Racer X Redux: Don't Blink
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 | 12:00 PM
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PrintThere are very few slow builds in motocross. Trainers, teams and coaches will tell you success doesn't come overnight, but in this sport, the seemingly impossible task of winning immediately is actually much more common than a rider slowly moving to the top. It's romantic to think about the underdog grinding away each day, getting better in a slow, incremental process before finally reaching the top, but most highlights in motocross start with a big flash, not a slow burn.
Okay, even the biggest overnight successes at the pro level logged plenty of improvement time as kids and amateurs, but by the time they get to the top level, you either have it or you don't, and if you don't have it quickly, it's really, really hard to get it.
And now, we have the most improbable overnight success we've seen in quite some time. A year ago at Unadilla, I saw Roger DeCoster near the press tent after the race and decided to ask if he had really gotten Dungey for 2012. Most team managers would hedge or lie or deny, but DeCoster usually pulls no punches, so he said, "Yes, it has happened but please do not print or say anything yet."
At the time, KTM was still racing the 350 SX-F with Andrew Short, so I asked DeCoster if they were going to grab a version of the next-generation EFI 450 Enduro bike and develop a new 450SX for Dungey around that. "Yes, it will be something like that but please don't say or write anything," he said.
It didn't take long for Dungey and KTM to reach the top.
Garth Milan photo
I didn't, but I appreciated the candor. But I, and many, many others, were left to wonder how in the heck the deal could work. Not only had KTM had basically zero success in the U.S. in the big bike class, but now they were faced with developing an all-new bike in record time. Combining KTM's track record with that time frame seemed like a recipe for disaster.
I couldn't find anyone who thought the move would work. Jeremy McGrath had gone down that road with KTM once, and he told me that money was a huge factor in his decision—but that was okay since he was toward the end of his career anyway. But he couldn't understand why Dungey would take such a risk in his prime. Nor could anyone else besides the mega-die hard KTM guys who live for single track trails (of course, the gang at the KTM shop near my house thought Dungey was about to kill it. Those were the only people who said this. On the moto end, this seemed like a dead end).
When the deal became official, Dungey immediately covered his bet by explaining this was a multi-year deal, and that 2012 would be a learning year for 2013. Yeah, right. This sport doesn't work that way. A rider of Dungey's caliber needs to be up front, and if he struggled this season, it could only be a sign that KTM's program was way, way off and a year of learning wasn't going to fix it. In this game, you don't finish a distant fifth one year and then win races the next—you have to be up front immediately.
And Dungey and his new team were up front immediately. He finished second at the Monster Energy Cup, finished on the podium at Anaheim 1 and won Phoenix. That's overnight success. Now Dungey and KTM have the 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Of course, the riders who could have stopped this title run were all out with injury, but that's not the point. Dungey didn't need to win the championship this year, but he needed to at least show the potential to contend. Remember, even the ultimate underdog, Rocky Balboa, managed to go the distance the first time he had a shot at the champ.
Ken Roczen also won his first moto in the U.S. for KTM at Unadilla.
Garth Milan photo
Think of the top riders in the game today. Chad Reed came to the U.S. in 2002 and ran in second for most of his first 250 SX race at A1. He crashed back, but the potential was obvious. A few weeks later he made his 125 East debut in Indy, won it, and then dominated the championship. A year later, he was in the thick of the 250 points hunt and won a ton of races.
James Stewart was the fastest rider on the track the night of his first U.S. Supercross, and he won his second race. He also won the first National he ever raced, at Glen Helen later that year.
Dungey was a huge question mark when Suzuki signed him for the 2007 season, but he won the first AMA SX race he ever competed in, the Lites East main in Atlanta. A year later, Trey Canard did the exact same thing in Atlanta.
Ryan Villopoto showed the potential even quicker. Most amateurs get in a few races at the end of the pro season, and by RV's third pro race, the '05 Lites finale at Glen Helen, he went 2-2 for second overall behind his teammate Grant Langston. By the end of the next season, he was the champion of the class.
