5 Minutes With... Ryan Dungey
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 | 1:30 PM
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Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey came into Anaheim sporting the number-one plate for the first time in a series race (previously he has sported the digit at the East/West Lites Shootout in Vegas and the Motocross of Nations). It’s been said that defending a title is harder than winning it in the first place, and when Dungey started the day off a little shaky with a practice crash, it looked like that may be the case. But just like he did last season, he progressed throughout the day, found his groove, and landed on the podium. But is The Dunge happy with a runner-up finish to Ryan Villopoto?
Racer X Online: Okay I’m going to start this off with a story for you.
Ryan Dungey: …Okay.
No, it’s going to be good. You’ll enjoy this. Twenty years ago, Jeff Stanton came into this race as the defending supercross champion. It was a surprise because no one expected him to win the year before. And Stanton is known as one of the toughest, gnarliest guys ever. He is so mentally strong. But at Anaheim, he admitted the number one plate was heavy, the pressure got to him, and he finished sixth. And this is Jeff Stanton! So you got second in your first race with the number-one plate. You okay with that?
You know, I think, at the end of the day, last year was amazing. It’s something special, and maybe something I never expected to accomplish, especially at twenty years old. So that was awesome. But I think it’s key to keep pushing forward and not rely on past accomplishments. To wear the number-one plate is an honor, and something you work so hard for. But at the end of the day, it’s just a number on your bike, and it shouldn’t affect the way you ride. It’s important to keep making new goals so you can work toward them, and just keep moving forward.
Yeah.
Did you feel okay going into the main? Were you worried?
I felt pretty good. Today we had to do some fine tuning in practice, we found a good setting and I think we had a good pace in the main. We just came up a little shy. Villopoto rode a great race. But it’s a good start to the season, no doubt. We just need to take what we learned tonight and apply it to each race.
Last year that was one of your strengths. You might not have started the day on top, but you and the team made great changes and great progress as the day went on. We know some of the personell has changed over at your team, do you feel you can still make all the right changes?
You know, that’s one of the hardest things, and one of the things we’re always trying to work on. You can start the day out, and roll out and be like, “Man, what’s up with my bike?” You just don’t know. That’s where learning and paying attention is really key. Especially the 450, it’s heavier and it seems like it needs more fine tuning every week, more so than the 250F. So it’s a work in progress. We always come in after practice and have a team meeting with the suspension guy, team manager, everybody, and we try to make the right changes. We have a lot of knowledge on this team. Hopefully we find the right setting. And if not, sometimes you just have to deal with it. Like I’ve said, we’ve all had to deal with our tests, and I think it’s how we go about them that matters, and trying not to let them get to us.
I was absolutely trying to lay down good laps, and trying to catch him. He got out there, and that’s hard to do, you’re playing catch up. It is what it was. I got into second and just tried to ride clean laps, and if I caught him, great, but if not, hey, it was absolutely a good start to the season and we’ll work on it from here.
Racer X Online: Okay I’m going to start this off with a story for you.
Ryan Dungey: …Okay.
No, it’s going to be good. You’ll enjoy this. Twenty years ago, Jeff Stanton came into this race as the defending supercross champion. It was a surprise because no one expected him to win the year before. And Stanton is known as one of the toughest, gnarliest guys ever. He is so mentally strong. But at Anaheim, he admitted the number one plate was heavy, the pressure got to him, and he finished sixth. And this is Jeff Stanton! So you got second in your first race with the number-one plate. You okay with that?
You know, I think, at the end of the day, last year was amazing. It’s something special, and maybe something I never expected to accomplish, especially at twenty years old. So that was awesome. But I think it’s key to keep pushing forward and not rely on past accomplishments. To wear the number-one plate is an honor, and something you work so hard for. But at the end of the day, it’s just a number on your bike, and it shouldn’t affect the way you ride. It’s important to keep making new goals so you can work toward them, and just keep moving forward.
Slow start to the day, but the same old visit to the box.
Cudby photo
Yeah.
Did you feel okay going into the main? Were you worried?
I felt pretty good. Today we had to do some fine tuning in practice, we found a good setting and I think we had a good pace in the main. We just came up a little shy. Villopoto rode a great race. But it’s a good start to the season, no doubt. We just need to take what we learned tonight and apply it to each race.
Last year that was one of your strengths. You might not have started the day on top, but you and the team made great changes and great progress as the day went on. We know some of the personell has changed over at your team, do you feel you can still make all the right changes?
