Racer X Rapid ReaXtion: Dungey is Out
Friday, March 9, 2012 | 4:40 PM
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Red Bull KTM announced today that Ryan Dungey is out for Daytona with a broken collarbone. Here’s the Rapid ReaXtion from our crew—tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Weege:
NOOOO!!!!!!!! Not only is this Dungey injury a huge blow to the series, it’s a huge blow to myself because, if you’re wondering, I WAS THE ONE WHO WROTE BENCH RACING AMMO LAST WEEK ABOUT DUNGEY NEVER MISSING A RACE DUE TO INJURY!
As soon as that story posted, I got a text from a friend saying, “You just jinxed the sh&t out of Dungey.” Well, jinxing is ridiculous and not true and if some hack writer like myself has that kind of power over the health of other human beings, well, I should be in a different field. Imagine the things I could do with this power of “jinxing.” World domination! Give me all of your money or I’ll get you injured!
(And if you really want to source out your jinxing, give it to ESPN.com's BJ Smith, who penned a story about Kevin Windham's 200th race in Atlanta and mentioned Dungey never missing a SX main since entering the class full time. It's that story that prompted us to look beyond into Dungey's Lites SX career and write last week's article. So I guess this one is on Windham.)
Seriously, though, it is strange to see the two of the most consistent riders this sport has ever seen, Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey, go out with injuries within about a week of each other. This will immediately spark thoughts of why so many riders are getting hurt, but remember, the same guys made it through the entire season last year, and we can’t possibly say that the tracks/bikes/speed/safety gear has changed that much in one year. And for all of the neck-braces-break-collarbones conspiracy theorists, let it be known that Dungey no longer wears one. He busted his collarbone the same way folks were doing it back in the 1970s: by crashing. It happens.
Meanwhile the only thing I am bummed on: reporter’s instincts. I watched Dungey like a hawk last weekend in St. Louis, even standing around the corner from the KTM truck for 20 minutes in the morning while he sat on his bike an adjusted the levers. You could tell he was testing his shoulder’s range of motion while sitting on the bike, but the shoulder seemed to be in good shape. And he looked fine every time he was on the track, including his great main event ride for second. Then I talked to Dungey for quite awhile after the race, and he was hanging with friends and family and team folks without any sign of pain. Everything seemed fine. No emergencies. No cause for alarm. But even at that, I should have known things could get worse after logging three practices a heat race and 20 laps. Especially when you’re next faced with the roughest supercross of them all at Daytona.
Believe in jinxing and everything else all you want. Dungey’s injury really just shows the randomness of the sport. Which either means Ryan Villopoto is due up next for bad luck and James Stewart will pull off the greatest comeback in the history of the sport, or, it means absolutely nothing. I say Villopoto will shrug off all questions about “backing it down” and will try to just keep doing what he has been doing all along. The dude isn’t going to hand Stewart or anybody else a bunch of wins just to protect the points lead. He’d probably rather not even acknowledge the points. Why? He doesn’t even want to face the whole idea of jinxing himself!
Steve Matthes:
I had heard that Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey had a crack in his collarbone and got a plate put in earlier this week but honestly, I always just thought he’d be racing this weekend in Daytona. You don’t get to be a multi-time champion like Dungey by not fighting through some adversity and not being a tough guy. In the end though, when the PR dropped this afternoon, even the toughest guys can’t do the impossible. Not to mention that Daytona is the worst supercross track to try and race with a shoulder joint/collarbone.
His practice crash the week before St. Louis was a gnarly one I had heard through people that are around the KTM camp and he was lucky to make it to St. Louis. And Ryan racing and getting second at St. Louis is again, a testament to his toughness.
Coming off an epic 2011, this definitely isn’t what the series itself needs. The injury to Dungey just piles up alongside the pains of Chad Reed, Trey Canard, Ryan Morais, Austin Stroupe, Michael Byrne and many others and makes for a less interesting race no doubt. It’s Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto’s title to lose at this point and even a James Stewart re-birth and return to dominance isn’t going to stop that fact. He’s too many points down. Not too mention I highly doubt at this point he’s just going to start whupping up on RV every single week.
No matter how long Dungey is out (the PR didn’t say) in many ways, Ryan’s debut season on the KTM has been successful and he’s proved the skeptics (of which I was one) that said he couldn’t take an all-new bike and win this much, this fast wrong. He’s been his usual very fast, steady self whether the color under him is yellow or orange and that right there, is a victory for Ryan and KTM. Let’s hope we see him back soon.
Chase Stallo:
When news broke earlier today that Dungey would be out for Daytona it wasn’t that big of a shock. I had spoken to a source earlier this week that told me, “Don’t be surprised to see something on Friday that Dungey is out for Daytona.” Well that little birdie hit the nail on the head.
