by Steve Cox
450 Words: Southwick
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PrintAs was asked in the intro to Ryan Dungey’s Monday Conversation here, what do you get when you combine Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath? The answer is Ryan Dungey. Carmichael won the 250cc (now 450cc) National MX Championship in his rookie big-bike season in 2000; McGrath won the Supercross title in his rookie season of 1993.
Ryan Dungey has now done both in the same year.
Does that help to put things into perspective?
Ryan Dungey is already setting records.
Photo: Steve Cox
Jeremy McGrath is easily the greatest supercross racer in history, and Ricky Carmichael is referred to as the "GOAT", which stands for the "Greatest Of All Time", yet Dungey did something that they couldn’t. Dungey won both championships in his rookie season. For Carmichael, his rookie supercross season was actually 1999 in the big-bike class, and he wasn’t even close to a title that year. He still rode a 125cc bike outdoors, though, and won that title. And McGrath is a bit different as well, as he won the 250cc SX title in 1993, but then dropped back down to the 125cc class outdoors. But even in their respective big-bike rookie series indoors (for Carmichael) or outdoors (for McGrath), they didn’t win the championships.
Plenty of people have compared Dungey to a lot of past racers, including Jeff Stanton, and that’s certainly not a put-down, but in comparing him to Stanton, they are mainly referring to his demeanor. Stanton was not an immediate success on big bikes. Not like Dungey.
Then again, no past racer has had immediate success when moving up a class like Dungey.
Now, for some more perspective: Dungey used to be criticized for being mentally weak after Jason Lawrence successfully bullied Dungey and beat him for the 2008 Lites West SX title. Look at the two of them now: Dungey has just clinched his third National title (including his 250cc outdoor title from last year), and his fourth title as a professional (including his Lites West title from last year). Jason Lawrence is still walking around with a tracking bracelet around his ankle, his racing team is in shambles, and in his return to racing at Unadilla, he rode practice and then dropped out of the event before the motos began.
In fact, since that championship loss to Lawrence in 2008, Dungey’s record looks like this: 2008 250cc National MX Championship, 2nd, and got his first-ever outdoor win, which led to wins in three of the final four events of the season; 2009 Lites West SX Championship, 1st; 2009 250cc National MX Championship, 1st; 2009 Motocross of Nations (450cc debut), 1st, both as a team and in the individual overall; 2010 AMA Supercross Championship, 1st; 2010 AMA 450cc National MX Championship, 1st.
That’s a record that nobody has ever pulled off. Perhaps Dungey should thank Lawrence for the lesson, because he’s making everyone else pay for it every weekend.
Who will be the first to beat the Dungey juggernaut?
Photo: Steve Cox
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450 words Unadilla!!!! Huh?? Well o.k. I am sure it was meant to be Southwick, but either way, Dungey will be remembered forever for what he did this year. And he deserves congratulations for it. He is a great racer and a more humble champion. Good job RD5..
Dungey is like "King Midas" on a bike right now. FAst, fit, and lucky. His program is impeccable and it shows in his results. Hurry back Poto, we need a fight
Dungey is the Wizard.
Deff ready to see Villopoto back out there.
dungey works hard and rides smooth but the best thing is he has luck just like rc ,hes going to be hard to beat
g216::::: There is an old saying that says, "you make your own luck" ..... ..Mistakes happen all the time in MX/SX, but when the same guy is always there taking advantage of it, that is not coincidence. That is not really luck.....
g216, you have to be kidding. RC will probably be the most dominating rider of our generation. He dominated every year. Has the most wins ever, and you say he is lucky?? He got everything with hard work and alot of talent. And a drive that noone will may ever see again. And he was lucky?? WOW!! Alot of guys crashed when he raced sure, but the crashed trying to catch him.
One Industries has to be hating life after signing Lawrence and not anticipating that RD5 would take issue with that. That was a biblical marketing blunder!
