No Outdoors for Villopoto

Jean Turner | May 9, 2010

Monster Energy Kawasaki team manager Mike Fisher confirmed in Las Vegas that Ryan Villopoto’s injuries suffered in St. Louis are bad enough that it will keep him out for the majority of the AMA Motocross Championship. TiLube Kawasaki rider Nick Wey, who has been filling in on the factory Kawasaki team for the injured Villopoto, will take his place for the upcoming outdoor season.

Fisher commented on Villopoto’s prognosis: “He’s doing a lot better after his last surgery. His final surgery was Thursday. It was a six hour surgery on his tibia. [The bone] was broken up enough to where it took some time to put all the pieces back together. The fibula was repaired the week before and it was a six hour surgery too. So it was a lot of putting things together.”

With screws and plates in place, Villopoto will be out for four to five months. “At the best case scenario, perhaps he can race the last three races,” Fisher said. “Otherwise maybe just the last one; we’re not sure.”