What's eating Ryan Villopoto?

davistld01 wrote:

Tony Cairoli has not earned the eight world championships he's won by winning every race, or even dominating them. Cairoli is like Ryan Dungey in the...

Tony Cairoli has not earned the eight world championships he's won by winning every race, or even dominating them. Cairoli is like Ryan Dungey in the sense that he knows how to do what he has to do...how to compile points effectively and "run" a championship. Villopoto knows how to win championships too...but he's more used to dominating than having to fight for points.

I like DeStouwer's post. RV is a fish in a brand new pond, just like Nagl, Cairoli or any of the fastest GP riders would be if they crossed the pond to America and took on our outdoor championship looking for a title first crack of the bat. Impossible? No...but highly unlikely, with the steep learning curve and culture differences. Villopoto is just getting his feet wet, and seeing how fast he has to go to beat the top guys. I believe he can do it, but I don't believe he'll dominate the series at all even if he does win when the smoke clears. 4-4 ain't shabby at all riding his first year against the guys who have been doing this on these tracks for years.

FlaNard wrote:

I almost seem to remember Ryan being so much faster at the last mxdn he ran that he got to wait around for Dungey so they...

I almost seem to remember Ryan being so much faster at the last mxdn he ran that he got to wait around for Dungey so they could cross the finish together. But some of you are right. Those same guys are just way better than him.

Stefan82 wrote:

Stop comparing MXDN with MXGP, it's like comparing a complete SX season with the Monster Energy Cup.

FlaNard wrote:

Same guys. On a track away from home. He could have stopped for a beer and won that last moto. But you're right. The GP guys...

Same guys. On a track away from home. He could have stopped for a beer and won that last moto. But you're right. The GP guys are just so much better than him.

mattktmhall wrote:

whatever the outcome iv certainly loved watching what I have so far. He rides so on the edge almost an inch from disaster all the time...

whatever the outcome iv certainly loved watching what I have so far. He rides so on the edge almost an inch from disaster all the time it's so fun to watch the gp guys do look boring and smooth compared to RV ill give him that

Fearo wrote:

RV is doing fine and is exactly where I thought he would be. In my opinion his "problem" right now so 2-fold: 1) he spends too...

RV is doing fine and is exactly where I thought he would be.

In my opinion his "problem" right now so 2-fold:

1) he spends too much energy and focus on the qualifying races. None of the European top contenders gives a flying fuck about those things. Hell, if you've watched the GP's in previous years, you'd know Cairoli sometimes deliberately finishes something like 5th or 6th only to smash the competition on race day and completely demoralize them. Mind games.

2) He needs to adapt to the racecraft "style" of the GP's instead of wanting to do it like in the US. Everyone knows that in the AMA Nationals the guys ride balls to the wall from the gate drop until they get tired and fall off the pace. It doesn't work like that in the GP's, there are a lot more mental strategies at play. That's why you'll see really weird lap time fluctuations and gaps between the riders. Especially Cairoli does this a lot. He will let you catch up on him, only to speed up again for a few laps and then back down again. Best examples: Vs Herlings at the MXDN in Lommel and yesterdag vs RV.

Edge-Of-Adhesion wrote:

I don't know what you do for a living but try travelling to 15 different countries over the next 7 months and see if you're as...

I don't know what you do for a living but try travelling to 15 different countries over the next 7 months and see if you're as successful at it. I doubt it.

Sideways wrote:

I never said it was easy! But its the same for everyone. And the schedule in the GP´s are less hectic than in the US.

Edge-Of-Adhesion wrote:

I don't know what you do for a living but try travelling to 15 different countries over the next 7 months and see if you're as...

I don't know what you do for a living but try travelling to 15 different countries over the next 7 months and see if you're as successful at it. I doubt it.

Sideways wrote:

I never said it was easy! But its the same for everyone. And the schedule in the GP´s are less hectic than in the US.

Edge-Of-Adhesion wrote:

No, it's not the same for everyone and that's precisely the distinction I'm making.

ATKpilot99 wrote:

This is the deepest field he has faced outdoors , at least on a 450 . To be honest the way the AMA 450 class looks...

This is the deepest field he has faced outdoors , at least on a 450 . To be honest the way the AMA 450 class looks this season I doubt he'd be reeling off 1 1 motos here either.

Rick M. wrote:

The last several posts in this thread were intelligent, civil, and really nice to read. Then you come in and drop the "deepest field he's ever...

The last several posts in this thread were intelligent, civil, and really nice to read. Then you come in and drop the "deepest field he's ever faced". C'mon man, you have no way in knowing that, and those are comments that start shit flinging. Stop trying to derail the thread for like the 20th time.

ATKpilot99 wrote:

Ok I should have said in my opinion . Really ? I'm trying to derail the thread ? Ok.

zook11 wrote:

Yup. That and not racing MX in 2 years. Along with new teams and new tracks. None of the euros would do as good as he's...

Yup. That and not racing MX in 2 years. Along with new teams and new tracks.