It’s another devastating injury—in an already injury ravished year—and a big blow to the series, unless Stewart can get his act together and begin to challenge for wins. Instead of sugar coating this to death, I will leave you with these four words: It’s over. Congrats RV!
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This really sucks, he was the only guy left who can concistantly run with RV. Stewart isnt going to catch him in a million years.. Maybe a win here or there but nothing serious. Heres hoping Dungey will make Indianapolis next week..
Such a Bummer. I can't believe how tough Ryan is to have ridden the race last week with a collar bone injury and too have finished second. Is this guy inhuman or what. Hope he get's well soon. The bummer is what this will do to the Series unless JS steps up and gives RV some competition. Are we going to witness 12 second runaways for the remainder of the year. I hope not. Come on JS make this interesting. Roger
He can still make Indy and still keep his second in points alive, ANYTHING can happen
Racing a SX 10 days after getting your collarbone plated would be "manning up".
from the best season to the worst. Dang it man RD was the only one making it worthwhile to watch. Brayton and JS need to step it up. I will say tho my pick for Daytona is JS7 and not bcoz Dungey is out but Stewart has always been crazy there.
Huh? It's over?
I remember RV not making a main. I remember him crashing his brains out and breaking a leg to end his season.
I remember all kinds of bad stuff happening at inopportune moments.
It's never over, til it's over.
Im pretty sure RV is all smiles like " I got this one in the bag". And what sucks is when JS7 wins or brayton pple are always gonna say its bcoz RV backed down. This means we are gonna have a new guy make the podium for the first time almost each week. Now if RV and JS happen to be out then may be it would be a good season of first timers
With Reed, Canard and now Dungey out of the series Stewart will be on the podiumall the time now and everyone will say the bike is better now and hes riding better, not the fact that 3 of the top guys are out of it.
RV now has a 50 something point lead and wont risk anything to jeopardize it, He has nothing to gain by racing Stewart for the win, and I dont see RV getting caught up in that either, But Stewart will beleive he is the man again and so will the media you just watch.
Someone did say last week after the Dungey Ammo article about not missing races. ... " WAY TO GO WEEGE....HOPE YOU DIDNT JINX DUNGEY....What a bummer, never want too see anyone go out with injury...glad its fairly minor for what thats worth.....I wonder if they will just let it heal 100% or risk coming back too early for 2nd place points in series....RV , considering any catastrophe will be 1 or 2 this week and +30 some points over RD.....
The weird thing this year is , aside from the last 2 laps at San Diego and the first laps of Dallas before the Reed crash, there hasnt been much of a battle for the front spot between any of these guys....there has not been a RV & RD battle this year and they have spent most races spaced pretty far apart.....all these guys have had very close lap times including James.....But as some guys say on here, staying up and staying healthy is part of it all.....we have seen Dungey in the past have guys go out due to injury and now this time its him unfortunately.....Heal up for the outdoors Dungey....let that thing heal right....
Well now I wonder when Ryan heals up will he, race the last couple races or just wait for the outdoors and spend the time testing the KTM..
@biker143... Villopoto isn't going to just let Stewart win... that's not how he's wired, buddy. Villo could have pushed less in earlier races (because he still had a big points lead), but what did he do? He still charged - HARD. Villo wants to be the fastest in the world, and to beat the best at EVERY SX race. If Stewart beats him (like in Oakland), it will be because Stewie (or whoever else wins) deserves it.
Crazy how things come full circle......Now if JS were to win this weekend and or even get 2nd.....all we will hear next week is " its because Dungey was not there"......the same thing folks debated about while Dungey was winning in 2010..." thats because Reed and Stewart were not there "......so now what.....Was RV "gifted" this title if he does bring it home......Is this going to be a " Dungey would have won had he not broke his collarbone" saga.....Crashing sucks.....and even worse is injury.....ironic the 2 men with the most crashes and injuries recent years (RV and James) are the 2 left standing at the half way point while the "Mr. Consistents" are on the side lines.....again...crazy how things come full circle....Heal up Dungey!!!
So will they put an asterik next to RV's name if he wins this championsip because the main guys got hurt? That was done to Dungey and Reed when they won thier's. RV was one of the guys talking down about Dungey's championships.
Alpinestar22, keep telling yourself that " Buddy "
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO This SUCKS!!!!
.I have said it before anyone can cash and get hurt. RacerX just did the story too...BAD LUCK... You will be missed RD.
KilloMoto ... NO way the "Dungey would have won had he not broke his collarbone" or RV got lucky" will work crap cuz NO ONE proved 9 races in that they could Beat RV unless he got a bad start.So they will not fly at all. When RD won in 2010 CR and JS were done after the 2nd round and RV was way off so RD got questioned but I don't see how anyone could question this one on RV.
