Monday Conversation: Ryan Dungey
Monday, February 27, 2012 | 10:45 AM
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Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey scored his second win of the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross tour after holding off title rival Ryan Villopoto down the stretch in Atlanta. Even though we didn’t get over to Dungey’s motorhome until very late in the evening, we found him still signing autographs and hanging with his family. Then we asked him some questions for Monday Conversation.
Racer X: First off all, when you win a race, suddenly people are like, “Oh, now he’s on it. Now he’s figured it out.” But did anything really change per se? Did you fall upon some great setting or did you eat a great meal today? Get a good night’s sleep?
Ryan Dungey: No. I guess from a week ago when we talked in Dallas, I did feel that we could improve with our setup a little bit. I think I could have figured things out a little bit as well. I hadn’t been able to get back to Florida where my home base is for awhile. I was on the West Coast the whole time. Anybody who lives on the West Coast...there’s a lot going on out there. Long, full days. You don’t really get time to think. I think it was just a matter of a couple things: getting back to Tallahassee, getting on my program and kind of getting things back to normal.
It almost felt like a week off, even though I didn’t take any time off or anything. Things were really relaxed and mellow. But we also did a little bit of shock testing and got a little bit better in that area. But I really think last week was a matter of tough luck in a few spots, but also not putting ourselves in the right position right off the bat. And a little bit off on the setup. I really felt that at Dallas we could improve just a little bit more, and during this week I think we did. We’re going to obviously try to keep on that. But it’s always nice when you can get time for yourself and put things in perspective a little bit. It’s nice to remember, too, how fortunate we are to race for a living.
Did you change anything on the starts? Because you ripped your heat race, too.
I really didn’t expect it to be that good as far as the heat race and the main. We switched up and did some tire changes this week as well. Went to a different, kind of a skinner hard pack/soft terrain tire that kind of works in all areas.
Dungey was able to fend off a late challange from RV to take the win in Atlanta.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Intermediate tire?
Intermediate, yeah. I felt like it was a good tire, a little bit firmer. It really did us good. I really feel that was a big help for tonight as well in the starts.
Is your track in Florida similar to this at all? The soil or anything? Is that a factor here?
Yes and no. There is one track that we have that is kind of red clay like this. But to be honest, my dirt at home isn’t as hard as this was tonight. I feel like this track, this dirt gets really slippery and kind of harsh and choppy. It gets kind of hard pack, which is kind of surprising because my first year here in 2007 it was completely opposite.
It was rutted and soft and stuff back then?
Yeah. Rutted, soft. You’re steering with your rear around the corners and everything. The dirt has changed the way it’s developed in the past couple years.
Just give me an idea, when you make that transfer from California to Florida what is that like logistically? How do you pull that off in a week? Does stuff have to go back and forth?
No. That’s where we all plan ahead. Obviously I have all off-season there in Florida, too. They send bikes there and ship in spare parts and a lot of great stuff. So, for myself I’m very fortunate to be able to have a team to send stuff. It’s a lot of money to do that and also have stuff in California. But it was just a matter of sending some new updated version of suspension or motor work and stuff like that. Once that all got there it took a day to get everything tuned in once we got back Sunday and then we were ready to go Monday. So, it worked out perfect.
Dungey and DeCoster celebrate KTMs second win of the season.
Photo: Simon Cudby
I was talking to Roger and he said, obviously with most riders, you’re trying to push them, to go harder and go faster. He said with you, you don’t have that problem. You’re pushing yourself. He said he has to work sometimes to almost pull you back, that’s how much drive you have.
Yeah. Like we talked last weekend, you get to a point were you accomplish something, or you can be going as fast as you can go, but there is always that expectation of wanting to go faster and faster. It is hard. You’ve got to find that balance in your life and we all struggle with it at points. To go faster, to be stronger, setup needs to be better… it’s a constant evolving process and I really feel that I myself like to, when I want to get better, I like to work, work, work. But maybe a little bit of R&R is not too bad to have in the books as well! When you tear your body down you need to rest it.
