WASHOUGAL — He will ride again. He just won’t race again.
Saturday, there are sure to be motocross fans wearing Ryan Villopoto shirts at the Peterson CAT Washougal National. He is, after all, the most famous rider of his generation from Washington.
Those fans, though, won’t see him racing. Injuries caught up to Villopoto, who announced his retirement earlier this month.
Villopoto, who was competing in the FIM Motocross World Championship in Europe, suffered multiple tailbone fractures and compressed disks in his back at a race in Italy in April.
“He still has some residual pain,” said Tom McGovern, spokesman for Monster Energy Kawasaki, Villopoto’s team his entire professional career. “He’s about three weeks from being able to ride again.”
McGovern said Villopoto, who grew up in Poulsbo, plans on traveling the world, representing the Kawasaki brand.
“It’s a way for him to make a couple bucks and still have a hand in the sport,” McGovern said.
Fans throughout the Lucas Oil U.S. Motocross Championship series have conveyed messages to Monster Energy Kawasaki.
“Everybody just wishes Ryan the best,” McGovern said, noting that it tough to see “retirement” at the age of 26. “When you’ve been doing it since you’re 4, that’s a long time. He’s in good shape financially. He’s going to enjoy life right now.”
Villopoto swept the Supercross and Motocross titles in 2011 and 2013.
For a long time, he won just about everywhere — except his home state.
“A lot of people have watched me grow up, watched me race here,” Villopoto told The Columbian before the 2013 Washougal MX National. “It would be nice to finally get a win here.”
On cue, he made it happen.
“I’ve never been very great at this place,” Villopoto said after that win. “I’ve always struggled here a little bit. It definitely feels good to get it done.”
He noted that he saw all the signs, heard the roar of the crowd.
Steve Smith of Vancouver, who has worked at Washougal MX Park for two decades, remains a Villopoto fan.
“It’s always awesome when someone like that goes to the top,” Smith said. “He’s a local guy, and the kid rode so hard, whether he was in first place or if he had crashed. You couldn’t tell the difference. He rides as hard as anyone.”
Now, Smith said he will cheer on other Northwest riders such as Justin Hill, who lists Portland as his hometown, and Chris Alldredge of Powell Butte, Ore.
“You gotta root for your local guys,” Smith said.
It just makes supporting the local guy even better when he becomes a champion.
Ryan Villopoto fans know the feeling.
