No matter what you think of the way RV2 went out, he was one of the all time greats. Photo by: Hoppenworld

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto might have retired, but he is still the most polarized rider in the sport. It doesn’t matter what he says or does, his words are interesting. Last weekend in Lommel RV sat down with us and talked about his retirement.

 

While the way you went out isn’t how you would have hoped, you must be pretty happy to have made this decision?

It is good, it’s a big decision and people wonder why I didn’t come out earlier with my decision. I have a lot of personal and big sponsors where I had to inform, actually not just inform but go and visit and talk to and figure out what our decision will be. These are the people I needed to tell personally. It wasn’t the way we wanted to end it, but it’s the cards were have been dealt. It seems the series was dealt a bad hand (with injuries) but that’s motocross.

RV2 won the MXGP of Thailand early in the season.
RV2 won the MXGP of Thailand early in the season.

No more training, no tougher schedules. How good does that feel?

It is good it’s been nice now that everyone knows and it’s a good feeling being back in Europe and having a good time and be able to see everyone and walk around, still heavily involved, not as a racer. I have been doing it for many years and I am happy with my decision.

 

Coming to Europe, it was a massive decision from you. How difficult was it going out injured in your last season?

If you look at something and think this, that or the next thing, it doesn’t make sense. I’ve had bad seasons in America, tearing my ACL, or missing championships due to injury and I have lost championships that could or should have been championship wins, so have experienced this type of thing before. When I first put it out there to come to Europe it was win, lose or draw and it didn’t end the way we wanted it to end up, simple as that.

 

A lot of media, especially in America feel this wasn’t the Ryan Villopoto from previous seasons. What is your opinion on that?

Media is media and they will say and write what they want to write. Saying that isn’t fare, because I was trying to learn things all the time, and not just in one area. Sure I had races over here where I wasn’t at my best, but we were making progress, it was a new team, we would have been learning each other all year. Bike set-up would have changed all year. I knew to come here was going to be tough, and it’s no different than guys going to America to race from over here and trying to race Supercross when they have never done it. I came here 100% motivated to win a championship.

The big question is, will you remember RV2 for his nine AMA Championships, or his one failed attempt at MXGP glory?
The big question is, will you remember RV2 for his nine AMA Championships, or his one failed attempt at MXGP glory?

A lot of fans would have loved to see you retire on the podium at Glen Helen.

It is hard to look at going to Glen Helen, the level the riders are at now, you need to be fully prepared and that is a lot of preparation for one round or two rounds and that didn’t make any sense. We will not always do it the same way and life isn’t always fare. I know I had a shot at winning in Europe, and I enjoyed being here, it’s been so interesting and the different cultures and the different racing. It was fun while it lasted.

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