Obviously, when you get better and better… I don’t think you’re going to see major, crazy changes. It’s just little minor bits; you’re not going to see huge improvements overnight. It’s pretty incredible with this factory stuff and how one click on suspension could be the make or break. And me, I’m kind of really touchy and really picky in that area, but it really blows me away how a couple clicks off your lap times can drop. But a couple clicks in, it’s like you can just hit things like clockwork. But I really feel that we had a good setup tonight going in the main and we did a great job. I feel like things are coming together. We’ll celebrate tonight. This win means a lot to myself, to KTM, the crew and everything. But there are going to be more races and we need to be ready for that. We’ll celebrate tonight and get ready for next week.
I just realized I didn’t even ask you about the race at all. Take me there real quick. You got out front and there was some heat from RV down to the end…
Well, the start...I got off to a good start. Cole Seely was out front. He led some good laps right off the bat. But I was able to make the pass and lead from there. [Ryan] Villopoto was coming and I saw him. I felt like I was able to gauge it and keep the distance in check and was able to come away with the win.
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Way to go Gopher Boy ! RV had nothin' for ya..
Suzuki press release: “After reviewing the departure of Roger DeCoster and Ryan Dungey from Team Suzuki and seeing the success of the new KTM Team, we have concluded that we totally and royally screwed up. Does anyone want to buy some drastically discounted yellow bikes? Please?”
great ride ryan..but if he was in RVs place at the begining he would have been third sorry mofo
Nice safe interview, no hard questions, just easy going RD interview.
Everything's great, made a few changes, need to get back to work......
Don't get me wrong I like RD, but following CS around for 7 laps was a bit much. Props to CS, but you are a former #1, get pass him and check out.
Also I don't like how he will come underneath a rider, get in his line, and then brake check, then take off - make the pass and checkout.
A win is a win no matter, so all is good.
I want to know where all the guys are from last week who said Dungey wouldnt get a win unless RV screwed up or crashed.. Dungey has the speed as long as he doesnt have to do a bunch of passes, he can win. I said last week all he needs is a start, and he will win. Now I want to guess the winning powerball numbersLOL>>
RV1 made up some ground, but Dungey was able to match him when he needed too. This is far from over. RV is only 10 points up, with alot of racing left..
Dungey's best interview in a long time.
@joemezz,,, hmmmm, once RV caught RD, RD shifted up a gear, and RV couldnt catch him.. Thats the race I seen anyway.. RD beat RV fair and square...
Great race RD! I love how he locked down his fastest lap on the last lap. I was bummed to see JS get cut off with the flashing lights he was catching RV faster than RV was catching RD it would of been nice to see those two battle.
You guys are all nuts. Nobody even knows that RV went down in the main and it didnt show it. RV was right on Seeley and Dungey right before the sand section about 12 laps in. You saw Dungey and Seeley enter the sand sectiona and RV wasnt behind them anymore. JS7 said it in the podium, "I saw Ryan go down." And watch RV's interview on supercross online. He went down or he would have passed Dungey way before the last lap. Wait till the lap times post. RV was still the fastest by far....
@JC970,,, but RV didnt win,, right ?? Crashing is a part of racing,, like all of the JS haters say...
Congrats to RD but the real test is when he runs into more hoops like those in San Diego where he looked snail like. Could it be coming in Daytona where the GOAT likes those hoop sections?
RD rode smart and didn't crash. Too bad for the riders that aren't as consistent. Sure some of the guys are faster on some laps or even all the laps but when you go down you must be riding over your level. We've seen all of the top guys do this. You're only as good as your last race!!
Yea it was a good ride by RD, looked like he was pushing hard which is good to see but RV did get up from a small crash and nearly get him, he had a front end wash out in a corner and got close..
@ realmofo
I'm not the one that said it but RV did screw up repeatedly.....he put the bike down at some point that we didn't see in the broadcast....he was swapping around in the sand like...well like I would've! Not taking anything away from Dungey but RV had some serious focus issues on the weekend. Made a lot of mistakes, almost jumped on a downed rider on caution and ran right through the checkers in the heat race like he had more laps to do.....was just kind of weird really...
NOTE: these are just my observations....not ' Villotard' excuses!
