With the great showdown of Ryan Villopoto versus the stars of the 2015 MXGP World Championship series down to less than two weeks away, the anticipation from fans and industry alike is at an all time high. Luckily for us at MotoXAddicts, we share content with MXLarge and their chief contributor, Geoff Meyer, is talking to everyone that will listen about the Villopoto versus the world showdown. This week, Geoff caught up with James Dobb and asks the former MX2 World Champion to give us his thoughts on the 2015 season. You can check out what “Dobber”, who is also working with MXGP contender Tommy Searle, has to say about it in the “Inside Story” interview below.
Former world motocross champion James Dobb is excited about the coming six months. For the first time ever the very best American rider Ryan Villopoto will be racing the FIM Motocross World Championship, and when Villopoto arrives in Doha, Qatar for the 2015 MXGP series, he will be coming with bad intentions.
Geoff Meyer sat down with Dobb and asked him a few things about the coming six months.
James, first quickly, Tommy Searle looks pretty good at this stage of the season. You excited for his season?
I think with KTM, they get the results because of what they put behind it and seeing the program that they have together for Antonio, Tommy and Ken, it’s second to none. There is no doubt it’s the best team out there and I think or hopefully time will tell and we are seeing the old Tommy from a few years ago. Maybe the bike suits him better, the 350, but the program he is on down there is really special.
Can Tommy run with Cairoli and Villopoto?
Time will tell, the others have the pressure, nobody expects Tommy to be up there maybe, but if you look at the Grand Prix’s won, then only Antonio for GP success and Ryan for AMA success are ahead of Tommy. He’s had a lot more success in winning GPs than the other guys. He hasn’t forgotten how to ride and he had a bad injury at the beginning of last year. He has been with the team for a while and maybe it was time for a change. Back to KTM and they have given him a fantastic opportunity and I think 100% he will be fighting with Cairoli and Villopoto.
What’s your take on the whole Villopoto to Europe thing?
I think it’s fantastic, for Ryan to take that step. He has won a lot in America and nobody has done it before, I mean nobody has come here at their very best and for Ryan to step up and do this is shows what a fantastic job Youthstream are doing and it’s a great championship. I am as big a motocross fans as the next person and it’s going to be an exciting six months ahead of us.
How do you see the battle between Cairoli and Villopoto turning out?
It’s tough, people say he won’t get used to living in Europe, mate, Ryan is at his happiest living in a tent finding his own food. I don’t think it will be an issue the culture change. It is going to be a tough season, it’s his last season and his motivation to win a motocross world title in his last season is very high. On the other hand I can see that Antonio is very motivated, what he brings to the table is unquestionable. They have rough tracks in America and it’s going to be all about consistency. I don’t see him having any problems with any circuits. It’s going to be like Jeffrey (Herlings) and Tommy a few years ago, there will be big fights at every single race and some tracks will favor Cairoli and some will favor Villopoto. I am just looking forward to it.
You have to bet your house on the outcome. Who wins?
In my heart and everything, it’s going to be hard to beat Ryan. He is very similar to Ricky Carmichael, and he will do whatever he has to do. Barring injury and stuff, I think it will be tough. I think it will be close, but it will be tough. This isn’t America versus them, but already it’s like that, but what we have is two fantastic riders going head to head. For me it is hard to bet against Villopoto, but he isn’t far away from injuries in the past and he has a lot ahead of him.
