SX CHAMP
VILLOPOTO
Four-consecutive 450SX Class world champion, Ryan Villopoto.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto scored his fourth-consecutive 450 SX race win of 2014 at the season finale in Las Vegas. Ryan Dungey finished the night in second-place followed by his teammate, Ken Roczen, in third. Villopoto’s teammate, Jake Weimer, shot off the start to take the holeshot in the 450 main but quickly ceded the front to RV, who came charging past during the first lap. Villopoto soon built a gap on the field within the opening laps and stretched it to more than 13 seconds by the checkers. The Kawasaki ace secured his fourth-consecutive Supercross title during the previous round in New Jersey, but remained every bit as competitive in Vegas.
“The pressure was off this weekend,” said Villopoto. “But we wanted to end on a high note so we could really celebrate. The track was extremely difficult and one little mistake could have put you down hard. The Kawasaki KX was
near perfect in these conditions and I really want to thank the team for this long hard season." Trey Canard did some late-race moving, however, powering up the ranks to finish in fifth-place. RCH Racing’s Josh Hill took sixth ahead of JGRMX’s Josh Grant in seventh. Weimer finished the night in eighth trailed by Chris Blose in ninth and Andrew Short in 10th. James Stewart made it back to the track following his injury in New Jersey, only to pull off during the initial laps with a mechanical issue.
Villopoto finishes the season 64 points ahead of Dungey in second overall. Roczen takes third in his rookie season as a 450 competitor, followed by Stewart in fourth and Barcia in fifth.
"It feels great to lock in my fourth-consecutive championship. It's been a hard-fought season with a few ups and downs, but it was obviously my most consistent, so I'm glad to be able to close it out on top."