Ryan Villopoto: 2007 AMA Supercross Lites West Champion - Dirt Rider Magazine

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (February 20, 2007) - It's only February, but Ryan Villopoto hasalready laid claim to an AMA title early in the 2007 season. Villopoto, 18, from Poulsbo, Wash.,clinched the AMA Supercross Lites West title Saturday by winning the Supercross Lites West roundin San Diego.This marks the first Supercross title for Villopoto, last year's AMA Motocross/SupercrossRookie of the Year. He won the AMA Motocross Lites Championship in 2006 and was a member ofthe winning U.S. Motocross of Nations team last year.Villopoto was nearly unstoppable in the Lites West series this year. He won all but a singlerace en route to the championship and wrapped up the title with one race remaining. He needed onlya fifth-place or better finish in San Diego to win the championship.Villopoto was generous in victory. He was quick to give much of the credit to his MonsterEnergy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team."I can't thank my team enough for what they've done for me," Villopoto said. "It helps to havethe best team in the series behind you. I don't think it has set in yet, but I have worked for this. It'sdefinitely something that I want to continue to do. I think that my consistency has paid off and that'swhy I was able to win the championship a race early. You have to be consistent especially with onlyeight races. Outdoors is a little different because you have room for error."Villopoto won the opening round of the series and never lost the points lead. He was tiedbriefly when teammate Christophe Pourcel earned the victory at round two in Phoenix.It marked yet another successful season for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki. The teammade a rare sweep of the podium in Phoenix with teammates Pourcel, Villopoto and ChristopherGosselaar finishing one-two-three at Chase Field on Jan. 13. It marked the fifth straight AMASupercross Lites West championship for Kawasaki and their 11th title in the series.Villopoto says he will now focus his attention on defending his Motocross Lites Championship,adding that he'll practice supercross again a few weeks ahead of the annual Dave Coombs Sr.East/West Lites Shootout at the Las Vegas Supercross in May.About AMA Racing

AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leadingsanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include theAmp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF,the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked FlatTrack Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. Inamateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplinesand supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing,visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access an on line Press Room atwww.amaproracing.com/pressroom. For amateur racing information visitwww.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.