Ryan Villopoto is trying to put last year's season-ending injury behind him and charge forward into 2011. He has found a new trainer in Aldon Baker and is working hard to prepare his body for the rigors of supercross. Volcom was out at the Kawasaki test track the other day to watch him take down a couple laps and checked in with a video.

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship returned to the West Coast on Saturday for the Motosport.com Washougal Retro National from Washougal Motocross Park, Round 8 of the 12-race championship. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., swept the day's motos to grab his seventh-consecutive 450 Class overall victory. GEICO Powersports Honda's Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., also swept both 250 Class motos to capture his third-straight win.

After a pair of solid starts in Moto 1 and Moto 2, Dungey methodically worked his way into the lead, using time to his advantage. Once he secured the top spot, the rookie never looked back, expanding his significant points lead en route to his 12th victory in the last 14 motos.

"Every championship is hard no matter what the case may be," said Dungey, who won at Washougal for the third consecutive season dating back to his time in the 250 Class. "You don't look at it until its all said and done because there's a lot of racing left. I just take it one race at a time. When you don't you tend to get ahead of yourself and make mistakes."

Honda Red Bull Racing's Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, parlayed holeshots from both motos into a runner-up effort (2-2) while GEICO Powersports Honda's Brett Metcalfe, of Australia, posted a pair of solid efforts to secure third (3-5).

Dungey now holds a 95-point advantage heading into a two-week break and sits just two wins away from tying 10-time AMA Motocross champion Ricky Carmichael, of Tallahassee, Fla., for the most wins ever by a rookie. He also leads the division in average finish at 2.1 and laps led with 121.

Over the last two rounds, Canard has taken the smaller-displacement division by storm. On Saturday, he grabbed both 250 Class holeshots and led every lap of the day. Never winning an AMA Motocross race prior to 2010, Canard has won four of the last six motos and moved from fourth to second in the championship standings.

"I'm thankful I made it out of here safe with a 1-1," said Canard, who competed at Washougal for the first time since 2008. "This is just unbelievable. I wouldn't call (my improvement) confidence. I'd call it more self worth for myself. It takes a lot to come into these races and I'm excited to go into the break this way."

Current 250 Class points leader Christophe Pourcel, of France, put his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki second overall thanks to strong runner-up moto efforts while his teammate Tyla Rattray, of South Africa, finished third (4-3).

After losing six points to his rival, Pourcel's advantage over Canard sits at 38 points. However, the French rider still has the best average finish in the class at 2.8 and has led the most laps with 99.

After a two-week break, the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship resumes for Round 9 and the Rockstar Energy Unadilla National from Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, N.Y., on Saturday, August 14.

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Motosport.com Washougal Retro National
Washougal MX Park - Washougal, Wash.
July 24, 2010
Round 8 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (1-1)
2. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (2-2)
3. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (3-5)
4. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki (7-3)
5. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Kawasaki (10-6)
6. Ryan Sipes, Flaherty, Texas, Yamaha (5-11)
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda (9-9)
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (8-10)
9. Dan Reardon, Australia, Yamaha (12-7)
10. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Yamaha (11-8)

450 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 368
2. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 273
3. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 257
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 238
5. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 223
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 219
7. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 204
8. Ryan Sipes, Flaherty, Texas, Yamaha, 166
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 158
10. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda, 157

250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (1-1)
2. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (2-2)
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (4-3)
4. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda (5-4)
5. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki (6-6)
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (3-11)
7. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (7-9)
8. Tommy Searle, England, KTM (10-7)
9. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Yamaha (12-12)
10. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha (22-5)

250 Class Championship Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 340
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 302
3. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 294
4. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 286
5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 212
6. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 209
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 209
8. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 200
9. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 195
10. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha, 163

To My Fans and Supporters:

I have spent most of the last month in and out of my doctor's office getting tests done, trying to figure out what is going on. Each weekend I head to the race excited to get out there and get some wins on my Monster Energy Kawasaki, ready to defend the number 1 plate that is on my bike, knowing that I have worked hard during the week, on and off the bike. The team and bike are prepped and ready on race day and then I'm unable to race like I normally can. Where is that fight that I normally have?

For most of this outdoor season I have been frustrated and questioning every part of my program, wondering why I am unable to race to my full potential. It's tough knowing you're better than what your performance and results show. It's embarrassing riding with the #1 plate on and not battling at the front! I don't take it lightly and I knew I had to get to the bottom of my issues.

Many people have commented that it's due to my role as a new dad, but that's not it. Tate makes me want to race harder. I want my son to be proud of me and I want to teach him that by working hard you can achieve your dreams. My friend Andrew McFarlane passing was another reason that I may not be riding to my full potential. That I'm keeping it safe. That's not it either. I have always rode within my safety zone and I know Andrew is up there pumping me up to get some holeshots and win some races like he always did. These two reasons alone make me want to race harder and give it everything I have, to be an example of hard work to my son, to live life to the full and be thankful for doing what I love to do and that is race a motorcycle! I'm not ready for retirement; I want a few more championships indoors and out!

So finally with all that said, I got my results back from the doctor. I have Epstein Barr virus. I know some other riders have had it and I never thought I would be sitting here saying the same thing. It explained my fatigue issues on the track. I knew it wasn't my fitness, but I was struggling to finish motos. It just got to a point where it was dangerous for me to be out there. My doctor, team and I have decided that I need to be off the bike for a while to try get this handled. I am really disappointed to be out again. This year has been a personal worst for me. I have often been referred to as "Mr. Consistent" but this year has been far from that.

I want to apologize to my fans for not being able to race for you and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and sticking by the 22 this year. From the worst times come the best times. And I will be working hard to kick this illness so I can get back on track and winning races as soon as possible.

-Chad