What's eating Ryan Villopoto?

TDeath21 wrote:

17 pages. How many circles have been made with arguments and counter arguments?

Is the line for the over/under 5?

mikebrownsound wrote:

Well this is a forum and a thread. Not everyone is arguing, people can have a down to earth discussion to right? :) The people who...

Well this is a forum and a thread. Not everyone is arguing, people can have a down to earth discussion to right? The people who are ignorant can just F-of cause no one cares of them really anyway. RV started it all by going over I love it ! Got tired of watching supercross , its the same over and over. I like outdoors better atm.

RY4N37 wrote:

I think, although he wouldn't admit it, RV maybe did underestimate the size of the challenge he was taking on. Coming to win the world championship...

I think, although he wouldn't admit it, RV maybe did underestimate the size of the challenge he was taking on. Coming to win the world championship was always going to be a difficult task, but having not raced outdoors since the end of 2013, I think he could have prepared better

2thefront wrote:

Maybe he underestimated some things but I just don't think RV came over with a "I HAVE to win this championship" attitude. Although we Americans would...

Maybe he underestimated some things but I just don't think RV came over with a "I HAVE to win this championship" attitude. Although we Americans would like to think that he would be the same guy from the last 4 SX and 2 MX seasons that had that attitude, I just don't think it's reality. I really do think he wants to win the championship but I don't think his preparation(stateside or in europe) ever signaled a do or die feeling towards a championship. Like I said in another thread, If he really felt like a championship was the only acceptable outcome, there's no way he's not in Aldon's training camp in November. There's no way he's not searching for every avenue to get up to speed as quick as possible. Reality is, he can beat 90%of the MX racers in the world with a decent training program. I think when he's 100% in Aldon's program, that number goes up a good bit. He's doing it his way to end his career though and didn't want to be on that grind. He's just in a different place. It's still interesting watching these races though.

RY4N37 wrote:

I would agree with that, whether he underestimated the size of the challenge, or whether he just didn't go into this with the same mind set...

I would agree with that, whether he underestimated the size of the challenge, or whether he just didn't go into this with the same mind set of 'I have to win' he didn't put in the kind of preparation I would've expected. I think it was a bit naive to think he could go to GP's with all the changes he has to face, and win the title without putting in the same preparation as he normally would

2thefront wrote:

Maybe he underestimated some things but I just don't think RV came over with a "I HAVE to win this championship" attitude. Although we Americans would...

Maybe he underestimated some things but I just don't think RV came over with a "I HAVE to win this championship" attitude. Although we Americans would like to think that he would be the same guy from the last 4 SX and 2 MX seasons that had that attitude, I just don't think it's reality. I really do think he wants to win the championship but I don't think his preparation(stateside or in europe) ever signaled a do or die feeling towards a championship. Like I said in another thread, If he really felt like a championship was the only acceptable outcome, there's no way he's not in Aldon's training camp in November. There's no way he's not searching for every avenue to get up to speed as quick as possible. Reality is, he can beat 90%of the MX racers in the world with a decent training program. I think when he's 100% in Aldon's program, that number goes up a good bit. He's doing it his way to end his career though and didn't want to be on that grind. He's just in a different place. It's still interesting watching these races though.

RY4N37 wrote:

I would agree with that, whether he underestimated the size of the challenge, or whether he just didn't go into this with the same mind set...

I would agree with that, whether he underestimated the size of the challenge, or whether he just didn't go into this with the same mind set of 'I have to win' he didn't put in the kind of preparation I would've expected. I think it was a bit naive to think he could go to GP's with all the changes he has to face, and win the title without putting in the same preparation as he normally would

2thefront wrote:

You're assuming, though, that his goal was to go to the GPs to win the championship. My point was I don't think that was his motivation...

You're assuming, though, that his goal was to go to the GPs to win the championship. My point was I don't think that was his motivation for going. I don't think he was naive. I just think he wanted to take a more relaxed approach to a race season to end his career and what ever the outcome was the outcome. I don't think it was going to make or break his legacy in his mind like it will for some fans.

As for his fitness, I don't think he's out of shape, I just don't think he's as fit or sharp as he could've been if he went all out like he did to prepare for the US seasons. It's not like he didn't put in work, he's just doing it his own way.

mikebrownsound wrote:

supercross made the difference for him i guess . I wish he stayed one or two more years in europe to win a mx 1 GP...

supercross made the difference for him i guess .

I wish he stayed one or two more years in europe to win a mx 1 GP championship and then went to america. We have yet to see a world champion or AMA champion in the major class to win both series.

Ken Roczen was one i thought who would and could , but woulda shoulda, coulda + Tony., its still possible but i dont think he will go back to europe now.

I dont want to say i feel sry for some riders, but tbh riders like Windham, Desalle, Nagl, Pichon you name it awsome riders had and have to deal with riders like Carmichael, Everts, Cairoli , Stewart, Always some certain individual that is just a noth over the rest of the field and , Carmichael, Everts, Cairoli, Stewart, Villo, in their genre were the best of the best and it almost felt like they were and are unbeatable at times. Can imagine the frustration inside to givei it all you have and just cant bring it to them. But hey thats why they are legends and will be

RY4N37 wrote:

I would agree with that, whether he underestimated the size of the challenge, or whether he just didn't go into this with the same mind set...

I would agree with that, whether he underestimated the size of the challenge, or whether he just didn't go into this with the same mind set of 'I have to win' he didn't put in the kind of preparation I would've expected. I think it was a bit naive to think he could go to GP's with all the changes he has to face, and win the title without putting in the same preparation as he normally would

2thefront wrote:

You're assuming, though, that his goal was to go to the GPs to win the championship. My point was I don't think that was his motivation...