That's good news for the next generation. It's becoming almost required for the latest sensation out of the amateur ranks to light it up in his first shot (especially if he rides a GEICO Honda). Barcia led a ton of laps in his debut, Tomac outright won the race, and Bogle and Bell were right up front in their first races, also. It might take time to put all the pieces together, but as long as the potential is there, you've got a realistic shot.
Marvin Musquin would cap things off with his first career overall.
Garth Milan photo
When you get into the super elite level, the premiere 450 Class, with the best of the best, only the finest talents can succeed. And that level of talent usually shows through pretty early. Did you know Reed, Stewart, Villopoto, Dungey and Canard all won 450 SX races in their first year in that class?
So, for KTM's new program, immediate success wasn't a bonus, it was a necessity. Had the program stumbled out of the blocks, it would have been a sign that their entire operation didn't have what it takes. Be it 250s or 450s, riders or bikes, very few success stories didn't include some sort of success very quickly. So now, we are looking at KTM standing atop the U.S. motocross pack. It happened very quickly—and that's about the only thing that isn't surprising about the entire development.
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Very insightful. Clearly this dude has spent the hours in the Vault. I was paying attention all these years, and this is still news to me. Well Done!
I don't think it's a huge surprise at ALL. Take one of the top riders in the US, one of the top all-time riders/team managers/mentors/development gurus and a manufacturer that has won MULTIPLE GP titles in recent years ... why is that a big surprise? Success in the GPs seems to get zero credit these days, and I think that's ridiculous.
Now - if Villopoto, Reed, Canard and Stewart had all been healthy and out there? Maybe a whole different story.
I dont think 7 22 or Tre tre holidy have completed a full season outdoors in a while why even bring them up. I do agree about ur top half tho.
All KTM needed was a top rider to show that their product was as good as everyone else. Don't forget 2 years ago Alessi Won a moto at Hangtown on the 350, and then last year at Hangtown everyone thought he was on it until he augered in and didn't ride the same for the rest of the season(I don't blame the wreck was ugly). The one thing I won't credit the KTM for is holeshots, because I think Alessi could Holeshot on a 125 against the 450's.
Andrew short finishes between 4-8 no matter the bike he rides or the competition on the track. Its just stuck in him that way so you can't use him as a comparison.
I won't say KTM is better than the other brands, I will say it is as good as any other bike out there.
I think Husqvarna should write Dungey a check with at least 8 zeroes and get their, um, do they even make a MX bike??
@ Yamalink,.. Husqvarna does have a MX bike and only in Europe due to the stupid AMA Homologation rule. If the AMA would get rid of that rule, you would probably see Husqvarna, TM, Aprilia and others in AMA MX.
Which in turn would be good for US MX and would give racers more rides and would put more people to work on the US MX/SX racing tour. It would will never happen because it makes too much sense.
I had a buddy that had a husqy 250f,you can get them in MN. It handled like an army tank and was a total pooch!
One word...
Asterisk
It was a remarkable feat that KTM/Dungey where able to win a 450 championship with a brand new bike. That new motor is trick. I won't be surprised to see other manufacturers borrowing some of KTM's ideas.
It's amazing how hard KTM worked on the linkageless designs and had so much success with it in enduro but just could not get the same results in motocross/supercross. Just goes to show how suspension designs can work so well for one thing and not for another.
Way to go KTM and Ryan Dungey! Here's to many more championships for both of you in the years to come!
@ Kawak, knucklehead!
Dungey and team did an awesome job! Being a big RV fan with Dungey a close second. I think it is a little insulting that Weege makes mention of his competitors that were not there.
We have heard it beat to death on these forums and it is a joke! Dungey was there, HIS FAULT, the others mentioned were not there, THEY'RE FAULT! Let it go already. Honesty IMO the only guy who had a shot at taking this title from RD was RV.
As proved last year and that was not going to be easy. Dungey was there every race this year, one moto finished 3rd was it? The rest he finished 2nd or 1st, mostly first. No mechanicals this year makes him REAL hard to beat. James was not going to beat Dungey this year. Hell James crashed 5 times in his last 4 motos raced and did not finish a couple. Yeah Dungey had a few crashes this year and either won or finished on the rear fender of the winner. I don't think Chad Reed will ever run the pace he did outdoors last year and the fact is , that pace may not be good enough to compete with Dungey and RV if he could run it.
