Conversation with Villopoto after his difficult MXGP debut
Unfortunately, the victory of Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Racing rider Max Nagl last weekend was somewhat overshadowed by the presence and debut of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing rider Ryan Villopoto. It may not be fair, but it has been a while since the start of the MXGP season was so eagerly awaited worldwide. Villopoto's participation in the opening Grand Prix in Losail was the biggest news of the 2015 campaign.
RV's 9th and 8th place was a surprise. Many claimed that his speed made him one of the favorites on the fast, wide and relatively easy circuit in Losail. But the track was more difficult than many expected and that meant many were concerned with the tested set-up for Qatar. Nagl was clearly better around the track with his WP system than Villopoto who had a more difficult time with his Showa system and was always in battle with the track. He flew quickly around the circuit in the first heat after having to come from last place twice.
Of course, it wasn't easy to get out of the background of the MXGP field, with the leaders getting further away second by second. Ryan stopped the engine at the start of the first series, then got into trouble again due to the Spaniard Jose Butron. In the second series he lost his rear brake when he was in a duel with MXGP Rookie Romain Febvre.
Watching Ryan was like watching a trailer for a very good movie, something you definitely want to see and never know what's going to happen next. But then maybe you were a bit terrorized because you expected a lot more from it. After the match he knew that the results did not really match his profile and status.
“Pretty s**t,” he said after his debut in the MXGP. “All that I know is that things always get better and better when we go on the track. From yesterday to now things are getting better and better. We still have some things to improve on the engine and the set-up to make this thing run even better in better conditions. It's not the US set-up yet, but we're close. But we are working on it.”
What do you think of this location here in Losail? How did that feel?
I think this place is unique for driving under artificial light, but I also think it could be a bit better to drive at night. We scored some points and that was good, but for me it is still something to learn about the whole system of how it works. I have never ridden on Saturday to race on Sunday or twice thirty minutes of training and then twenty minutes of qualifying with another fifteen minute warm-up session on race day and then the two heats. That's more driving in a weekend than I was used to in the States. I still have to get used to it.
You seemed to be struggling a bit with the engine...it was clear you weren't feeling very comfortable...
I've definitely been floundering a bit. Especially in the second series when the rear brake failed halfway through the race. But I had to move on with that. All in all it was a nice “shit weekend” but there are still a lot of competitions to come. If we continue to improve and continue on this path, things will soon be fine. We didn't do too badly... but we did lose some points.
What were your initial thoughts about joining the MXGP for the first time…
I'm sure a few will go crazy looking at my results. I know this happens, but I still had the balls to come here and race here. It won't be easy and I never said it was going to be easy. But we will continue to work and look ahead.
Text: Adam Wheeler / OTOR
Photo: CDS
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