Amazing to think it's 10 years ago that AMA champion, Ryan Villopoto came to race MXGP. 2015 and what a stunning season it was and one that was eventually won by the last man standing, and current red plate owner in the MXGP championship of 2025, Romain Febvre.

Gypsy Tales got hold of Mitch Covington, father of Tom and a major player for Monster Energy and did this very cool interview. As his career was winding down, Villopoto made the move overseas to compete in the MXGP World Championship. Monster Energy played a big role in that decision.

But why did Monster push for RV to race in Europe, and what impact did that have on the sport? Mitch Covington, Monster Energy’s VP of Sports Marketing, says it changed the sport forever — here’s why!