Ryan Villopoto
Birth Date: August 13, 1988
Birthplace: Fortuna, Calif.
Residence: Poulsbo, Wash.
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 145 lbs
Turned Pro: 2005

Just three years into his professional career, Poulsbo, Washington’s Ryan Villopoto has established himself as one of the future stars of motocross racing. After blitzing through the amateur ranks, he is quickly building an impressive resume in the world’s top motocross series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF. Since turning pro at the 10th round of the 2005 season, the 19-year-old Villopoto has amassed nine overall victories and 18 podium finishes in the Motocross Lites class, including back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007. As the top rider for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki, he came into his own last season, battling then-teammate Ben Townley to the wire for his second title to go along with the number one plate he earned in the Supercross Lites West Region earlier in the year. He capped off a breakout campaign winning the Motocross Des Nations for the second time as a member of Team USA and was named the AMA/SPEED Channel Athlete of the Year. Villopoto enters 2008 with hopes of grabbing his third straight crown, joining greats Broc Glover (’77-79), Mark Barnett (’80-’82), and Ricky Carmichael (97-’99) as the only riders in AMA history to achieve such a feat.