Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto moving closer to a successful AMA Supercross title defence
The defending American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto is once again displaying a superb form this year. Even though the season is still in its initial stages, it is not hard to guess the direction in which it is headed.
The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider was being considered as the strongest contender for this year’s AMA Supercross title. His dominating performance during the previous season had convinced a majority of motocross fans that the Washington-based rider was likely
to dominate the motocross scene for a while.
As the 2012 season of AMA Supercross, an International Motorcyclist Federation (FIM) Championship, got underway in Anaheim, California, on January 7, Villopoto wasted no time in making his intentions clear and justifying all the hype that surrounded him
prior to the race. Despite the presence of TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed, a multiple-time Supercross champion, as well as JGRMX/Yamaha’s James Stewart and Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey in contention for the AMA Supercross title, the Kawasaki-based rider
managed to ride to victory at Angel Stadium.
The second round of the series brought the riders to Phoenix, Arizona, where they took each other on at Chase Field on January 14. Once again, all eyes were on Villopoto after his excellent run in the season opener. Even though he failed to clinch first
place, he still managed to make a podium finish behind Dungey and Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer.
Villopoto exhibited an alarming decline in his performance at the third round of the season that went down at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on January 21. Critics began to whisper about his inconsistency and the possibility of an unsuccessful title defence
began to emerge.
Heading to Oakland, California, on January 28 for the fourth round of the 2012 AMA Supercross series, the Washington-based rider was determined to redeem himself after a lacklustre performance at the previous stop. While he did manage to return to the podium,
Overstock.com Stadium did not deliver the results that he was hoping for.
There are very few riders who are capable to making a strong recovery while pitted against the likes of Reed, Dungey and Stewart. Riders such as Weimer and Mike Alessi were also eager to make a relatively better impression this season and were pushing themselves
hard.
However, Villopoto was undaunted by the intentions and determination of his rivals and pulled himself together before the fifth stop of the season, which brought him back to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on February 4. He had collected his sole victory
of the season at the very same course and was determined to do it again. After an exciting race, the Kawasaki rider got what he wanted and rose to top of the podium once again.
As if no longer bounded by any shackles, Villopoto reminded everyone of his true potential at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, on February 11, to earn a comfortable lead in the overall season standings.
The seventh stop of the season at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on February 18, served to cement his place on top of the season standings even further.
Villopoto is without the strongest contender for this year’s AMA Supercross title. With Reed recently announcing his withdrawal from the competition following a nasty crash during Round 7 of the season, it will soon become clear if we will be looking at
a successful title defence. Dungey and Stewart will definitely give it their all to trouble the Kawasaki rider as much as possible, but considering the run of form that he is having at the moment, the scales the definitely tipping in his favour.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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