But it sure was fun to watch both Ryan's charging right to the end....and good on RD5 for putting his fastest lap in on the final lap. That's how you close the deal!
While it would be great for the fun factor if JS gets in the mix....the two Ryans are the future and the present!
Nice job RD!! You won the race, yep you crossed the finish line first and that is all that matters!! It doesn't matter how long you took to get around CS...it doesn't matter that the redhead went down ( thats what happens when you are pushing it sometimes, right guys?). It matters that you rode a very smart, consistent race and picked up 3 points in the title chase!!! Now, DO IT AGAIN NEXT WEEK!!
The reason we do not know RV went down is because TV is busy showing Erin asking dumb questions to keep her title 9 job. The media is always crying for close racing by the top dogs but end up showing crashes, break downs, and two clowns battling for 12th place trying hard not to be lapped. All the races I ever attended which is many the majority of the crowd only watches the leader or leaders. It is pathetic how they seem to know nothing about this sport and never try to guage what the fans want.
He lost about 3 sec. when he slid out. He does seem to make a lot of small mistakes when he is pushed kinda like last week with Reed pushing him. I know he didn't fall but he made a lot of small mistakes.
hey jc970 go f yourself rd won!
RD's got the best shot at a long career, ALWAYS rides within himself, willing to let a win or even a title go to do so; smart. JS's interviews to me reflect a young man who is really rethinking himself and his abilities to bring home the hardward. Kinda feel for him, but it's all good. If there's a 'racer' in there humble pie is the best recipe to see it re-emerge.
villopoto fans crack me up. RD and RV could have a straight up battle from gate drop to finish line and if RD won all the RV fans would say that he forgot to trim his finger nails this week. LMFAO!
HEY RACERX STAFF, is there any way we could make CONSTRUCTIVE suggestions to the production company that produces the race shows for SPEED and CBS? I am among those who have issues with the shows and it would be good if we could make suggestions from a Fan's point of view. I know it's subjective, but I think the technical direction could be improved and make the shows better, and the fans happier. I know I have specific ideas and I bet there are many polite and helpful fans (okay, maybe polite and helpful is a stretch) who would like to offer their suggestions.
Hey jgbvr, I think I just might just do that. Maybe f myself while I am watching RV win this coming weekend. Should add to the excitement...
His interviews are like his riding; steady and predictable. Easy to forget how young he is sometimes.
I think I get what he's saying about changing things. At the factory level, they have so many options, they could get overly focused on finding the "perfect" set-up.
Although it wasnt as exciting as last year, ATL was a good one...Good ride for Dungey and I loved the gear scheme. He looked like a different dude out there this week.... RV put some pressure on towards the end and that was exciting as Dungey started making a few little mistakes and RV started to close in ..The little tip over or wash out RV had early on blew it for him, but thats racing. Not sure what to say about the guys not rolling the triple, happened so fast.....It clearly screwed any chance JS7 had to maybe close up on those two. But JS7 looked great in the heat race and coming through the pack in the was cool.. he was seemingly calm cool and collected and put in a good ride..lap times will be close this week I am sure.....James had no major mistakes and a good ride all around..hopefully that continues....Seely was very, very impressive....Didnt think he would stay up front as long as he did.....RV or James would have passed him on the first lap.....most likely...
Well, I definitely prefer Speed coverage to CBS, but after Atlanta, I'm not sure! It almost seemed like the cameras were all screwed up. They were zoomed in too close and then had to back out. Just had a real amateur feel. You'd then hear the crowd react to an event that they should have been showing. Its almost like the guy calling the shots, doesn't really have a clue about where the important battles are.
I never comment on these message boards, but after reading all of the above I couldn't resist...I WAS AT THE RACE, SECTION 102, SAW THE WHOLE THING. Dungey won this race STRAIGHT UP. RV got to within a second of RD with 3-4 laps to go; Dungey figured out he was back there and even bobbled himself a few times but he put his head down and flat out went faster. Stewart was fast but quit charging...neither Ryan ever did. BEST Atlanta Supercross I've ever seen, and I haven't missed one in 30 years. God bless all 3 of those guys...hell of a show!
