It is official! Villopoto is coming to the MXGP!
There has been a lot of speculation for months about whether Ryan Villopoto will come to the MXGP World Championship or not?! But yesterday it finally became very concrete. On the Kawasaki of 'Intermot', Kawasaki said that the decision was made. The American would make the trip to Europe to contest the MXGP world championship! Now we just had to wait for a press release from Kawasaki so that it was officially declared official in black and white!
We received that press release today! The man who won the AMA Supercross World Championship four times and outdoor champion five times, three times in the 250cc class and twice in the 450cc class will compete in 2015 against Tony Cairoli, Gautier Paulin, Clément Desalle, Jeremy Van Horebeek, Max Nagl, Mike Alessi? and the other top riders from the MXGP class. With this acquisition, Youthstream is gradually profiling itself as the strongest motocross championship in the world with the MXGP World Championship. For Monster Energy and KRT Kawasaki this is a wonderful transfer after the loss of Gautier Paulin to HRC Honda. Kawasaki also confirmed that MX2 World Champion Jordi Tixier will compete for them next year in the CLS Kawasaki team!
PRESS RELEASE: Ryan Villopoto confirmed coming to Europe and MXGP participation in 2015
It's official: nine-time American champion Ryan Villopoto will compete in the 2015 FIM MXGP World Championship for the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team. A next step in his illustrious career. The most successful rider of the moment in the USA will make the step across the ocean and participate in the GPs full of ambitions.
After winning the Monster Energy FIM Supercross world title for the past four years, the 26-year-old Villopoto now has the ambition to give Kawasaki its first world title in the MXGP class.
“I am ready for the next chapter in my career and to accomplish new goals,” said Villopoto. “I've never been one to look at the record books so when an opportunity like this comes around, to race against the best in the world and represent USA, I have to see it through. It will be a major change of pace, but I am extremely excited about the opportunity and also to be joined by a former champion like Tyla (Rattray). He knows what is needed to succeed on the world championship stage and I know I can learn a lot from him.”
Villopoto's teammate in the Kawasaki Racing Team will be 28-year-old South African Tyla Rattray. He already won the world title in the MX2008 class in 2 and won several competitions in the USA on his Kawasaki.
Team owner Thierry Chizat Suzzoni: “For 2015, we are very excited to welcome Ryan Villopoto and Tyla Rattray into the Kawasaki Racing Team. It's a fantastic challenge for the team and we are aware that the 2015 championship organized by Youthsteam is going to be very demanding, but our team is very enthusiastic and has ended this season on a high at the Motocross of Nations so we are going to active prepare with the goal of taking up this challenge. I would like to thank Kawasaki, Monster Energy and all our partners for helping us to make this project become a reality.”
Mitch Covington added on behalf of Monster Energy: “Of course we are delighted at Ryan`s decision to continue his career and race for a FIM World Title. One of our goals at Monster Energy is to win. Ryan has proven over and over he is a winner. His nine championships plus Motocross of Nations victories and Monster cup wins gives me a really good feeling that we have the best rider in the world representing Monster Energy. “
The Motocross World Championship starts at the end of February 2015 in Qatar and includes 18 GPs spread over four continents. In its 60 years of existence, only once has an American (Brad Lackey in 1982) managed to win the world title in the premier class. The challenge is clear. Ryan wants to win every motocross championship he has competed in. It will be a great season full of strong participants.
Ryan Villopoto's palmares:
2014: AMA World SX Champion
2013: AMA World SX Champion and AMA MX Champion
2012: AMA World SX Champion
2011: AMA World SX Champion, AMA MX Champion, MXON Champion and Monster Energy Cup Champion
2010: AMA SX Wins: San Francisco, Anaheim 3, Indianapolis, Daytona, Toronto, Jacksonville and Houston
2009: AMA SX Wins: Seattle, Las Vegas, AMA MX Win: Glen Helen
2008: AMA MX Lites Champion, MXON Champion
2007: AMA SX Lites West Champion, AMA MX Lites Champion and MXON Champion
2006: AMA MX Lites Champion, MXON Champion and AMA Rookie Of The year.
Text: Matthias Van Eeckhoven – Photo: Monster Energy
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