Going for the W: Ryan Dungey
Friday, May 13, 2011 | 11:30 AM
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Had Ryan Dungey not won so many darned titles over the past two seasons, maybe he would have felt differently. In his second year in the SX class in Monster Energy Supercross, Dungey stayed right in the hunt until the end, despite losing a pile of points early in the season and having to come back from a massive deficit. He kept fighting to the finish, ultimately finishing second to Chad Reed in the race and third in the series behind Reed and Ryan Villopoto.
Not a bad season by any means, but Dungey’s title streak—2009 250 SX Lites West, 2009 AMA 250 Motocross, 2010 AMA Supercross and 450 Motocross—is now over. And, make no mistake, Dungey races for wins and championships, not third-place trophies. In the Rockstar Makita Suzuki pit after the race, we found Dungey, ready to take inventory on the season that was over, while readying himself also for the outdoor tour about to begin.
Dungey's title run is over at four.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Racer X Online: What were your thoughts coming into this one, and how did it go?
Ryan Dungey: Really, tonight, coming in, I was focused like this was just another race. If we got the championship, I’d be even happier, but we knew that would be tough to do, so I just wanted to focus on winning the race. In the main event, I got off to a pretty decent start, I would have liked to have gotten an even better one, but at least we were able to get up there later. I was about sixth, and I have to be up there quicker and faster, and that’s going to make my job a lot easier. I got through some carnage on the first lap and got up to fourth or fifth, then Stewie and Windham had a bad fall. I don’t know what happened, but then I was third. I got by Villopoto and then I set my sights on Chad. I got right up on his butt for a few laps, and that roost coming right off of him for a few laps really hurt man. I mean, it wasn’t anything, that didn’t slow me down or anything, but it did hurt. I tried everything, I just couldn’t get around him. We went all the way down to the last turn but he had the inside covered. So, second on the night, third in the standings. It’s tough, it hurts, the goal is always to win a championship and we came up short of that goal. We put a lot of effort in. So all we can ask for is another opportunity and another challenge for next year, and of course for outdoors this year.
You’d close in, he’d pull away. What led to that?
There was just one good line, and if you got outside of it, you were losing time. I wanted to get right on him so I could run it in on him in a turn, but the opportunity never presented itself.
Dungey and Reed engaged in a heated battle for the win at Vegas.
Photo: Simon Cudby
What happened with the starts this year? Last year they were great, this year they weren’t. Did anything change with the bike or anything like that?
Yeah, last year it was good, especially at the beginning of the year. But we have some bugs we can work out on the bike and with myself. We do have to work on starts, but I think we have a great base setup with the bike for outdoors so we’re looking good there.
The main thing everyone wants to know is this: the results weren’t as good this year as last, but do you feel you’re riding better and faster this year?
Absolutely. Absolutely. Things are definitely better. This supercross season was challenging, it was tough. You know, usually in my career, I’ve only had to worry about one or two guys, this year you had to worry about four! So you had to be sharp every weekend. We had a couple of mishaps that set us back a little bit. We need to look back at the season and see what we could have done better, as far as bike setup and things like that. Maybe we need to go back and evaluate things, take what we can from it, and see why we weren’t getting those good starts. I really think it’s just a matter of fine tuning and adjusting. But we’ll be ready for outdoors.
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HOLESHOT... on a 350!!!
c
GO DUNGEY!!
So what did we learn from this?
Dungey will be in the hunt for the outdoor championship this year, for sure. Villopoto's got some serious confidence and momentum on his side (combined with his phenomenal speed), but I don't think anyone's going to have an easy time winning this year. The anticipation is killing me!
We learned that Dungey will sign with Reed's team next year... that is what we learned!
Dungey is going to much more effective outdoors. He is one of the most professional, physically fit, focused riders the sport has ever seen, and that will make the difference in the nationals.
Start for sure and a little more agresive on making passes. Sooooo close! This year was just at a different level than the past. You got it RD!
I just read that South Point Casino owner, Michael Gaughn, will pay $100,000 to any American that wins the U.S. GP race this weekend. Dungey, get out there! You've won against the GP guys a few times! That's a big pay day!
Maybe Dungey did not pass Reed because it not a good idea to pass your future boss.
i would think the new bike is slower then last yrs model .but you would also notice he didnt run the silencer that was updated with that model .but you would also think they could of adjusted his fine tuning to help him more .it also seemed down on hp really when you see a guy not catching up and passing alot he seemed to struggle with power to the ground alot ,just not passing at will was obvious to me ,we cheered all season to twist that grip but it seemed there was nothing left in the hp department.that seems to be the truth because nobody will take roost like that if you can just twist it and blow buy to get away from it .
Dungey to two two?Is that confirmed?Who's the big name going to H&H?Outta the loop!
The two Ryan's will KILL it outdoors, can't wait!! That South Point Casino owner must be a BIG moto fan! One thing for sure, he's got the best breakfast buffet in Vegas!!
@john ??? Who did the KTM 350's get so many Holeshots?? They must have less power the the Suk 450 no??