Anybody else notice that Ryan really seemed to open up in his interviews the last few weeks? Good to see. Maybe he realized thats why everybody loves Reed lately. Villopoto needs to take note
Roger looks like a proud Dad LOL
mxmofo1 you are crazy.
Congrats to RD, I said Sat afternoon that in practice he looked the best he ever has on the KTM. RV was faster but I think he made a big mistake going for the pass the first time, He lost a lot of time there and had to run RD down again. He should have tucked in and then made the pass, by the time he ran them down again RD got by CS (who looked great) so that made it harder. Was nice to see JS put a good ride together as well he was right there then the red light came on and he could not tripple and thats all she wrote for his charge cuz that cost him a few sec.
@JC970:
I am as big a fan of RV as the next guy, but the fact that RV dropped his bike doesn't diminish RD's win. A mistake is a mistake. As someone rightly pointed out, RV fans don't cut JS any slack when he crashes (nor should they). Crashing is not an excuse. If RV had been taken down by someone or got tangled with a backmarker - then that's a different story.
The most incredible thing about RV's this year is his ability to go so frickin' fast AND keep it on two wheels. This week he dropped it, and Dungey won. Dungey was the better man that night.
@BillC,, Please explain ?
I for one hope the racing gets closer and Atlanta was a good start.....the title will come down to the two Ryans and If JS7, who I think put on a better ride than his win in Oakland can keep going the way he has the past two weeks, then even better....JS7 could really play the spoiler role here....If he wins some races that will really make the race down the stretch tight for the other 2.....could get interesting....Dungey RV and James all looked great saturday.....RV was battling the flu all week but rode to "win" ....Half way point boys...and here comes Daytona in a few couple weeks...
Love the live coverage and the interviews of the top five guys but damn!
When RV was .5 seconds behind Dungey on lap 12-13 entering the sand and left the sand 5 seconds behind! Far be it for any of the three suits in the booth to be actually watching the race leaders and mention that. Instead we always get something like this right in the heat of the race:
" and now a great battle for the lead!!! RV has pulled up on Dungey!!!...
and now lets take a look at Kevin Windham rolling around in 8th, what a swell scene, great guy, great career, 200 starts... Looky how smooth... and there's James Stewart motoring along in third"
"RV is now pulling up on Dungey!! he's only 2 seconds behind!"
Don't worry that RV went down and none of our six eyes in the booth or the thirty cameras in the stadium saw that...if no one says anything maybe no one will notice! Good lord!
Ughhh...
@mofo - I think Mr. Bill means your race you saw is a little off.....Dungey won fair and square, no doubt..good ride for the Dunge....But considering RV really closed in on him the last few laps, your comment that "RV couldnt catch him and RD shifted up a gear" doenst make much sense, from what I saw...RV was close enough that RD chose to look over his shoulder and not even do a cheasy fist pump one hander over the finish..RV was pushing hard those last few laps and got right up on his wheel... but RD prevailed...The last few laps RD looked to be feeling the pressure....but he won and thats that.....good race...
Indeed Kawak, they missed that..I was like " uh helllo...you guys watchin'??".... The guys in the booth are watching what we are watching and I am amazed at some of the things they miss or mess up on...but nobodys perfect...The thing that I find funniest is how RC over reacts to the littlest things....Dude is the GOAT and you would think it would take a lot to get him excited....if someone gets a little squirelly in a turn, he reacts like they just cartwheeled down the start stretch.....you notice there is less and less Bates time, so that is a plus!!!
@KilloMoto,, hmmmm,, Yes, RV and JS did catch up,, but that doesnt matter. Look at what crawlins5 said? He was at the race.. Him and I must have watched the same race. You only need to faster when the guys are catching you, and thats what RD did in this race..
RV made a mistake right before the sand on lap 8. He was about 2 seconds behind RD on that lap. On lap 9 he was about 3.912 seconds behind RD. He did not crash and get back up in a matter of 2 seconds, he slid out or messed up, and that's part of racing. RD rode smart, calculated, and within himself for the win. Great ride RD5!!!