Yes you do create your own luck, good or bad. Remember several weeks ago, maybe it was MN, when Tomnley was in charge of the first moto? Dungey lurked in 2nd keeping just enough presure on BT until he cross rutted and crashed, and then cruised to the finish, that's creating your own good luck. Bubba would have dropped the hammer hard back in '05 in the same situation to pass RC and gone back to the pits on the Mule...bad luck. Dungey is calm and confident and smart and knows how to make his own good luck, just like RC did.
There has been a lot of talk about luck with all of what RD1 has done. But i think the lucky ones are the riders that don't have to race him right now being hurt or what ever. Because in there minds they can still think they can beat him it will be a rude awakening when they get back and find out they cant! DUNGEY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh man I really thought JLaw was gonna turn around. He was good at Daytona but he just proved everyone wrong. He was last place at Xgames race. Dudes been out of Jail for a while. Taddy Blazusiak got outta jail and is killing the enduro. Common Jlaw you can caome back. Get it together.
YZsean I wouldnt say that just yet. If Dungey beats RV, JS and Pourcel consistently then I would side with you but this has not happened yet. Just like we havent seen JS and RV battle outdoors so its hard to say. Plus Chad might be on a 350 KTM for 2011. that will be interesting
YZsean, sometime after you graduate from High School you will understand that men don't bask in the glory of other men. It's ok for now, but after you hit puberty you should end your man crush.
Dgizzy" I have been saying he will win from his first race. And i always will right now he is on top and it's up to them to beat him he is in the drivers seat. Should be some great racing cant wait! DUNGEY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rainmanx63" Like i was saying i have been a RD1 fan from the beginning not a far weather fan. Just becoues the rider i picked from the beginning to win WON just makes me LUCKY i guess! DUNGEY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I rest my case. I don't pick anyone to win, unless I'm racing, then I will pick myself and I will usually be wrong.
Chance happens whether anyone chooses to recognize it or not. In 2008 against Lawrence, Dungey was the faster guy but had some bad breaks not of his making (lappers crashing him out, etc). It happens. Last year against CP, it worked out the other way. Life ain't fair and sometimes the better effort isn't rewarded... or at least in the immediate and obvious way. The longer-term winner is the guy who derives the right lessons. Dungey learned to keep plugging away. Lawrence, in a way, was the unlucky one. He "learned" that acting like an antisocial fool works out. Didn't and never does.
You'll never get over being stood-up on your bowling date, will you Cox?
I'll admit, Dungey is not my favourite rider, but MAN he is a MACHINE! I actually think doctors opperated on him at birth and made him into the Motocross Terminator! He can't be stopped!
dizzy, you are funny. Who has JLaw proved wrong except a couple of myopic hangers-on? JLaw proved YOU wrong I guess. Almost everyone else has said the guy was toast before he even headed to jail. Others-Again with the luck? Watch next week's race. Watch how Dungey positions himself...off the start, in the corners (if behind), everywhere. He is always in position to avoid a problem if somone goes down. Watch how others have issues. Was Short and Townley getting together bad luck? or were they both in horrible position basically with a "let's roll the dice" attitude. Some ride over their head, some get tired, but most of this "luck" is usually avoidable by the "unlucky" ones. I really don't even need to respond, I should have just agreed with Rainman as he said it perfectly.
Dungey is a great rider and deserves to be the champion he is today but people is blowing this out of proportions. He has had all the factors reunited to be upfront every race and has taken full advantage of all his opportunities, which shows he is a very smart rider as well no question on that but saying that he will be unbeatable next season is quite a fast statement, he will be facing the biggest challenge of his career coming next SX season since so many upcoming and returning stars will be in contention for the title. Metcalfe proved that RD is not unbeatable, bad luck struck his way on that first moto but he rode brilliant and smart.MXoN will be a good thermometer (Sadly Cairoli won't be there) but next year will be one of the most insane years in MX history, all the stars may be aligned at the gate of A1. RD is King now but unbeatable next year is still to be proven. History is being made and I feel lucky to be one withness. Go USA!!!
Many great riders have said having the right people around them makes all the difference. Losing "the real" RD will take its toll on team Suzuki, which is for now and probably next year, only Ryan Dungey unless they get someone to ride for zero $$$.