You're assuming, though, that his goal was to go to the GPs to win the championship. My point was I don't think that was his motivation for going. I don't think he was naive. I just think he wanted to take a more relaxed approach to a race season to end his career and what ever the outcome was the outcome. I don't think it was going to make or break his legacy in his mind like it will for some fans.

As for his fitness, I don't think he's out of shape, I just don't think he's as fit or sharp as he could've been if he went all out like he did to prepare for the US seasons. It's not like he didn't put in work, he's just doing it his own way.

RY4N37 wrote:

No I agree with you on that respect. Maybe RV came over the attitude that he wants to win rather than he has to win

Crush wrote:

2013 MX season was a long time ago, as was his last gate drop of any sort, and the injury he came off was huge too...

2013 MX season was a long time ago, as was his last gate drop of any sort, and the injury he came off was huge too... It's crazy this thread is this long–new team, new series, other side of the world, a mechanical and crash ridden first round, an overall win and 4th in points...

He's fine, he'll get better, 30 motos to go.

2thefront wrote:

You're assuming, though, that his goal was to go to the GPs to win the championship. My point was I don't think that was his motivation...

You're assuming, though, that his goal was to go to the GPs to win the championship. My point was I don't think that was his motivation for going. I don't think he was naive. I just think he wanted to take a more relaxed approach to a race season to end his career and what ever the outcome was the outcome. I don't think it was going to make or break his legacy in his mind like it will for some fans.

As for his fitness, I don't think he's out of shape, I just don't think he's as fit or sharp as he could've been if he went all out like he did to prepare for the US seasons. It's not like he didn't put in work, he's just doing it his own way.

RY4N37 wrote:

No I agree with you on that respect. Maybe RV came over the attitude that he wants to win rather than he has to win

struth wrote:

Maybe you guys are speculating, guessing, excuses n full of shit.

RY4N37 wrote:

No I agree with you on that respect. Maybe RV came over the attitude that he wants to win rather than he has to win

mx 219 wrote:

Speculation on my part but I think the tracks get rougher as they go on. RV gets slower compared to his competition as the weekend goes...

Speculation on my part but I think the tracks get rougher as they go on. RV gets slower compared to his competition as the weekend goes on (just from what I have seen looking at the transponder and lap times.) I dont doubt that setup has something to do with it, just as line choice may as well.


Put that with the fact that he doesnt know the tracks like his competition will, and everyone is going to race RV harder just because of who he is and the perception that America is better / thinks they are better / Europe wants to show us whats what.

I hope RV does well and I expect him too, I dont think he is near out of it yet, but he will need to continue to improve. He did well this past weekend despite going 4-4 he was right there. Even if this "was a track he should win" he was close all weekend. Hopefully he will keep building.


Even if RV does get beat for the title, at least he had the nads to go over and try something new. Thats more than RC, Everts, or Cairoli ever did.

fullysicmate wrote:

Good point here. I dont think theres too many people in USA that realise a world championship is a greater accomplishment than a national title though...

Good point here.

I dont think theres too many people in USA that realise a world championship is a greater accomplishment than a national title though. To someone outside the sport this may be obvious.

jeffro503 wrote:

Your comment has no value. MANY of those world champions have come here to the states , only to find out that the AMA nationals were...

Your comment has no value. MANY of those world champions have come here to the states , only to find out that the AMA nationals were a tougher series to run. RV has struggled with some setup issues , that's it. A lot of those former GP champs that have come here have stated that the US nationals are by far and away a tougher and FASTER series. They are different for sure , but it has to do more with what they are riding on , not the speed of their opponents.

You can sugar coat it all you want too. But with RV missing 1.5yrs of the outdoors here , still sitting in 3rd or 4th in points and even has one win....I'd say he's doing pretty damn good for working himself back into race mode.

And I never said the GP guys were slow , so don't any of you throw that bullshit at me. Just take the words of multi world champs who have said over the years..." The real competition is in the USA ".....along with a better paycheck.

mike.sullivan wrote:

What's eating RV? Three things - Nagl, Cairoli and DeSalle. Those guys are just flat out world class fast. When was the last time we saw...

What's eating RV? Three things - Nagl, Cairoli and DeSalle. Those guys are just flat out world class fast. When was the last time we saw RV hang on for 4th in two motos on American soil? It was just a matter of catch and pass over here. I'm as big a fan of RV as anyone - enough of a fan to book a trip to Spain to watch one round in person just because he's there. But, I know what I'm looking at and it's no more and no less than a small group of elite riders who are truly RV's peers, and they're giving him all he can handle. He'll win some outright, but my personal prediction that he'd go over there and kick ass was just wrong.

rockyuno wrote:

Seems that he's been eating dirt lately... [img]https://cl.ly/image/2Z2H3e1N1q2b/11130208_869792229735180_1785455308447869028_n.jpg[/img]

Seems that he's been eating dirt lately...

mike.sullivan wrote:

What's eating RV? Three things - Nagl, Cairoli and DeSalle. Those guys are just flat out world class fast. When was the last time we saw...

What's eating RV? Three things - Nagl, Cairoli and DeSalle. Those guys are just flat out world class fast. When was the last time we saw RV hang on for 4th in two motos on American soil? It was just a matter of catch and pass over here. I'm as big a fan of RV as anyone - enough of a fan to book a trip to Spain to watch one round in person just because he's there. But, I know what I'm looking at and it's no more and no less than a small group of elite riders who are truly RV's peers, and they're giving him all he can handle. He'll win some outright, but my personal prediction that he'd go over there and kick ass was just wrong.