The ISDE is arguably the toughest off-road race on the planet, which makes Sipes' accomplishment that much more impressive. Despite having just two seasons of off-road racing under his belt, stepping away from full time Pro Motocross competition at the end of 2013, Sipes has ascended to the upper echelon of the discipline quickly, finishing eighth in his inaugural Grand National Cross Country Racing Series (GNCC) in 2014 and sixth last season. He was selected for the 2015 ISDE in Slovakia in an effort to help Team USA win its first World Team Trophy, with what many considered to be its most talented lineup in history. While racing luck wasn't kind to Team USA as a whole, Sipes never let up and achieved what can be considered the most significant accomplishment for any U.S.-born off-road racer in history. 

"What Ryan accomplished in Slovakia cannot but understated," said MX Sports Pro Racing President Davey Coombs. "Since 1913 the American contingent has valiantly fought for off-road racing's most coveted trophy, only to come up empty in every attempt. Team USA has made exceptional gains in recent years, but still has never tasted victory of any kind. In winning the individual overall Ryan can boast that he was the best off-roader in the world, and will forever be known as the ‘first American’ for this historic achievement. His motocross skillset undoubtedly factored into his ability to achieve this feat and hopefully his success is a stepping stone for further success for Team USA at the ISDE."