You know, that’s one of the hardest things, and one of the things we’re always trying to work on. You can start the day out, and roll out and be like, “Man, what’s up with my bike?” You just don’t know. That’s where learning and paying attention is really key. Especially the 450, it’s heavier and it seems like it needs more fine tuning every week, more so than the 250F. So it’s a work in progress. We always come in after practice and have a team meeting with the suspension guy, team manager, everybody, and we try to make the right changes. We have a lot of knowledge on this team. Hopefully we find the right setting. And if not, sometimes you just have to deal with it. Like I’ve said, we’ve all had to deal with our tests, and I think it’s how we go about them that matters, and trying not to let them get to us.
Dungey also finished second at Anaheim 1 last year, but that's about the only thing those races have in common.
Cudby photo
I was absolutely trying to lay down good laps, and trying to catch him. He got out there, and that’s hard to do, you’re playing catch up. It is what it was. I got into second and just tried to ride clean laps, and if I caught him, great, but if not, hey, it was absolutely a good start to the season and we’ll work on it from here.
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It seems like all the good mood is away, phoenix is gonna be 10 times better than Anaheim!
Good interview. glad to hear an honest answer about he really tried to catch RV. Instead of the "I tried to ride safe and not crash, so I took 2nd". He did try to catch him, it was just RV's day that race. Who knows, Pheonix might be totally different and RV might get 10th. Hope not though.
NICK WEY FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!! BILL HAHN FOR VICE PRESIDENT!!!!!
Dungey is a class act.
I agree Dungey is a class act... But im really glad to see RV with the weight loss and looking 110% at A1... Hope RV takes home the #1 plate at the end of the year!
20 years ago the very much like dungey, jeff stanton, had a rough day and the beast from the east who was very much like villo opened an econo sized can of whop ass on everyone for the duration of the series. unfortunately for the beast, he kept eating chicken. when it all came down to it and the city was in a panic guy cooper was making out w/jeff stanton on the starting gate and when it dropped the two left the line in a hailstorm of roost. the beast was cornfusled and thought this cannot be happening but it did and the stanton won his 3rd and final championship. this is the word.
the race is what it was rv got a great start and pushed it hard as possible to put distance between himself and dungey cause ne new they were coming .the rest of the pack just left him the right amount of buffer so he could escape .thats racing could of been any body strong out front .it was a blast to watch it watch.rd is solid and will always be there pressin as long as he stays healthy .go dungey go minnesota rootin for ya even if they wont give you any press .what a tragety them bastards .
Everytime i watch him it just looks like he's riding with minimal effort it looks like the suzuk just has a better setup than the other 450's after the race hes not winded or tired during the race the bikes straight in the woops and good in the corners im not sayins suzuki is the best bike but man RC CR & RD have looked amazing on the RMZ i just wish they would change those gold rims!
If that was 5 minutes, they must have been talking really slow.
@MX Bob.....now that is too funny! To think a few years ago everyone was questioning RD bringing aboard RD.
I think Dungey is wise to keep the rhetoric to a minimum. He's playing the mental game well. Since he says he was riding as hard as he could, Villopoto might get comfortable and assume that this is the pace for the rest of the series. Dungey might have played it safe in reality, but said he was trying hard, so that Villopoto gets a false sense of confidence, thinking he doesn't need to go any faster to take the series. If Dungey would have said he was just cruising to a safe 2nd to start the series with decent points, that would fuel Villopoto's fire to keep pushing it in practice and elevate his game for the next race. Since Dungey said he was trying his best to catch him, there's not much incentive for Villo to try much harder this week. You know, if you say anything remotely motivating to the competition, that might be all it takes to either get beaten or to have to work a lot harder to win the series. Stewart is the dark horse here, and I think he was just trying to keep it on two wheels and get whatever safe points he could after a bad start. We can surely expect him to do his share of dominating this year - those lap times tell the tale. He must be extra cautious now, because he tends to put the "cartwheel" before the horse, LOL. It's about time he learns his lesson about consistency and keeping it on two wheels. How many championships has he lost due to injury?
jairtime I don't think RV ever lets down, Does not matter what RD said about his speed RV knows the fastest laps where layed by JS. That was a quick 5min for sure. At least he did not say he was Pumped!! LOL
I'm reluctant to give RV competitors any extra motivation but ........... heres a quote pulled from this site yesterday " I could see I had four or five seconds on him (Dungey) and then I hit lappers, and he closed in a little bit. So I turned it back up a little bit and got the gap back, and by then it was already lap 15. Then I just backed it down a little bit. Oh, itâ
Oh and by the way , does anyone tell me how many times RV caught and passed the Dunge last year? Dont get me wrong, big props to everyone on the gate . I became an RV fan during his epic battles with 101 and became a full fledged homer when he picked his a** off the ground and finished the 08 Atlanta SX after 33 ahhhh ......didnt see him and well we all saw it. JImM CarlsbadCa
The only way anyone is going to win it all this year is if Stewart grenades himself. He made RV look like a lapper in that heat race. So much speed this year, unreal!
he sounds very confident..