Look at the lap times....RV messed up repeatedly and dropped anywhere just over 1 second to just under 4 seconds behind RD from lap 8 on. He did not go the ground in a crash. Like emig said with 7 laps to go... this is a very tricky track tonight, everyone has made mistakes. They talked about RV's multiple mistakes all night.
It was a good race, much better then i expected with Reed out. I am a fan of both RD and RV. I certainly don't want to see anyone run away with the championship though. Oh and it must be hard to be a JS7 fan these days,, the emotional ups and downs would be hard to handle. I liked Malcom Stewart until last week, this week was just Kharma from his Bogle take out.
Get well soon, Trey, Ryan, Chad and all othe others on the injured list.
@ Nwmoto22
JS7 and RV both said he went down! I'm gonna take their word for it....
Thats right KilloMoto, RD did not shift up a gear!! LOL he won but RV was faster and I believe RV's avg was even faster. I also agree about the goat going nuts over the littlest things also. OK he bobled lets not freak out here!! To the guys who think RD had things under control don't tell me he could have gone a lot faster if he had to. I think he was flat out as was RV, If RV did not mess up so many times and made the pass I really don't think RD could have done much about it. Ya never know but the lap times say I am right anyway.
Right on Ripdown
@BillC,, Now come on, we all know yoare a RV fan, but dude, RD won that race straight up. Lap times, crap times, who cares.. RV had to push more, but came in 2nd to RD.. Reality is hard to deny..
RV is a little better rider than RD, but Dungey is closing that gap quickly. He dosent take the chances that RV does. He takes a little longer to pass someone than RV. He learned some more this weekend and held on to the lead. Thats progress.
@mofo.... Gotcha...... I'll have to go watch it again....From what I recall...RV was closing in on RD the last few laps and RV goofed allowing RD to pull a few more bike lengths on that last lap....So I dont know if it was Dungey going faster or more so of RV screwing the pooch once he closed in on him.....RV was charging for sure, but RD won the race....that is all that matters...I agree
Interesting that Dungey notices that one click of the dampers can have a significant effect on performance (at his level)
I imagine that Chad Reed wishes he had turned just one more rebound click before Texas dont you think?.
Congrats Ryan.
Better luck next week Ryan.
Keep taking the long view James, it's a long series.
Remember, anyone (even Villopoto) could fracture a bone before the end of the series and lose it all.
mxmofo1 I never said RD did not win "straight up" But when someone (you) says
.RV had nothin' for ya, and once RV caught RD, RD shifted up a gear, and RV couldnt catch him...
. I call BS cuz RV caught him 2 or 3 times and like I said I am pretty sure RV had the fastest avg for the race so that is proff that what you said is just a biaest comment. RD did a good job no question.
@BillC,, I know RV may have the faster avg lap time, but who cares.. RV was in a different situation than RD was in, and had to push harder. There is no dought, RV is my pick for the championship, but he will NOT be the rider that crosses the line first in every race.. You are letting your BIAS get to you...
BillC if you look at the lap times you will find that when RV fell he lost a total 1.6 seconds to RD less than half way through the race. Also, on the last lap when preasured by RV Dungey set a lap a full second faster than your guy. If the race would have been another 5 laps he more than likely beat him by more. Check the lap times so you know that RD flat out beat RV on this night.
Not at all, I said RV did not get the job done. What more do you want me to say? I was just taken back by the way you saw it. Just was a lot dif to me thats all.
sherpa... On the last lap RV screwed up in the whoops and gave up at that point thats way his last lap was so slow, At that point he knew it was over and backed it down wile RD did not know that and kept it pined like he should have. So I really don't think the last lap that you talk of tells the wholes story. Again I am NOT taking anything away from RD he WON, Did what he had to do and WON and I have no problem with it.
@BillC,, hahaha, I seen what I seen, just like the guy who was at the race ( .crawlins5 ) seen.
