This is why I became a big fan. He doesn't give a fuck about looking cool, he just wants to go fast.. like a honey badger.

His corner speed is much more impressive outdoors where he rails the outside line while most everyone else tries to go inside... RV don't give a fuck about going inside.

Like a honey badger....

Smile
RV should run that as his butt patch.

Honey Badger don't give a...

H
Twostroke Taliban 4/4/2012 6:25am
4/4/2012 6:25am
Hman144 wrote:
RV should run that as his butt patch.

Honey Badger don't give a...

H
The twostroke taliban seconds this motion. I hope his uncle sees this.
jonesaustin
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jonesaustin 4/4/2012 7:18am
4/4/2012 7:18am Edited Date/Time 4/4/2012 7:26am
those are well written observations. except for saying his style is "ugly" which is baffling. the guy has one of the coolest styles i've ever seen. it's an aggressive style and one of the few where you can read the determination and speed right from the body english. reminds me a little of Jeff Ward, who was also very aggressive in stance but likewise smooth as ice.
Twostroke Taliban 4/4/2012 7:29am
4/4/2012 7:29am
jonesaustin wrote:
those are well written observations. except for saying his style is "ugly" which is baffling. the guy has one of the coolest styles i've ever seen...
those are well written observations. except for saying his style is "ugly" which is baffling. the guy has one of the coolest styles i've ever seen. it's an aggressive style and one of the few where you can read the determination and speed right from the body english. reminds me a little of Jeff Ward, who was also very aggressive in stance but likewise smooth as ice.
When I said "ugly" i meant it as a general observation of the masses. If you read into what I typed, you can tell I am not a fan of the flashy, and most often not needed, whips and one-footers. I think going faster than everyone else on the track is the best style of all. Your average mx-er probably sees it as "ugly", however I dont, and you dont, and another half dozen guys reading this dont. It's not ugly like Steve Matthes at Cracker Barrel ugly.

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