Poulsbo supercross rider Ryan Vilopoto back on track

Dan Villopoto had been a dirt-bike rider like his father, so it made sense he'd introduce his 5-year-old son Ryan to the sport while other little boys his age were learning to pedal bicycles with training wheels.

"Back then it was just a hobby," Dan Villopoto said. "I never knew it would become as big as it is today."

Fifteen years later, Ryan Villopoto, a Poulsbo native, makes his Northwest debut as a rookie on the AMA Supercross Series tonight at Qwest Field.

The homecoming isn't making the Kawasaki rider as nervous as returning to the track after a four-week, three-race layoff due to a viral infection.

"I tried racing through it but that just made it worse, so I took some time off," Villopoto said. "Now I'm back better than I was before."

At 20, the flamboyant redhead is one of the most accomplished newcomers to enter supercross.

Last year, he won eight of 12 Motocross Lites events to claim his third straight championship. He has won 31 Motocross/Supercross Lites races in his career. In 2005, Villopoto won the AMA's Horizon Award, given annually to the sport's top amateur.

Villopoto has had difficulty duplicating his past success on the premier circuit and is seeking his first victory this season. He has finished third three times, and with two races remaining after tonight, he can finish no better than fifth in the points series.

Defending champion Chad Reed leads with 315 points, five better than James Stewart. Villopoto is ninth with 165.

"He's struggled a little bit," Dan Villopoto said. "He's just learning a little bit from this first season. He's going to continue to get better and better."

Riding dirt bikes has always been a way for Dan and Ryan to spend time with each other. When Ryan displayed natural ability beyond his years he began racing competitively around the state from Bellingham to Washougal.

The family decided to leave its Northwest home and travel around the country to enter 10-year-old Ryan in amateur events.

"We raced literally all over the United States and started spending a lot of time in California training because the weather is pretty bad up here in the winter time," Dan said. "Racing is probably one of the most family-oriented sports, but it's a lot different than Little League baseball or football."

The Villopotos were a mom-and-pop operation. Dan worked on the bikes, his wife Kristen home-schooled their three children, and Ryan became one of the young stars in dirt-bike racing.

"It's been all I've ever known," Ryan said. "It feels as natural to me as anything else."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com