. RD rode so much better the 2nd half of the year, The first half he looked way off pase even though he got a few 2nds it was because guys fell. The 2nd half he stepped up big time but still was a little off RV and Js sometimes but close. RD biggest problem is one that I have been saying for 2 years, The guy can not make a PASS!! How many times this year was he much faster then the guy in front of him but he could NOT get the job done?
.I hope he can run with RV outdoors but my money is on RV.
What is there to learn from this season? Yeah he didn't get that many wins, only one I believe, and was right there battling for the win at a couple other rounds. He had virtually zero mistakes compared to the other riders, he rarely ever went down and if it weren't for the chain coming off, a freak accident, I mean really how often does that happen?, he would have taken this championship.
We learned this year if nothing else, that no doubt Ryan can hang with the best. With a little fine tuning, he could win. Also, I think it's about time the kid humbles himself and accepts the fact that he NEEDS a trainer!
Acejas he TRIED to get Aldon Baker but RV beat him there too.
@robj118 I think thing would have turned out the same anyway because RV would have won the last race if he needed to whitch would have put him up 17 over RD whitch would more than cover the 14 or 15 points RD lost when his chain came off because of a bad start. IMO .. Bottom line the guy only won 1 race and this year that was not going to cut the mustard. RD needs to learn how to pass guys he left a lot of points out there because of passed he did not or could not make.
Outdoors 450 class. JS, if he's in it, RD, RV, CR, if he stay's in it, BM, JW, CP, because he won't have the Stamina. MA hasn't matured and never will unless he learns not to look behind him in the heat of battle. I'm a TC fan, but leg injury has already ruined his year, otherwise he'd be 4th. It's gonna a classic season, and actually, i wouldn't bet on anything, except that RD will gain a lot more fans. LET'S GET IT ON!
rv2 will whip everyone outdoors
Dungey has stamina, physical fitness, and an immunity to weather that other riders don't have. Supercross was more technical, fast for a short while, less fitness. Outdoors is where the real athleticism of MX comes into play.
Dungey has fitness other riders don't.
There is a lot more room on the track outdoors. I think you will see the #1 making a lot of passes. Hopefully that will carry over to SX 2012. I believe the battle will be RV and RD all season. Hopefully it is close and someoe else will get in the mix but I can't see anyone else being consistantly upfront as much as those two.
Bill....don't you get sick and tired of writing the same old stuff, geez.
I think RD will do much better outdoors. The problem is... so will RV.
For you guys that think power equals holeshot, you are overlooking traction. I believe the KTM 350 is lighter and likely has less wheel spin. But there's more.
When I worked in the industry, we added weight (as much as 2 lbs) to the crank to smooth out the power. It would feel slower, but generally run faster laps. Some riders didn't like it (despite what the stopwatch says), while others did. Sometimes a more mellow engine would provide smooth broad power and lap times would fall (plus it would be easier to ride). Some teams couldn't match that broad power, so went for peak power - making the bike fast, but hard to ride.
Have you noticed guys getting a hole shot, then fall back? It might be the engine making the bike difficult to ride. I've (twice) gotten the holeshot over 450's on my 125, but they eat me alive by the end of the race (old guy's class).
Congrats to Ryan, he did his best, found he has areas to improve on, and will work hard and get better. I think the lack of hole shots came from the loss of Ian. His passing does need to be improved as he follows far to much and he looked back to much this year instead of focusing forward when he was in traffic up front.
The Outdoors looks to live up to hype as their now may be 7 to 10 guys who can run in the same second per lap, WOW! It will be tough to hold on to that big #1 but at the end of the year I think Dungey will edge Poto for the title . Good luck to all !
In 2005 i was parked next to the dungy's at the red bud regional.i don't claim to know them but can tell you mom is super nice,dad is cool but all business(as would be expected at a regional) brothers were cool too.I watched some of the motos and Ryans older brother was a fast A rider,but Ryan was crushing the 125B on a 2 stroke,he was blazing fast in that sand.I went back to my shop and told my crew he would be a factory rider in 2 or 3 years.only a little over a year later he was a factory rider.About this year,some people say he got lucky last year.I don't think so,to me he legitimized his titles.he has shown the speed and endurance to run up front,he did it all year.with a couple of the breaks the other guys got he would have won more races.he surely would have scored enough points to win the title had his chain not come off.(totally out of his control) Ryan never does or says anything stupid and is a great role model and image for our sport,a class act and the real deal.Believe it or not I am actually a bigger villopoto fan since I sell kawasaki's,I am glad he won the title.But if RV could not win the other Ryan would have been ok with me.The nationals should be great.
RV2 is gonna absolutely tear everyone apart outdoors this season, think of Carmichael speed a few years back and that's what its gonna be like. RV2 is not scared to just hold on tight to the bike and hold that mother wiiiiide open everywhere. And why does the industry always kiss Dungeys ass, it can get a little annoying, you know there are other people you guys could talk about sometimes.