Dungey Earns First-Ever Supercross Podium for KTM
Sunday, January 8, 2012 | 11:15 AM
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PrintANAHEIM, Calif. – Red Bull/KTM Factory Team rider Ryan Dungey finished 3rd overall at the opening round of the AMA Supercross Series effectively earning KTM’s first-ever U.S. Supercross class podium finish.
Dungey looked impressive from the start of the first practice session on his newly released KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition race machine. He qualified third fastest from practice and was placed in the second heat.
He nearly nailed the holeshot once the gate dropped for his eight-lap heat but was cut off as the riders rounded the first corner and dropped back to 3rd. He quickly passed Brett Metcalfe to move into 2nd behind Andrew Short at the end of the first lap. Dungey, Short and a hard-charging James Stewart soon found themselves in a three-way battle for the lead. Stewart made the pass to take over the lead position while Dungey and Short battled it out for 2nd place. Dungey was able to make the pass on the final lap to earn 2nd overall in the heat.
At the start of the main event, Dungey leaped out front early to earn another good start on his KTM. He rounded the first corner in 5th position and passed Mike Alessi for 4th within the first few turns. He continued his forward momentum making a clean inside pass on Ivan Tedesco on the third lap of the race to move into podium position. Out front, Ryan Villopoto led the way while Chad Reed sat in the runner-up position and Dungey sat approximately 5 seconds back in 3rd.
Dungey spent the first half of the race closing the gap on Reed, turning lap times nearly a full second faster. On the ninth lap Dungey made a mistake and tucked the front end causing him to crash. He quickly recovered but lost his position to Stewart. On lap twelve, Stewart made a slight mistake that Dungey capitalized on and moved his KTM back into 3rd. On the next lap, Reed crashed which allowed Dungey and Stewart to close on him. The three riders then began a battle for 2nd place that ran for the next four laps.
The crowd was on their feet as the three battled it out swapping positions. On the sixteenth lap, Stewart crashed, marking one crash for each of them. Stewart’s crash cost him a lot of time and he recovered in 6th position allowing Reed and Dungey to pull away. Dungey continued to pressure Reed for the remaining laps eventually crossing the line in 3rd just a bike length behind Reed.
Dungey’s podium finish marked the first for the KTM brand in its U.S. Supercross racing history. It also marked the first podium for the new KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition. “My bike ran flawlessly tonight,” remarked Dungey after the race. “I would have definitely liked to pass Chad and take 2nd tonight, but I am happy to earn KTM its first podium. I can’t thank the team enough for all they have done for me in the development of this new bike.”
Red Bull/KTM Factory Team Manager Roger DeCoster commented, “The entire team is excited for the podium finish but we also know that 2nd place was within our reach tonight. We were happy with Ryan’s performance but we know we have some areas that need work and we will begin to correct them immediately. We hope to continue this success into next week and improve our position on the podium.”
Next Event: Phoenix, AZ – January 14, 2012
Overall Results
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Congrats KTM USA. I'm glad Dungey got a podium on the first race and got it over with. Getting to the top of it will be tough, but he looks to still be one of the guys that can do it.
He looked ok, I think he got lucky with Stewart screwing himself though. I think the KTM needs a little more power brought out of it maybe by the looks of the drag races out of some of those corners a few times. Then again maybe he wasn't twisting it all the way.
^^^^^ quit possibly the dumbest comment ive ever read on this website.
I'm not so sure, I think Mike Fisher scored KTM first supercross podiuem back around 91 or 92
oops I was wrong he finished 4rth 4 times close but no cigar.
Truly impressive KTM/Dungey. The aftermarket companies haven't even touched this bike.
How is it a dumb comment bermcrasher? Either the bike is slightly off the power or its him. Watch the race fag, looked like a few times something just wasnt there when they were close towards the end there. Let me guess your some kind of KTM fan or you just think you know it all, either way you should buy that jacket Ricky had on cause your probably a queer.
That bike still needs some tweaking thats all I'm saying. If Stewart didnt mess up after he passed dungey, he would have held him off, Dungey would have gotten fourth.
@MF637 That's pretty awesome that you are omniscient and know that Stewart would have held Dungey off for the rest of the race. Can you predict the future as well? If you look at the laptimes, available here:
http://results.amasupercross.com/index.php?y=2012&e=01&w=0
You will see that Dungey was faster than Stewart for the majority of the laps.
Stewart is more agressive Comfortably dumb probably in my opinion would have made it hard for Dungey to repass if he didnt screw himself first. I know Dungey was able to catch up but my opinion is simply Dungey got a little lucky to podium 3rd. Just my opinion is that ok with you?
Wait a minute lets all study the laptimes, then take the time to link them on racerxonline. Watch the race have an opinion of your own on of what you watched, thats what this comment board is about then life goes on.
MF637 Please understand this concerning James Stewart: When a rider matches or exceeds his speed he will crash ALMOST every time. Then most of the media suck ups (who get a chill up their leg every time James walks by) will deem said rider "lucky". Chad Reed was the first of the truly talented riders to challenge James and expose him. Unlike a few years ago, the other top 3 or 4 riders can ride with James now. That's why we always hear, "if James can keep it on 2 wheels"... Duh! That's a pretty big part of motorcycle racing people! You may never see someone "beat him straight up",as they like to say, because he'll crash, crash them or crash and crash them!
i know its only been one race, but i expected more from james at A1, now in my OPINION james's career ended when he left kawasaki or better yet it ended when yamaha brought out there useless machine of a 450
I definitely agree I simply am saying I think Dungey may have gotten a little lucky. My opinion thats all, I dont care about Stewart I know he's a loose cannon. I just think Dungey needs to get more agressive and go for it more often. I'm a fan of Dungey just wish he'd be more like Villopoto.
@RCRDDW Well said!
MF637 Dungey is my guy also and I agree with you that he needs to be more aggressive. I've been patient with him throughout his first 3 years as a pro but now I think it's time to learn from RV1, CR22. I really think that's (more aggression) the only thing keeping him from being top dog once KTM gets that bike a little more dialed in. I saw the same thing you saw coming out of the turns also. Chad and James seemed much faster at the drag when they were battling with him.
Thanks TWK1!