Last week, pro motocross rider Ryan Villopoto of Team Kawasaki wrote his last chapter in his racing career and filed for retirement after sustaining injuries in Italy as part of the European circuit.
“It is with gratitude, humility, a bit of sadness but without regret, that I announce my retirement from motorcycle racing today,” Villopoto said in a statement.
“As many of you know, I experienced a pretty horrendous crash back in April that left me with multiple fractures in my tailbone along with soft tissue damage. My initial thought was that I could be back riding in a few weeks if I just stayed quiet for a while. That has not proven to be the case. Follow-up X-Rays have made clear that I also suffered severe compression of multiple disks in my lower back. I am still in significant discomfort and I realize that even if I start my fitness program and training now that I been cleared by my physician, I will not be able, prior to the end of the MXGP season, to achieve the fitness necessary for me to compete at the level I have always striven for.
“I am grateful for having had the opportunity to do something I have loved since I was a kid and turn it into my livelihood. I am grateful for the support of my family for all the years they spent hauling my bikes and me around to races, interrupting their lives in the process.”
Since kick starting his motocross career in 2005, Washington State native Villopoto earned nine AMA national championships and admiration from long-time sponsor, Kawasaki.
RV2’s SX/MX Careers By the Numbers
2013
AMA SX Series Champion
AMA 450 National MX Champion
2012
AMA SX Series Champion
2011
AMA SX Series Champion
AMA National MX Series Champion
Motocross of Nations – 1st Place
Inaugural Monster Energy Cup – 1st Place
2010
Finished the season with 7 podium finishes in AMA SX
2009
Won first 450 SX in Seattle
2008
AMA National MX Lites 250 Champion
Motocross of Nations – 1st Place
2007
AMA West SX Litess Champion
AMA National MX Lites 250 Champion
Motocross of Nations – 1st Place
2006
Motocross of Nations – 1st Place
AMA SX/MX ROY
AMA National Motocross Lites 250 Champion
2003-04
Won 24 titles
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to Simon Cudby, Racer X
