4. Ryan Villopoto
- 3-time 250cc National MX Champion
- 2-time 450cc National MX Champion
- Only racer ever to win both of his Motocross des Nations motos outright on a 250cc four-stroke
- 19 250cc MX wins
- 12 450cc MX wins
Sure, these might seem like somewhat minor stats to land Ryan Villopoto this high on the list of the greatest motocross racers of all-time, but you’ll have to hear me out: Ryan Villopoto started his career winning the 250cc National MX Championship three years in a row, just like fellow redhead Ricky Carmichael did in the 125cc class to begin his career. At the Budds Creek Motocross des Nations, Villopoto went out and beat the best 450cc racers in the world – including Ricky Carmichael – to win both motos on his Pro Circuit KX250F, which is a feat never done before or since. Then, in 2009, Villopoto moved up to the 450cc class and actually dominated the season-opening Glen Helen National with a 1-1 score, then injured his knee before round two and had to sit out the rest of the season. Then, in 2010, Villopoto missed the Nationals again, this time with a broken leg suffered in supercross. Villopoto won the 2011 450cc MX title, then injured his knee during supercross and sat it out again in 2012. He returned in 2013 to win the title again, then retired after the 2014 AMA Supercross Series (where he won the final race of his AMA career at the Las Vegas Supercross) feigning a knee injury. He was burnt-out. Monster Energy threw a bunch of cash at him to race the 2015 MXGP Series, so he went out and actually won an early round even though he wasn’t training nearly like he used to, but a crash put him out of that championship and that was it. Still, Villopoto won all five MX National Championships in which he competed. That’s why he lands this high on the list.
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