Words by: Dan Lamb – Interview by: Chase Yocom – Photo by: Hoppenworld
At round nine of the 2014 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship, in Indianapolis, Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto finished a disappointing fourth, but with his major competitors in the 450SX Championship having bad nights, he went from a seven-point lead to a twenty-three point lead. So, heading into round ten in Daytona with a comfortable points lead, some thought we would see a much tamer Villopoto, but what we saw was a man looking to begin hammering the nail in the coffins of his competitors. The three-time defending 450SX champion and three-time Daytona SX winner made it four Daytona wins and took a huge step towards becoming only the second man to win four-straight 450SX Championships in the process. It was not only his third win of the year, but by far, the most dominant win by anyone in 2014.
After Villopoto was done melting rubber on the Daytona International Speedway asphalt, MotoXAddicts’ Chase Yocom caught up with the now four-time Daytona SX winner to ask him a few questions. You can read what RV had to say to Chase below.
RV, you made it look easy out there tonight. Can you talk a little about your day in Daytona?
Yeah, I had some good practices—other than the crash that I had. Everything was good. Then I was able to get a heat race win, felt good and rode good in the heat race, and also in the main event, I was able to get a good start and ride a solid twenty laps.
What happened in that crash during qualifying, and how banged up are you from it?
Yeah, I was alright. I’ll probably be a little sore, but nothing major. I just got a little swap there. Daytona’s a gnarly track.
How did you like the Daytona track conditions today? I was out there for track walk earlier and it seemed softer than normal.
Yeah, it was pumping all day; it was like riding on a sponge. Really just the takeoffs and the landings made it tough.
It looked like a new track every time you guys came around. How often were the lines changing for you guys tonight, every lap?
Yeah, luckily they were able to hit most of the big takeoffs to at least keep the track safe, but the other lines were changing a lot. The track was getting rough.
You didn’t have to make many passes tonight, but did the track seem more one-lined than normal?
I didn’t have to make a lot of passes tonight, but it seemed like a lot of the passes were coming on the straight away before the finish.
You pretty much dominated the whole race and had a huge lead, but what happened when you crashed late in the main?
Yeah, I just came into that turn, stuffed it in the rut and ended up falling over.
Alright, congrats on tonight, and good luck next weekend, Ryan.
Thank you.