So give Dungey his fricking props with no asterisks mentioned and wait until 2013 when he and RV will settle who the baddest MXer in the world is!
I would like to see Dungey take a chance and ride the 350 in the next two races.KTM was dominating Europe for several years plus had RogerD.as a team manager.I don't really take that as taking a chance.That Suzuki he was riding was 7 years old it will be 8 yrs in 2013.I thought his move was a slam dunk.
If any had or has read on the MXA website where they got to test and ride Dungey's Factory KTM. They said that was the best bike they ever tested, and yes they have tested RV2's bike also, they rated it higher than the Factory KX 450.
Glad to see another brand when a championships besides the big 4. Like I will keep saying... "Drop the homologation rule!"
Good Job Jason, another good write up! Also good to know you can keep a secret!!!
I think Dungy is a really good rider, smart- patient and disciplined. That all being said, mark my words:
Dungy nor KTM will win a championship in 2013 and probably 2014.
The class is going to be soooo stacked with riders with more aggression, little more speed, and definitely a hunger that Dungy does not quite posess.
Enjoy this one RD- gonna be a while.
The KTM is a great bike and they have a great team, but Dungy the rider won the title and I think he could have done it on any brand.
@cgrahm46
Your words are marked. Own up to them next year after the bling is all handed out(come what may), and you will have my respect as well.
Yeah for sure it was insightful, well written, packed and backed with tons of facts. And yes, Dungey is great as is Decoster, and even Jason the word smith ..............heres the but. But, this would have been a great, great, preseason write, post season just so-so!
from here on out the fastest man will not always win the championship, the last man standing will
@ jeramey
truer words cannot be said !!!
All the top guys are one heartbeat away from being out of a championship. When 2013 rolls around and all the Favorites line up, how can someone say RV will dominate? Look what happened in that 1st turn. How can someone say JS will waste the field. Look what happens to him just about every race. TC, do I need to go there? Chadapult?....and he was looking to take a Title before that, right?
And that doesnt even acount for mechanicals.........
Asterist, my ass.....If you make it to the end, you deserve every bonus they can thow at you !!
Look at it this way, Dungey was 1 heartbeat away from giving the title to Alessi a few times too...............
I thought the weight savings, ease of maintenence and having more room for the intake tract were too good to dismiss and shock technology would bridge the gap but, public perception demanded it and there's a chance that the 450 title wouldn't be theirs without the change. No matter, KTM will rise above the other brands and distinguish themselves in other ways.
A lot of people forget or don't know KTM is all about racing motorcycles. Not just motorcycles but, RACING MOTORCYCLES. That puts them in a class of their own when making corporate decisions in comparison to the J-brands and the other euro brands as well.
It's a breath of fresh air to have a company that speaks our language in the business and making product we can all believe in and count on. It's very much un-like modern day corporations and a great success story for the little guy. I'm really enjoying their acsention in U.S. racing and can hardly wait for them to begin their amatuer and contingency programs in ernest. Soon, they will own the amatuer ranks as Cobra owns the pee-wee classes.
Maybe the most impotant point to consider is, when you bet against Roger DeCoster winning, you're placing a fool's wager. How Suzuki let him go will be a point of shame for their corporate heads for a long time coming.
Nice KTM AD @Carlsbad....Everybody just forget about all the other brands now that KTM has won ....wait for it ...ONE US MX championship.... its obvious your a KTM owner but to think that the other companys will rest on the laurels and that KTM will just take over is ridiculous...they have there good points ...but so do the other brands ...geezus even the dreaded YZ450 won a championship this year..and the other three work spectacular as well and to be honest without DUNGEY riding it they probably wouldn't have won this one....lets give it a few seasons with a full line up of brands WELL represented before we hand them the planet...where were all the KTM lovers when I used to be the only guy on the line with one...now that their the rich guys new greatest bike ever were suppose to believe the other companys don't care about their bikes or customers..check some of those 'J ' bikes 'horrible ' records at the track.... I don't know one Suzuki owner that cares about or lost any sleep over the incredible "corporate shame' lol..you speak of....matter a fact just had a friend sell his now obsolete linkless 450 KTM and bought a Suzuki..just liked it better and did'nt want to pay that much for the expensive 'dungey' model...true story.....
tonewall, you need to wake up and smell the coffee.