None of the euros would do as good as he's doing over there over here. It's still a 2nd class racing league compared to the Ama nationals.

mumhra wrote:

None of the euros would do as good as he's doing over there over here ? Oh my... haven't you changed your tune :laugh: So now...

None of the euros would do as good as he's doing over there over here ?

Oh my... haven't you changed your tune
So now it's normal that RV doesn't win ? So now it is how the euros would do IF they were to ride the AMA nationals. Let's go back and check your posts from not so long ago....

2/27 : Rv will smoke all the euros once the gate drops where it actually counts.
1/30 : Hell no he can't beat RV. He's nowhere near the same level as him. (talking about Paulin)
12/22 : Rv easy. He's the FMOTP for a reason.
12/2 : Rv is gonna dominate all the euros.
14/9 : Cairoli hasn't been able to beat Nagl and Paulin lately and you guys think he can beat RV? LOL

The list goes on and on. And now it is how the Euro's would do IF they were to ride in the nationals ? Well.... IF my auntie had balls she would be my uncle. IF my granny had wheels she would be a gocart.
Who cares about how the Euro's would do IF they were to ride the nationals. That is not what you were talking about all the previous months. You were talking about how RV would crush all the Euro's.

And i have more news for you. Even IF RV still becomes world champion (which is still possible), that still would not mean that the AMA riders are superiour or the AMA series is superiour. Nobody in America could beat RV so it is likely that noone in Europe can't either.

What i like most about your posts is how you gloat when RV does win a race.

3/7 : Got damn I am loving this. All the euro shit talkers on RV are eating some serious crow right now.
3/7 : Rv making these guys look silly so far
3/7 : I was thinking the same. Euros are telling themselves whatever they can to make them feel better about that ass whooping.
3/7 : Me too. Love how quiet it is from all the euros

So.. what was your contribution to that GP victory of RV ? What have you done to help him win it ? Let me guess... nothing at all.

TeamGreen wrote:

Some of you guys live in a static state; yet, it's a dynamic world.

Therefore, you're never gonna get it.

sc961 wrote:

^^^^^^^^^^ This makes a lot of sense... ^^^^^^^^^^^

thegoblin wrote:

In order to became the multi-uber-champion he is nowadays, Cairoli left Sicily for Belgium when he was like 20 years old. Sicily's weather is not that...

In order to became the multi-uber-champion he is nowadays, Cairoli left Sicily for Belgium when he was like 20 years old. Sicily's weather is not that different from the California one (hot, steamy, 360 days a year sunny), but very, very different from the belgian one (wet, cold, 360 days a year rainy). Sicily's habit, food, lifestyle are light year different from the mitteleuropeans' one. Very, very different.

That's what a man with a mission do, change habit, push himself, take a step into the unknown and outside his confort zone. It's called evolution, Darwin wrote a page or two about it.

Before training in Lommel 24/7 for 4 month straight, the only sand Cairoly has ever experienced was the one before the sea in front of his home, but this never stopped him from becoming arguably one of the all time top 3 sand pilot ever.


VIllopoto seems to lack this step: he has the big, big balls to put himself in a all new challenge, but with some of the old habit: training in the same tracks (where he's the absolute fastest, but very different from the ones he's gonna battle incredible riders with), not racing any pre-championship races, taking Rattray, not exactrly a lightning fast rider anymore as a benchmark. Maybe someone in his staff suggested it'd be enough. Well, it is not enough.

My two cents: he understimate a little the competition.

Having said that, he's not clearly 100% fit (mentally, i'm afraid, more than phisically), but neither is Cairoli, not even close to the war machine everyone in the paddock knows. In the meantime, Desalle is in the best shape i've ever seen him, and Nagl is faster as ever but infinitely ore consistent. It's gonna be a real difficult season for everyone

Anthony Siracuse wrote:

Doesn't it usually take villo a few races to get up to speed?

ksithumper wrote:

phil makes an excellent point about many of the Europeans fitting their domestic championships in around the GPs- something RV doesn't have to do. I would...

phil makes an excellent point about many of the Europeans fitting their domestic championships in around the GPs- something RV doesn't have to do.

I would like to add that the international travel, fatigue and strange viruses, getting used to different food, weather, strange cultures and different track styles etc etc etc IS THE SAME for the Europeans and Australians and Russians as it is for RV. There is no reason why Argentina for example should be any more familiar to Desalle or AC (or any other rider). Check a map, it's located in the Americas, not Europe, but no-one was saying that RV has an advantage.

It's not so different within Europe either. Do you think a Russian like Bobyreshev finds it easy to come to Western Europe? Language, food, laws, visas, culture all different. Same for all the brave young Aussies, half a planet from home? Think a Dutchman feels at home and in familiar surroundings when he first joins an Italian team?

