SX: Elite Riders Talk '13 Opener

SX: Elite Riders Talk ‘13 Opener

Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed, James Stewart, and Justin Barcia commented on the looming 2013 season opener...

Media Release | Posted January 03, 2013 Anaheim, CA

(Photo: Hoppenworld.com)

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The 2013 Monster Energy Supercross season opener will air LIVE on SPEED on Saturday, January 5th at 9:30 ET.

The fastest riders on the planet spoke to the media on Thursday as the annual Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship, Press Conference kicked off festivities inside the Diamond Club at Angel Stadium. The four former 450SX Class Champions who will line up on the gate on Saturday night – Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed, and James Stewart, along with Monster Energy Cup Winner Justin Barcia answered questions and shared their thoughts on the season that lies ahead with the media.

As the reigning back-to-back Monster Energy Supercross Champion, Villopoto is looking to join elite company during the 2013 season, attempting to become just the fourth rider to claim three consecutive titles in the 39-year history of the sport. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider will be making his comeback from injury this season, fully recovered from a torn ACL suffered at his home race in Seattle last April, just two races after he clinched the championship. While Villopoto did make his formal return to action this past October at the Monster Energy Cup, he is eager to get back on the track full time and defend his crown against his decorated rivals.

“We [the riders] are all better this year,” said Villopoto. “We put in the work during the offseason and our speed gets better and our fitness gets better. ACL’s are pretty minor these days and easy to fix, so once I started riding things started moving smoothly and quickly. I set a goal this season and that’s to [win championships] three years in a row. But, we’re here in Anaheim and you have to take it weekend by weekend, and that’s what’s driving me to keep doing what I need to do and be there in the end.”

Like Villopoto, Reed will also be making his return from injury during the 2013 season. The TwoTwo Motorsports Honda owner/rider was one of several riders to suffer a season-ending injury when he crashed during the Dallas race last February. The multiple injuries Reed sustained were the worst of his career, and after a lengthy recovery that kept him off the bike for six months, he returned to action at the Monster Energy Cup. After taking advantage of some additional racing opportunities in the months leading up to Monster Energy Supercross, Reed is back at 100% health and ready to prove that despite being at the tail end of his career, he still has the drive and speed to beat his competitors and capture a third Monster Energy Supercross title.

“The last few months have been fun,” said Reed. “I did what I had to do [preparing] and we’ll see if it’s enough in a couple nights. It’s a long season, so it’s important to start off consistent and not crash out like last year. When you grow up and you’ve been to these a time or two, I think it’s funny to hear that the bikes are the best they’ve ever been and the riders are more prepared than ever. I just want to drop the gate and go racing. You have to be there every weekend and have to be in it to win it. I’ll just try to do my thing as always and be there in Vegas with a shot at this thing [the championship].”

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