KTM Titles 2011:
65cc World Champion
Jorge Prado Garcia, Spain + Manufacturer
85cc World Champion
Pauls Jonass, Latvia + Manufacturer
WMX World Champion
Steffi Laier, GER + Manufacturer
MX1 World Champion
Antonio Cairoli, ITA + Manufacturer
MX2 World Champion
Ken Roczen, GER + Manufacturer
AMA Endurocross Champion
Taddy Blazusiak, POL
X-Games Enduro
Taddy Blazusiak, POL
Dakar Winner
Marc Coma, ESP
2012 KTM Titles
AMA Outdoor 450 Champion
Ryan Dungey, USA + Manufacturer
MX1 World Champion
Antonio Cairoli, ITA + Manufacturer (pencilled in)
MX2 World Champion
Jeffery Herlings, NDL + Manufacturer (pencilled in)
X-Games Enduro Cross
Mike Brown, USA
Dakar Winner
Cyril Despres, FRA
65cc European Champion
Xylian Ramella
85cc European Champion
Davy Pootjes, NDL
Erzberg Winner
Johnny Walker, GBR
You wont find many other manufacturers with as many off road titles as that and whats more the list goes on...
'To be honest without DUNGEY riding it they probably wouldn't have won this one'
Statements like this make me laugh, if Ryan Villopoto was riding a Suzuki or Honda last year would Kawasaki still have won the SX and MX titles?
I'll admit I thought Dungey would struggle outdoors this year......but I was saying struggle to win and I meant against a healthy RV-monster.
Dungey was still my pick for 2nd, but I didn't think he would have been as good as on the Suzuki head to head against RV outdoors.......and this is something we still don't know.
When RV went down, Dungey was my pick for the title all day long. I don't see it as any surprise and once Stewart went down, Dungey could have ridden a stock 350 and probably still taken the title with complete ease. He may not have won a third as many motos, but who was beating him for the title?
So while I do think it is an awesome job by KTM, Roger, and Dungey, I also think everything lined up perfectly for them in the outdoors. At least a portion of all the hooplah has to be tempered by the actual facts. No asterisk of course, but the big news would have been if Dungey DIDN'T win with no RV, Reed, or Stewart out there. And this was no overnight success, KTM entered into U.S. SX/MX big time way back when they signed King Jeremy. This overnight success has been over a decade in the making. So congrats to Dungey and the team, but the real trick will be to stay up front.
Jamma 10 You forgetting about Mullins? He gets no credit for what he did on that bike and did alot of testing with it! I think that 5 bike should be the Charlie Mullins Edition!!!!!
cgraham46 You are right the class will be stacked (like the 250 class this year) with aggression!!! RD will for sure have a harder time with his more layed back style. Unless his holeshots are crazy good. Look at the 2509 class this year, 5 guys balls to the wall from start to finish!! I hope Tomac moves up too. We will have, RD, RV,JS, CR, TC, JB. DW it will be a WAR!!! But to say RD will not win again is a streach, Some of these guys WILL get hurt next year and RD will be there to pick up the piece. I don't see him banging bars for the win like RV,JS and JB but he will be close enough everyweek.
@ BillC..........Dungey won't have as hard of a time as you all may think. Every year the masses dismiss his abilities and smarts, and every time he's in the series until the bitter end proving everyone wrong. When everyone starts going balls to the wall on 450's, crashing out trying to beat eachother at all costs every weekend he will be winning when it all comes together and managing the races he doesn't win better than everyone else most likely. When are people going to learn, he is always there at the end which is exactly what they're all supposed to do. Going the "fastest" on a lap chart or a single weekend is not the only piece to the puzzle. If there's one rider who will be able to level out the highs and lows of a crazy, stacked series I think it will be RD at this point.
Ummmmmmmmm I think I said he will be there everyweek. Why so quick to tell someone there wrong?? Reread what I said.