It's funny how all you RV fans get fired up when someone else beats him straight up! You don't hear Dungey fans doing this when he doesn't win. Someone steals the Lucky Leprechaun's lucky charms and you want to come up with excuses. Go pour yourself another bowl of cereal and drown your sorrow in your milk! Face it, Dungey was better last saturday night. RV showed his speed and did close on RD several times, but then RD answered back, and the crash, tip over or WTF it was didn't make any difference in the outcome of the race. It wasn't like it happened on the last 3 laps. At the later part of the race RV closed enough to try and make a move and RD answered back ,keeping him at bay by GOING FASTER!
GO DUNGEY!
The Dunge was solid.
I am a RD fan and I was glad to see him win. I was a little disappointed that it took him so long to get by CS. He almost passed him once early on but then the gap between the 2 widdened. RV, I'm sure, would have passed CS on lap 1 or 2. RV is just aggressive. Like the pass he tried to put on Dungey in that right hander after the finish line. Hardly any room for him on the inside but he stuck it in there. It didn't work for him that time but I think Dungey needs to be a little more like that. Take advantage of a slight opportunity. Don't always wait for the perfect opportunity. RV was definitely closing on Dungey and I was a little worried. RV did make a mistake on the last lap in the sand that sealed it for him. I was at the race. Take that with a grain of salt though as I never even saw the whole yellow/red light fiasco.
I was also glad to JS make it through a race without a soil sample. He really looked good in his race.
Ok, some of you fans of RV are showing just a tad bit of hypocrisy.....i'm gonna say it just like you folks say it when that JS guy doesn't win and people start talking about "mistakes" as excuses, this what you fellas say....."why can't you stewie fans just admit that he got beat and quit making excuse about "If's" that could have made a difference" You guys always say that JS has to ride over his head either to keep up,or catch up, and that is when he goes down........well, newsflash boys, that is exactly what the leprechaun had to do and it bit him.......Dungey was flat out better on THAT NIGHT. Who gives a rats butt about "fastest average lap times"?? I'll tell ya one person who doesn't.....Ryan Dungey!!
Amen to that!
JohnR290: That was funny! Suzuki let Decoster go, let Dungey go, let Reed go. Guess they made some major booboos.
Guys,, Suk let them go because they are broke....
Hey guys RD won...........true story!!!
@BILLC, I am and always have been a RV1 fan, but Dungey beat him straight up fair and square no matter what. You say IF RV doesnt screw up he catches Dungey, but he did screw up and Dungey DID NOT. So Dungey was the better amn in Atlanta, sorry it is what it is. And I want RV to win, but Dungey got him, and was faster in the samd section, were RV was losing time every lap.
@newguy, I know you are a racist, and everything, but not all RV fans are that way. I will admit it. RV got beat period, straight up, it is what it is..
@bd200, your first post was extremely respectful and unbiased, but then you follow up with the racist remark......survey said "ZERO" on that one!! Racist???? How so?? And if you would notice i said "Some" of the RV fans....not all...."some"!! Please acknowledge that you see that i said "some" and not all!!
This is funny, I have read every post on here and not one said RD didn't win straight up. We all know he won straight up, I was one last week saying it wasn't over with RD and JS and I still don't think it is. It is a fact hat RV had the fastest lap time in fact two laps faster than RD's fastest. It is also a fact that RV's slower start and mistakes insured a second place. No RV fan on here has said anything different. It is a fact that some sensitive RD fans on here have started some name calling and accused us RV fans of what we haven't done. To everybody else I think it was a great race and RD deserved to win this one, and I am glad this series is far from over.
Dungey set his personal best lap time on the last lap. I'd like to think he could've held Villopoto off on that lap even without the mistake. I think they are both phenomenal. Fanboys on both sides should look at this picture and learn something.
http://motocross.transworld.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/441/files/2012/02/atlanta_kickstart_22-600x400.jpg
Mx40= cool pic man
Transworld caught that one perfectly. Here's them from another angle. Pure class.
http://www.ocscottie.com/new/uploads/RDRV_theMoment2.jpg
Nice job MX 40. We should a keep things in perspective.
Great pic, saw it go down!! davidl...you are delusional!!
Congrats RD5 KTM youve got a great young man there!!!!!
lol, I have to laugh...."RV would have won if he didn't (push too hard to catch Dungey and) crash!!!!" So, what your saying is that Dungey was going fast enough that RV had to ride out of his comfort zone to catch him and, as a result: crashed, then make quite a few mistakes on the last couple laps...just think about that for a second.
