The highly anticipated 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will commence this Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, as three-time 450SX Class Championship Ryan Villopoto will stage his title defence against the deepest field of riders the sport has ever seen.
While the championship takes place over the course of 17 races, the season opener has proved to be a key ingredient in making a championship run. In 39 seasons, the eventual champion has finished inside the top five at the season opener 34 times.
Last season, Monster Energy Kawasaki‰Ûªs Villopoto staged the sport‰Ûªs third-greatest comeback when he started the season in 16th place before rebounding to win his third consecutive championship.
Villopoto lines up for a shot at his fourth straight 450SX Class title Saturday night in Anaheim with history at stake. Only Jeremy McGrath, the sport‰Ûªs all-time winningest rider, has won four consecutive titles. Conversely, only McGrath and Ricky Carmichael have won more than three titles, meaning Villopoto could place himself in elite company with another repeat performance this year.
Villopoto currently has 34 career 450SX Class wins with an average finish of 3.6, which is the pinnacle of consistency and the cornerstone of his championships. And while McGrath‰Ûªs record of 72 race wins was once deemed unbreakable, Villopoto is making an impressive run at the mark, currently sitting fifth on the all-time wins list.
‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm not here to break records,‰Û