. To clarify, in the last two years RD has not passed RV or JS, If he starts way back the best he does if no one crashes is 4th/3rd, Now with a few more real fast guys he may have a hard timne getting 3rd or 4th with a bad start. RV on the other hand has show he can win from a start outside the top ten. But if RD holeshots he is VERY fast and hard to beat. My point is when he gets a bad start and it will happen he will have a hard time getting into the top 5. I am basing this off history not a dislike of RD because I don't dislike him. And don't get me wrong it is going to be harder for EVERYONE when you have this many fast guys out there it's just that guys like RV seem to be able to make the passes easer than RD.
If someone gets on a Roll like RV and JS have in the past the other guys can/will lose a lot more points than they did last year cus no matter what they could all make it into the top 4 but this year you may see ,RV,JS,CR and RD getting some 6th and maybe even a 7th and if that happens you lost 10 points not 4
Jamma ....woke up in 73 with a 125 and 250 Pentons and have owned PLENTY of KTM's since......I just mess with Cbad cause hes always baggin on Suzuki and I like them also especially RMZ's..lol.. I like KTM's....But If I listed JAP and other euro brand wins they would not fit on this site......never said they weren't good bikes or winners ...just said the other companys aren't now some evil corporate beings that eat there young while hanging there 'heads in corporate shame' (they maybe should for the yz450).lol..they make good bikes ...have for a while and will continue to...RV might have won on any brand and I hope he wins it all again...I believe Dungey will be right in the hunt and might even win it but it won't be as easy as this one....and Yamaha will return.PS...(didn't Carolli and Dungey and DeCoster all get to where there at on Jap bikes......and take a tape measure to a Dungey edition ....i'll bet you'll find its VERY RMZ like.!!!!!
Thanks jamma10 for tonewall's wake-up call. I don't know why it upsets him so much to see KTM enjoying success. Maybe his ex left him for a KTM rider.
@ trailmaster17, probably add Kailub Russell as well as Mullins. Another title to rub tonewall's rhubarb the wrong way.
I don't see a Villopoto edition Kawie or a Bubba edition 'Zook. Yamaha is significantly larger than KTM resource-wise and they will wait not one, but two more model years to rectify the bass-ackwards YZ450F. How's that for corporate responsiveness? "Big Four" won't even pony-up for a juice-clutch on their bikes after KTM having them on theirs for how many years now? Five? Six?
Have a look in the cycle trader and see what people are asking for their used KTM's versus equivilant competing brands. Walk through a dealership and see all the "sold" tags hanging from the bars of most every KTM model. A 500EXC is like catching a glimpse of a Unicorn and the J-brands will not even make a competitor to this model because they are either unresponsive to customer wants, unwilling to invest in a new model in a down economy or just flat scared of CARB / EPA nonsense. KTM is doing what a motorcycle-minded person would do if the company were theirs and for some reason, this doesn't sit well with tonewall.
Need more reasons? They still make two strokes (reason enough for me right there), have a D.I. two stroke waiting in the wings for a later date release, have the balls to make off-road specific models (two and four stroke) when the J-models are too affraid to rock the CARB / EPA boat and besides all that, they're good enough, they're smart enough and doggonitt, people just like them.
@ Tonewall, I don't hate Suzuki, or any other brand for that matter, I just think they are making incredibly BAD decisions. They are finacially on hard times, this isn't a secret, but losing DeCoster was STUPID. As a result of losing DeCoster, they lost Dungey. No amount of money was going to keep Dungey from following DeCoster, not that Suzuki had it to spend anyway.
DNF's happen, it is a fact of life BUT, the dnf's that Dungey suffered throughout the year (2011) cost him one and possibly two titles (arguably) AND there is scuttlebutt that these dnf's were AVOIDABLE. I'm pissed off for the people at Suzuki that got laid-off (fired) to hire cheaper labor that is incompetent in positions that clearly call for a skilled worker.
Handing the factory team(s) to Yoshimura, that was probably going to happen at some point anyway but, the way it did, just smacks of them giving up.