It;'s funny too how a Team Like KTM FINALY gets a Top guy, a guy who NEVER gets hurt and BAM he gets hurt... man This stinks.
I would like to see some data of the guys that made the switch to KTM and have been injured. Was hoping with the linkage Dungey could escape the curse.
I don't think you have to look very far to see why so many guys are getting hurt. First off it seems todays tracks are being built for the spectator, which yea, it's a form of entertainment and should provide excitement to generate sales but are they starting to push the envelope? especially for what some of these guys are being paid to perform (privateers). Second, the bikes these guys are riding and the technical advances they have made in this field allows these riders the ability to do things and reach speeds that really put them at risk. Not sure how ya back things down.
Wonder if KTM has one of the 250 guys coming up to ride with the big boys?? God bless you RD5. It's been a heck of a run.
THERE WAS NO JINX PERIOD
First Reed was running considerable slower then RV in qualifying and in the race up until San Diego where he picked up his pace. Then in Texas he really picked it up and was fast qualifier, suddenly his big crash.
Next came RD with his qualifying and race times way off plus he was horrible in San Diego. Then he picks up the pace and goes down pushing it harder.
This is not guess work but stop watch facts!
While RV keeps running those fast times consistently even lap after lap in qualifying he stays up. So the real JINX is RV with his speed so those trying to match will indeed pay a high price.
I wonder if JS7 will try to take RV down in order to catch up in the points?
Hey Verge,
What asterisk in the record book!?!, what kind of person would even think that about any SX Champion, are you really a fan of this sport or just here to troll?
The KTM curse : {
I agree with Claxton, it's the same thing as when Stewart would crash or win. Everyone would say that if he didn't crash he would have won, but really it was just him pushing it too hard to go fast enough to win. He was just willing to push it past what his skill allowed.
Damn you man above!! Why must you hate on Dungey!? He always mentions you in his podium interviews! Ok, so he mentions each of his sponsors first... and his girl friend .. mom and dad.. and his underwear .. and sometimes Santa Claus but then he always thanks the man above if he still has time left .. and if Erin Bates doesn't interrupt with some idiotic question.. which is always.. damn she's annoying. You should break HER collar bone!
Claxton....dude wipe your chin will you. You got RV's unborn all over it
verge are you stupid or what? first of all i dont recall rv talking trash on rd 2010 championship and even if he did he would have been right when rd won in 2010 there was nobody in the class no js no cr and rv was stealing the championship before he got hurt he had a lot of momentum in wins and chad reed won his first because rc wasnt there so shut the f....k up and learn the history of the sport before you make a stupid comment like that, rv won the 2011 championship with everybody there all year long and this year he is way better he proved that he is the new sheriff and the new fmotp this year so far he has more wins than everyone else even with all the guys wins combined he has more so please get your stats before posting a comment like that
I am so sorry Rd is hurt, I am a RV fan but to read some of the bull on here I just laugh. RV won last year by riding as hard as he could and was doing better this year but still not dominating. He has NEVER been playing the system and has to ride his best to win. Get well soon and go RV
There are almost 2 months of SX racing left. He isn't going to miss the rest of the races, it sounds like it is a crack (not complete break) and plating it was decided on to allow him to ride sooner. I wouldn't be surprised if he is back at the next race. But I think at MOST he will miss 3 races.
I wonder about the Honda Curse. Seems to me more riders have been hurt on the Honda;a than any other brand over the last 7 years. Don't bring the KTM to blame dumb ass. KTM S HAVE MORE OFF ROAD DIRT TITLE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS THAN ALL OF THE OTHER BRANDS COMBINED
Verge...........spot on man. Lots of people did the same to RD when he won it, some that just posted on here. Wow broken collar bone and still got 2nd and reeled RV in!
skycooper, I beg to differ on the tracks this year "pushing the envelope." From what I've seen as a spectator, they are much less technical than they have been in previous years.
From RV himself:
"I just want to say with RD out does not mean its over yet there's a lot of racing left and that means I need to stay focused!"
Well this pretty much sucks?s
So does that mean that he raced last weekend with a Broken collar bone? If so, thats a pretty tough dude.
if someone already said oh well, didn't bother reading any posts
@dgizzy1: You may want to go back in the OR because that "Frontal Lobotomy" surgery you just had, well it definitely took. Maybe it's not too late to have it reversed. If you had a (mind) to.
Dial 911, Quick!