RV is older than many riders around him. He should be at least as worldly wise. He has good people around him and should be to deal with the changes equally with every other rider he is competing against. From everything I've read, that is EXACTLY what he is doing - manning up and getting on with the job, no excuses. Full repect to him for that...and none at all to the whining 'excuse-seeking 'tards on here (not all of you!) who cannot accept that their boy can be equalled and, yes, even beaten some days.

mikebrownsound wrote:

And you fall for the bait also..

mumhra wrote:

Well... i hope you are right and that it really is bait. I really hope that nobody in this world is that ignorant.

zook11 wrote:

Yup. That and not racing MX in 2 years. Along with new teams and new tracks. None of the euros would do as good as he's...

Yup. That and not racing MX in 2 years. Along with new teams and new tracks.

None of the euros would do as good as he's doing over there over here. It's still a 2nd class racing league compared to the Ama nationals.

mumhra wrote:

None of the euros would do as good as he's doing over there over here ? Oh my... haven't you changed your tune :laugh: So now...

None of the euros would do as good as he's doing over there over here ?

Oh my... haven't you changed your tune
So now it's normal that RV doesn't win ? So now it is how the euros would do IF they were to ride the AMA nationals. Let's go back and check your posts from not so long ago....

2/27 : Rv will smoke all the euros once the gate drops where it actually counts.
1/30 : Hell no he can't beat RV. He's nowhere near the same level as him. (talking about Paulin)
12/22 : Rv easy. He's the FMOTP for a reason.
12/2 : Rv is gonna dominate all the euros.
14/9 : Cairoli hasn't been able to beat Nagl and Paulin lately and you guys think he can beat RV? LOL

The list goes on and on. And now it is how the Euro's would do IF they were to ride in the nationals ? Well.... IF my auntie had balls she would be my uncle. IF my granny had wheels she would be a gocart.
Who cares about how the Euro's would do IF they were to ride the nationals. That is not what you were talking about all the previous months. You were talking about how RV would crush all the Euro's.

And i have more news for you. Even IF RV still becomes world champion (which is still possible), that still would not mean that the AMA riders are superiour or the AMA series is superiour. Nobody in America could beat RV so it is likely that noone in Europe can't either.

What i like most about your posts is how you gloat when RV does win a race.

3/7 : Got damn I am loving this. All the euro shit talkers on RV are eating some serious crow right now.
3/7 : Rv making these guys look silly so far
3/7 : I was thinking the same. Euros are telling themselves whatever they can to make them feel better about that ass whooping.
3/7 : Me too. Love how quiet it is from all the euros

So.. what was your contribution to that GP victory of RV ? What have you done to help him win it ? Let me guess... nothing at all.

Anthony Siracuse wrote:

Doesn't it usually take villo a few races to get up to speed?

Sideways wrote:

I never said it was easy! But its the same for everyone. And the schedule in the GP´s are less hectic than in the US.

Edge-Of-Adhesion wrote:

No, it's not the same for everyone and that's precisely the distinction I'm making.

philG wrote:

Most of these guys are running in their home countries National series , and sometimes 2, as well as doing GP's , and the pre season...

Most of these guys are running in their home countries National series , and sometimes 2, as well as doing GP's , and the pre season internationals.. Shaun Simpson , Frossard , and Anstie and Ben Watson and Adam Sterry and Anstie will be at Lyng this weekend for the second round of the British Championship, the first round was the week after Thailand. Also Belgian and German series have a lot of GP riders that do those too..

And every GP is twice what an AMA national is for track time.

Easy schedule that.

Anthony Siracuse wrote:

Doesn't it usually take villo a few races to get up to speed?

RY4N37 wrote:

That may be the case, but usually when he makes a slow start to the season, he's riding against riders he knows inside out on tracks...

That may be the case, but usually when he makes a slow start to the season, he's riding against riders he knows inside out on tracks he knows like the back of his hand and in very familiar surroundings, which makes recovering points a whole lot easier. He doesn't have that luxury now, which is why I feel that it was important that he was closer than he is heading back to Europe. The task he faces over the next three rounds is almost like being 27 points down to Dungey and 17 down to JS7 and having 2 of the next 3 rounds at Washougal and the other at the Stewart compound

mikebrownsound wrote:

I change the subject and have a question , why is this guy Davy Pootjes racing last year model when the rest of the team is...

I change the subject and have a question , why is this guy Davy Pootjes racing last year model when the rest of the team is riding the new 16 is he not riding mx2 with herlings ?

Park Boys wrote:

By the time the AMA MX series starts, the riders have just done 17 Races in 18 weeks and then they test for a few weeks...

By the time the AMA MX series starts, the riders have just done 17 Races in 18 weeks and then they test for a few weeks and its back to 12 races in 13 weeks. Its a far more hectic schedule than 2 races in 6 weeks like we are getting right now. Who cares about the British, Italian, Dutch, etc titles, the GP riders are split up between 5 or 6 local series with some of them only getting a couple GP regulars, the atmosphere the pressure and obligation's are no where near the same as the real GP series. Where in the AMA there are 29 races with all of the guys competeting against each other instead of 18 and a handful of local races to keep in shape while the series has 2 and 3 week breaks through out the year.