Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto is adamant that the all-new 2012 model KX450F played a huge part in his dominant clean-sweep at the Unadilla round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship last weekend.

The win was his second of the season, but the first aboard the 2012 Kawasaki KX450F as the team decided to switch to the latest model for the final four rounds of the season.

Capturing the win on his birthday, Villopoto qualified fastest and quickly made his way to the front to lead both motos before the halfway mark.

“I knew that I would be bummed today with anything less than a win and I was able to put two good motos together,” said Villopoto. “It was great to get the opportunity to try out the new KX450F and it seems to fit me well already.

“This win came at a great time and helped me move six more points into the lead. At this point in the season, it’s definitely good to have the points lead, but it isn’t over until the last chequered flag.

“I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing and try to put more points on the board.”

Villopoto pointed out that the new model is better all-round, an improvement over the 2011 model KX450F that he won this year’s AMA Supercross title aboard.

“The bike has been really easy to transition to from the 2011 model,” Villopoto added. “Obviously the 2011 bike has been good to me since I won the AMA Supercross championship on it, but Kawasaki has found a way to make the bike even better.

“I’m really happy that we get to finish out the season on it.”