Ryan Villopoto: Back In The Saddle

Kit Palmer | August 2, 2012

For the first time since injuring his knee at the Seattle Supercross in April, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto suited up and rode again in public. Villopoto, along with 2012 250 Motocross points leader Blake Baggett, rode a few demonstration laps on the 2013 production KX450F while hanging out at the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Tennessee.

Although 2011 Supercross and 450 Motocross Champion was just cruising around on the track, Villopoto looked comfortable on the bike and appeared ready to race again, but that won’t happen for a while. Villopoto said he’s been on the bike for only a few times and the knee feels good. He also addressed rumors of him still representing the U.S. at this year’s Motocross des Nations.

“I probably could be ready for it, but what could I gain from it? But I could lose a lot,” he said. “I will most likely not do it but will instead wait for the Monster Cup [in October].”

KTM also did a few demonstration laps with Mike Brown and Malcolm Stewart showing off the company’s latest 250cc two-stroke and four-stroke motocrossers. Brown rode the 250 SX two-stroke and Stewart the 250 SX-F four-stroke.