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Supercross & Motocross
SX: The Burning Q - Worst Season Ever?
Chad Reed. James Stewart. Ryan Dungey. Ryan Villopoto. Trey Canard. Kevin Windham. 2012 has been a cruel season indeed.
TwoTwo Motorsports' Chad Reed and Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto (Photo: Hoppenworld.com)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The SLC round of the Monster Energy Supercross Lites Championship will air on SPEED Sunday, April 29 at 6:00pm ET. #SXonSPEED
Ryan Villopoto’s torn ACL and meniscus makes it a clean sweep of all four of the former Monster Energy Supercross Champions who entered the 2012 season ready to do battle being bitten by an injury bug (beast?) has plagued this championship. Fortunately for Villopoto, he had already wrapped up the title before becoming the latest casualty. However, it's not without its consequences as he will not be able to defend his national motocross title this summer.
The opening few weeks had us asking whether 2012 might actually eclipse '11, widely viewed as the greatest season in the history of the sport. But now the dark cloud hanging over the year has completely reserved the question: could 2012 actually be the worst season ever?
That's a harsh way to describe this championship, but it’s difficult to not feel deflated. The opening four races fully lived up to the hype, each of the four champions -- Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, James Stewart, and Chad Reed -- garnering a win. As Villopoto asserted himself as the rider to beat by becoming the first repeat winner, Reed stepped up to challenge him head on.
Unfortunately, when Reed went down in Dallas, it ignited the worst domino effect imaginable. Dungey was next, suffering a broken collarbone prior to St. Louis, riding through the pain and making it worse, which forced him to undergo surgery. A few weeks later, James Stewart got hurt in Indianapolis and has been in and out of competition since. Even potential race winners Trey Canard and Kevin Windham weren’t spared.
As they all fell by the wayside, Villopoto managed to walk away unscathed and made history simply staying healthy. It's worth noting that he was the fastest rider on a weekly basis and perhaps his pace pushed his rivals into unfamiliar territory in terms of speed, which might explain what happened to them.
However, while Villopoto racked up the wins, there was still a concern that he might be next. And then, he was.
Ryan Villopoto’s torn ACL and meniscus makes it a clean sweep of all four of the former Monster Energy Supercross Champions who entered the 2012 season ready to do battle being bitten by an injury bug (beast?) has plagued this championship. Fortunately for Villopoto, he had already wrapped up the title before becoming the latest casualty. However, it's not without its consequences as he will not be able to defend his national motocross title this summer.
The opening few weeks had us asking whether 2012 might actually eclipse '11, widely viewed as the greatest season in the history of the sport. But now the dark cloud hanging over the year has completely reserved the question: could 2012 actually be the worst season ever?
That's a harsh way to describe this championship, but it’s difficult to not feel deflated. The opening four races fully lived up to the hype, each of the four champions -- Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, James Stewart, and Chad Reed -- garnering a win. As Villopoto asserted himself as the rider to beat by becoming the first repeat winner, Reed stepped up to challenge him head on.
Unfortunately, when Reed went down in Dallas, it ignited the worst domino effect imaginable. Dungey was next, suffering a broken collarbone prior to St. Louis, riding through the pain and making it worse, which forced him to undergo surgery. A few weeks later, James Stewart got hurt in Indianapolis and has been in and out of competition since. Even potential race winners Trey Canard and Kevin Windham weren’t spared.
As they all fell by the wayside, Villopoto managed to walk away unscathed and made history simply staying healthy. It's worth noting that he was the fastest rider on a weekly basis and perhaps his pace pushed his rivals into unfamiliar territory in terms of speed, which might explain what happened to them.
However, while Villopoto racked up the wins, there was still a concern that he might be next. And then, he was.
SX Seattle
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