I can agree that if RD5 could have gotten by Seeley (awesome race btw) sooner he would have had an easier time...
but otherwise I think it was just a great race...thankfully with Reed being out things don't look like they're going to be boring.
RV & RD = Mutual Respect!
WOW, Goat bashing,I can't believe what I am seeing here.Ricky is trying to make it exciting for the people not "in the know" about SX.I like his insight like on lappers,how he looks at them differently than he did when he was racing.Maybe since he has been one now (in the truck) he knows how the entire field felt for 10 straight years.Would you rather have Joe Buck? I prefer racers like Ricky and Jeff even if they are not perfect.Ralph does a good job too,gets excited because he's a fan like us.
I forgot Erin,she is doing her job and what she is told to do.Sometimes the timing is bad for an interview but she has to catch them before they leave the floor.She has been around long enough to know alot about racing.
No one else was making any time on Seely for the first third of the race- it wasn't just Dungey. Seely was hauling balls till he got passed by Dungey, then said he lost his rythym. It took Villopoto the whole race to make up one straightaway on Dungey, and he didn't really get that close. That banzaai pass attempt just before the start straight almost sent them both down, had Dungey not swerved away. Even though they were mere inches apart at that time, you cant say Villopoto was inches behind him, one was going one way and one was going the other. Dungey has his work cut out for him, because Villopoto is a machine, but Dungey always gets stronger as the season progresses. This is going to be good.
RD working with RD doing all the R&D to that KTM. Ryan Dungey is a class act and a consummate pro. Roger DeCoster is the best mentor a rider can have. The bike and gear look fantastic. All the pieces are coming together. Who doesn't love an underdog?
Split hairs all you like fellows. The 2012 Atlanta Supercross 1st Place trophy sits on RD's mantel. The checks in the bank.
The flashing ad is giving me seizures. lol
if you watch,rv jumps the triple while the caution and red lights were flashing!you are not supose to jump.and when he lands,he almost lands on the downed rider getting off the track.he should have been docked a position.
I agree ama957, as do many others, but it is water under the bridge....i knew they wouldn't touch him on it and they didn't!! Also, as fas as the commentators, i would rather listen to RC than either Jeff or Ralph!!
Dungey did exactly what he needed to, pull off a good start and stay ahead of RV. Nothing flashy, but that doesn't pay any extra.
I see JS being the one that could be a spoiler for someones title chase, as he looks to be finding his long lost mojo. I wonder if we could possibly see pit boards that say "Let Bubba by 1 lap", just food for thought.
Japanese bikes vs KTM
Japanese cars vs BMW
I don't consider Dungey an underdog Black Jack! I said it at the beginning of the season. RD has the best bike!
Blackjack: I'm with you on all accounts!
Guys I was there. I pull for the Dunge hands down and after that RV1. Don't like the Stewart machine. I can be unbiased though. That was the best RD5 has looked indoors since 2010 but that KTM is still not as good as the 2010 Suzuki in the corners and the rear end bounces around an awful lot. RV almost wrecked several times trying to catch RD. When RV passed for 3rd, the pit board told Dungey to go and he passed CS right after that. RV pulled within a few bike links many times after lap 10 and you could actually see Dungey pick it up a notch. RV is an animal. RD is getting comfortable now. JS7 was riding great. He looked more smooth than either of the Ryan's but they were sooo determined. JS was not going to catch and pass either of them regardless of flags or lights...
In the lites, I don't particularly like him but Barcia is a beast and he and Roczen were in a class by themselves.
71,000 fans and not an empty seat. What a great sport!
Crawlins5 best ATL SX you've ever seen? And you haven't missed one in 30 years? You watch the 1990 ATL SX, or did you close your eyes? I didn't think there was much special about this race, other than 1 and 2 were pretty close. There was never a legit attempt even at a pass for the lead, kinda follow the leader.
I called it first last year, when Suzuki let Roger go, that they won't even sell a RM in a couple years. I still think that. Top notch Nit -Wits running that show over there. Poor Metty.