I hate that he's ok with 2nd place. We all know if Stewie would have been turnin it up if he were that close at the beginning (of course he wasn't and could only pick up 3rd) RV seems to have the same "I only want to win" attitude like RC and JS have/had. Dungey reminds me of the 2009 Reed who will settle for 2nd place. Guess rodger forgot to leave the memo that 3 points each race adds up, on the bulletin board at Suzuki.
Man, the rhetoric....a lapper garjan? It's the heat race. Why show your hand before necessary. RV has a lot more speed that he is still keeping under wraps. He didn't need to uncork it at all at A1. RC always says Daytona is the real start of the series and by then RV will be full tilt. Stewart already tipped his hand. As for Dungey, his methodical style worked wonders for him in 2010 and I doubt he sees a need to go mental patient right away. I think he'll hang it out a bit more in SX this year, but he isn't going to be stupid about it.
In what glimpses I've had to this point, I'd definitely say Dungey has the most squared away bike. I think that RMZ is one of the most well developed SX machines of all-time. Metcalf looked smooth as well, just not as fast. Especially in the whoops. RC used to say he wanted to get out of CA safe & then hammer down. Who's playing that strategy this year??
Im sorry garjan who won A1 ? Yes James is ultra fast and yes 7 caught RV in the heat race but please, RV checked up in the corner, James passed him , RV hung within 50ft for two laps to check his lines and then let him go. Listen to BK-R my man. BTW, I dont discount 22. JImM CarlsbadCa
@ B-KR - Well said sir.
I agree with you Carlsbad the RMZ since #4 has well ..........check the results every rider has posted on that bike . To me its phenomenal on the starts and dang it turns. The Kaw 450 Kaw doesnt seem to turn as well but with its length and RV on board it may be a match for the RMZ in the whoops. We will see in short order. JimM CarlsbadCA
It's great to watch these athletes race SX and see how things unfold. I wish I was younger so I could race again. Looks like so much fun!!! Go Ryan and Ryan, and may the best man win!
yeah yeah I know it was the heat race but you know RV and everyone else is thinking all week how to pick up some speed. And name one rider that ever did that to RV, ever? I'm just sayin speed wise no one has it like James this year so far and if you didn't see that than your playing with yourself too much.
Rv has no personality...except when he tries to clean Dungey out rather than race him for the championship. Dungey doesnt try to hurt people in an already extremly dangerous sport. He just races clean. ok, start the bashing RV fans...
93, you're the one that started the bashing with your post. I wont' continue it.
If RD has any heart he will fight for a championship just like RV did.
Villopoto has plenty of personality, watch some of his interviews. He has a good head on his shoulders. I think Dungey used to have more personality before he decided to be a Jr. Ricky Carmichael. Don't get me wrong, i love RC but Dungey needs to step out of that shadow and become his own man. And yes Stewart ran Villopoto down in the heat race, but it doesn't matter. He obviously made some bike adjustments between the heat and the main, and if you couldn't tell the difference in how is bike handled in the corners then you sir, "are spending too much time playing with yourself". Ryan Villopoto is a true racer. When it's time to race for real.. he shows up, I don't care about qualifying lap times, or heat races. He's a gamer. RV2 sweep both championships if he doesn't get hurt. Fo Sho
RV pass on RD was for the SX championship and the first time they raced heads up. Ryan had been trailing 5 all series , saw his opportunity and took it there and then. What do you want him to do , ask permission ? Yes this is dangerous sport but please a lo speed bump and run block pass is MX / SX 101. BTW looks like RD remembers that pass and knows its on with RV when all the marbles are on the line. Daytona is what this sport is all about will be a preview of 2 s true calling,TGO JimM CarlsbadCA
IMO...the Dunge needs to only work on one thing...and that is, ride with a bit more AGGRESIVE. (ala RV,JS) Just an observation from observer. But what do I know...
Does RV need personality? They race dirtbikes, not talk show hosts. RD is about the most boring interview of any of them, absolutely no personality what so ever. But who the hell cares? RV rides with the same "go for broke" style that Carmichael and Stewart have. RD is the modern day Chad Reed, ride around in 2nd or 3rd and hope that one of the top dogs gets hurt. Hey, it won CR 2 titles, but not 1 that involved RC or JS. Same thing here, RD has 1, but it dosen't include a full season with RV2, JS or even CR22.
just like ricky charmical i love him he is truely been working his hardest and puts out the most efert