MotoX: Villopoto to contest MXGP world title

Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) is tipped to be among the favourites to win the MXGP world title. Pictures / Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Fans await showdown against world champ Cairoli, writes Andy McGechan

In a spectacular display of bike brand and nation dominance, France won this year's Olympic Games of Motocross, its three-rider squad aboard Kawasaki motorcycles.

The green bike trio of Gautier Paulin, Dylan Ferrandis and Steven Frossard scored an overwhelming victory at the FIM Motocross of Nations at Kegums, Latvia - only the second time France has won.

New Zealand's team was Scott Columb (Queenstown, Yamaha), Hamish Dobbyn (Dargaville, KTM) and Hamish Harwood (Takaka, KTM). They finished 23rd of the 34 countries.

France's win repeated the Kawasaki sweep enjoyed by USA when the Motocross of Nations was in England in 2008.

No sooner had the champagne corks been kicked off the podium when reports emerged from Europe that multi-time US motocross and supercross champion Ryan Villopoto - a member of that 2008 team - had agreed to cross the Atlantic to contest the MXGP motocross world championships in Europe in 2015.

It is regarded as one of the biggest happenings in the sport in recent years.
Villopoto, 26, has become, according to American pundits at least, the world's pre-eminent motocross rider.

Despite his dominance in what is regarded the world's toughest domestic competition, he has had to endure criticism that he has not won a world championship and so should not be regarded as the world's best.

Eight-time and current world motocross champion Antonio Cairoli, of Italy, would probably agree. Villopoto has raced and often beaten the Grand Prix stars in the past, but not over an entire GP season.

A showdown between Villopoto and Cairoli is eagerly awaited by fans.

Ryan Villopoto

"I am ready for the next chapter in my career and to accomplish new goals," said Villopoto. "I've never been one to look at the record books so when an opportunity like this comes around, to race against the best in the world and represent USA, I have to see it through."

The 2015 world championship will host 18 rounds on four continents.

One of the riders to push Villopoto earlier in his career was Ben Townley, the Taupo man who crossed to the US after winning the MX2 (250cc) world championships in Europe in 2004.

Both riding Kawasaki KX250F bikes for the same team, Villopoto and Townley tangled handlebars throughout the 2007 season in America, Townley eventually emerging with the East Coast Lites Supercross crown and Villopoto claiming the national 250cc motocross title.

Townley rode a Kawasaki KX250F when he helped New Zealand into the podium at the 2006 edition of the Motocross of Nations in England. The Kiwi trio was Townley, Cody Cooper (Mt Maunganui, Honda) and Josh Coppins (Motueka, Honda) and they finished third behind USA (which included Villopoto) and Belgium.

Townley has retired and returned to live in New Zealand, but for Villopoto the campaign continues.

Follow Driven on Facebook and Twitter for the latest road tests and motoring news.