As an RV fan I know the championship is in the bag because all he needs is 3 wins and 6 seconds while the Dunge Needs 7 wins and a second. The only thing challenging about Atlanta was the slick dirt, it was moslty a flat track without a hoop section. Daytona is coming and if that KTM wins I will eat my Kawasaki hat for breakfast. RD better hope he does not get a bad start or he is going to end up 4th at best since he cannot pass at all. Oh, and by the way I do realize the tortoise beats the hare occasionally but this is a sixteen race series. The moral to this story is, don't send the tortoise to climb over any hoops taller then he is because his suspension is lacking.
I meant dunge needs 7 wins 2 seconds.
Dont forget Claxton, one bad race and your whole scenario is thrown off!! I would not call it in the bag for anybody just yet!! The chances of those two always being in the top 2 every race are pretty slim!!
Thanks @ RCRDDW
whatever, if i was betting on who would have the bad race it would certainly be the one unable to pass. RV has proven time and again he can come from last and podium. As for mechanicals, Dunge leads the pack and has the same mechanic plus an unproven new bike. At this point in the season RV has twice as many wins so I would assume he can win 1/3 of the remaiing races. Sure there can be luck intervention but then you are expecting miracles rather then ability to achieve the goal.
@Claxton, I am an RV fan myself, but with Daytona coming, I wouldnt put anything in the bag as far as titles go. Daytonas track beaks down badly, and it can catch anyone sleeping and cause all kinds of problems. Anybody can go down or have a mechanical, even if its not from a crash. Get caught up in lappers or whatever.
Claxton I agree with a lot of what you said but anything can happen. But like you said I would rather have the speed of RV and somewhat control your own destiny then be the hare and need some help/luck. Not that RD is a slow poke but put then side by side lap one and my money goes on RV everytime. I know it almost never goes down that way but I would still take the speed cus you have more control of the out come.
@davidl ... Glad you said this "This is funny, I have read every post on here and not one said RD didn't win straight up. We all know he won straight up"
.But some still try to twist things to start crap.
@Claxton - no argument that "on paper", RV is likely to win more races and the championship,
That said, some examples of "anything can happen" from last season that blow up your prediction - derailed chain (RD), failure to qualify (RV), or a bad fall by either (Tomac - this year).
I hope none of these things happen but it is because of things like these that we run the races to determine the champion, not declare a champion based on qualifying times.
Billc, you know this comment section is great, most of the regulars on here are pretty decent and itelligent when it comes to mx/sx. I have just gotten to where I just laugh at the name callers and the ones that are so biased they twist everything. I have been a Rv fan since RC retired and it has been fun because he isn't as dominate as RC was. I really like 90% of the riders out and get to hang with them now and then. I will be at st lous, new orleans, houston, and Vegas, and while I realy wish Reed and canard were in it, I do think JS and RD will keep it very interesting. A little bummed that weimer isn't there every race but glad RD bagged another one. I am predicting RV takes sx by 15 points at vegas. I also hope JS gits his mojo back (I think he will) and I feel a awesome race coming sat.
davidl True. Unless you come on here this week and say "RD won" and thats all someone will say your making excuses or bagin RD ECt.. Its crazy. I think JS is finaly getting there. He looked the best he has all year. He also needs a start.
Did anyone mentioning that Barcia kicked everybody's Azz and is just lickin' his chops to get a shot at the big boys? You gotta love Supercross!!!!
I don't know what JC970 is talking about saying that RV crashed, and that's why he didn't catch Dungey. That's is absolutely not so... Lap times for RV show from 20 down to lap 3 (couldn't see the rest): 52, 52, 51, 51, 51, 52, 51, 52, 50, 51, 52, 5, 55, 51, 52, 51 and so on... I think that makes the point. Dungey whipped RV fair and square, by 2-3 seconds because he never ran a single lap over 53. Reference lap 8 for RV being a 55, and I think simple math tells the tale.
Keep it coming RD5!!! and RD111 ("Roger is so fast he needs three number ones")
Made a mistake leaving off the 1 to make 51 for RV on lap 9.