Photo by: Hoppenworld
Irvine, Calif., — Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto will be unable to defend his 2013 AMA Pro Motocross Championship title after opting to get knee surgery to fix a lingering injury. Villopoto battled with the knee issue throughout the Monster Energy Supercross season, and after consulting his medical team, it was decided he will undergo surgery on his knee as soon as possible. Monster Energy Kawasaki has signed the 2013 Canadian Monster Energy Motocross Nationals Champion Brett Metcalfe to join Jake Weimer for the 2014 AMA Pro Motocross season.
“This is definitely not the news I wanted to hear from the doctors,” said Villopoto. “We have worked hard to be in position to win championships for Monster Energy Kawasaki and to not be able to race this summer is very disappointing. Going from a really great feeling after winning a fourth straight supercross title, to knowing I am going to spend the summer rehabbing a knee injury is devastating.”
“Obviously this is a big blow for the Monster Energy Kawasaki team,” said Kawasaki Senior Manager of Racing Reid Nordin. “Even with the injury Ryan has shown he is the top rider in our sport, but we are listening to his medical team to make sure he gets his knee fixed properly and he can compete for championships in 2015.”
Villopoto is coming off of a dominant Monster Energy Supercross season where the Poulsbo, Wash. native joined “The King of Supercross” Jeremy McGrath as only the second rider to ever win four consecutive supercross championships.
2 Comments
I kno Ryan wouldn’t defend his title, I feel like he’s having the surgery bc he’s not having fun no more he says it all the tkme and he was more happier about winning a truck when he got a million dollar bonus for winning the Sx title prolly, he can buy 20 trucks, he’s just having this surgery for time off, it upsets me!! He’s my favorite rider and it sucks to kno he’s not doing the outdoor, it’s roczen or Stewarts
Man. It sucks the way kawasaki and RV handled this ordeal. He will get some backlash no doubt but the pitchfork mentality that is after him now is uncalled for. He and his team should share equal responsibility for this PR disaster. They should apologize or send out an explanation on why things went down the way he did. Hiding from the fact is only going to dig the hole deeper. I’m not that bothered by it because this sport has always been nutty with secrecy and paranoia with riders and their injuries. I don’t think it’s all RV’s fault. I just hope he gets healthy and hopefully he comes out and explains why things went down the way they did with lying to media and fans. I respect him and am still a fan. He made a mistake, we all do.
Dan what is your opinion on this ordeal?