As for the KTM 450SXF-FE being "RMZ-like", I think it's more appropo to say that the CRF & KXF are very RMZ-like in that they have the same frame design and setups. Measurments such as rake, trail, wheelbase and head angle are well determined over time. Just because an RMZ has "X" wheelbase, doesn't mean KTM copied them (although reportedly KTM DID copy Yamaha's linkage), it just means "X" wheelbase is a common standard for the handling characteristics they want the bike to exhibit.
Maybe if Suzuki copied some of KTM's corporate practices, they wouldn't be in the position they are in. As for the RMZ's, they ARE good bikes. #800 pulling down second in the 'nats (no matter who was or wasn't there) is testimony to that and cannot be discounted. Furthermore, "fred" may disagree with this but, the RMZ450 is one of the winningest mounts in SX / MX history and THE winningest mount in the four stroke era. Credit great riders? Sure, but the bike had to have SOMETHING to do with it.
Now, with all that said, KTM's are better, so there.
@carsbad lol....better to you doesn't necessarily mean better for all,,,lol thank god...KTM's success doesn't bother me in the least..and actually I'm glad Dungey is getting the credit he deserves.....as for modern MX bikes ..they are ALL basically great bikes now and corporate hierarchy decisions effect what a normal guy will buy very little.,,,and that "yoshimura" who are they ,,what do they know????? thats almost laughable..seems like they know A L O T and have for along time......as for the bike If the dimensions (I'm talking a little more than the wheelbase as 'dimensions'...add crankshaft position being a major one and steering stem height and position,swingarm length , shock angle/link ratios etc etc) don't make that much difference why the "new" bike...or why not use the twin shock lol(with only one shock) that was so supposedly great or so we were told for years and years........maybe the fact that a guy and a rider that spent ALOT of time on the RMZ and quickly changing to a 'NEW' design because the old didn't cut it might be a clue...its what you or I would copy in that case because it WORKS and what their used to.....as for the my 'ex' comment...that would be one bummed KTM rider and i'm glad hes now listening to that yap and searching for her keys and phone and not me....L O L...do you really want to go there..lets not as I have been trying to not 'hurt' anyones online feelings lately....lol.....if you want an EXC or a two stroke....the KTM or Gas GAS (maybe a new OSSA) is your bike for sure (and I would buy either in a heartbeat)...no argument..(heres my AD).if you want a Moto bike that is basically not OVERLY expensive and reliable with old school 4 stroke power and handles incredibly and friendly and IS a great play bike..the RMZ is your guy..(insert copy of happy RMZ riders face here ) lol.......there all only as good as you THINK they are anyway., and everybodys choice is different ...thats what makes it so fun..PS never had a cable leak fluid and quit working after a crash....so there.
BillC: WRONG!!! Dungey has passed your boy. Don't get on here and lie. Not sure about Stewart off the top of my head because he rarely races. Rides over his head even worse the RV and TC.
cgraham46, Codijh: Quit trying to act smart. You don't understand what you're saying. The Dunge will be your worst nightmare for years to come. All those other boyz will almost kill themselves trying to beat him. Decoster won't cost him 2 championships like Suzuki and those clowns did in 2011. MARK IT DOWN!!!!
What SX races did RD pass RV in the last two years RCRDDW?? Can't wait to hear this. and a crash does not count as areal pass in my book.
@ tonewall, I think you & I might be like the Russians, Asians or Persian people that yell at each other while engaging in normal conversation............or at least it sounds like yelling.
I would STILL vouch for the linkless design with a new-generation shock. Omitting SX (which I am no longer rated for anyway), this design is good enough for 99.9% of the population and the weight savings, ease of maintenence and super-sizing of the airbox / intake tract are VERY difficult to ignore. I think KTM is keeping it around on Husabergs & the XC / EXC line because technology / manufacturing advances & lowering production costs will revive this design.
Well, I'm only a Dungey fan in the sense that he is a damn hero and reliable professional racing in the greatest racing series in the world. I also thought he would not win as much as he did.
I was wrong.
This next year though, my guess is he will not repeat. You all know why.
But anyway....Congrats to Ryan Dungey, and Roger, and all the KTM staff who made this championship possible.
All motocrossers win when competition continuously pushes development to ever increasing levels of performance.
good year of 450 racing.
GREAT YEAR of 250 racing!!!
see ya @LEMX