RV proved last year he was the best in the world when he won the most competitive sx title ever while everyone was healthy. Then he won the outdoors with Dungey and Reed at their best. Then he smoked everyone in the world at MXON and came back and won a million clams!!! RV is the best SX/MX rider in the world right now period!!!! Anytime the pressure is on and he needs a win he kills it! Also he has been the fastest at every race and when it looked like Reed was going to challenge him look what happened. Last week everyone was saying Dungey has his speed and look what happened. Anyone trying to run RVs speed is getting hurt. RV has won 5 of the first 9 races, Anyone who thinks RV wasn't in control of this championship is kidding themselves.
@caseypons Light'n-up. dgizzy1's idea of young-guns running up front is good entertainment/good for racing.
A supercross championship is rewarded for getting the most points over the course of xx amount of races...If you finished 3rd every race, and at the end of the year you had more points then the guy who won 10 races and missed the podium cple times, you would win the title...there is not astrisk...Constistancy is as important in a series as winning is...that is why there is more than one race ...I dont think RD fell from trying to run a pace over his head, he has shown he can be within a few tenths of RV and not be on the edge..probally just made a mistake, if you ride a mx bike at some point your gonna fall, ...As for the RD needing to be more aggessive passing ...I disagree ...he takes time makes smart passes, not wanting to risk fall...especially in the early stages where a fall will lose you alot of spots.and points...he needs to pass quicker ..there are many paths up the mountain to a championship...you take the path that suits your style the best.. that is why I call Villopoto the Firecracker, he's explosive and rides close to the edge, wins alot with an exciting style that draws fans...Dungey, the Locomotive, is steady, builds speed thru the race, rarely rides the edge, his goal is championship and if the wins come, bonus...consistancy is his path to a title....but this is moto and ..it happens.....Heal up RD...your a champion ...and #1 to your fans....
RV I am sorry to say but I am about to put this little * beside your championship.
Bahaha. I am just joking. I believe everyone earns their championships. Just know it will piss people off.
Trey, Reed and now the ironman. Spank my azz & call me Charlie. All thats left is for Stewart to try a triple back flip with a full twist over a triple. No offense to RV but his speed this year makes Payton smile and the fans yawn. Only chance we have at a race is if Stewie and RV can mimick some of the great battles of old. Looks like I picked the wrong year to quit drinking. Of course Dub could podium, that would make up for it. Come on LaRocket, get your boy pumped!
Say it ain't so. Unbelievable.
TOTAL KTM curse!.......Damn!!!
anyone would would put a fuedal symbol beside any riders championship is a total jackass - stamp it
anyone who would - sorry
you gotta be in it to win it , all the way til the end !
I think Weimer has been on the podium this year also. Just quoting someone new on the podium this weekend ???
All these guys push hard! To say that everyone crashes out trying to match Villo's pace is a load of SH*T!!! Crashes happen to everyone. We could have been reading about Poto just as easily! Sh*T happens. Nothing more. Get well to all the injured!
Only 3 riders have tried to match speeds with RV, look what happened to each one of them, Defense rests.
Yeah Weege.......just keep telling yourself "It wasn't me -it wasn't me".
RV is up next .......... Really Weege ?
Do us all a favor and pick Obama to 2peat.
JimM
Pala374
RV and JS have never really gone bar to bar.
No way ......no how is RV going to pass up the chance show James whats up both indoors and out.
JimM
Pala374
KTM curse? There's no such thing. In Europe, KTM's are or were MX1 and MX2 champions. Of course the Euro's don't have a race-series based on racers taking big-risks via Supercross AMA tracks and Supercorss practice tracks.
JimboMX374 LMAO!!! YES Weege PLEASE pick obama!!!
Welcome to the RV1 show, with some drama in the back.....gonna be either RV, Seely, Stewart, Weimer or KDub making podiums from here on out i'm betting.
@BillC- no kidding, that Jimbo has some of the best posts on here for sure! Never out of line, and always makes sense. Keep them coming JimboMX374!! And get well soon RD-this series needs you!
What I find most ironic from a lot of RD posters here is how RV was going to crash himself out of the series and RD would win it Look back through time how people waited on Hannah and RC to do that very same thing. There has only been one really fast rider that did this and his resume is superior to most in history.
Now the cry goes out "You just wait until the outdoors", So you just wait, and wait, and wait, and wait.
It was reed in 2006 that raced Daytona with an Effed up shoulder had to go to the LCQ and race Travis Pastrana and even got 2nd in the main to RC. so why is the Dunge backing out. come on man. hes mister Consistency
This is just such a shame. I think most of us realy know how hard it is to even make it a year without injury. For the most part most of us racers have raced or tried to race with an injury. The supercros series is far from over anything can hapen yet. No I dont think RV wil buckle under presure but he should try to be consevative and we al know that is not his style.
Hey this gives Claxtons dad a chance to show us what he can do on that Penton!
God posts Jimbo and BD25 and also yes Weege if you are a jinx please use it on bama, Hey BillC I am with ya on that.
It would be different for RV to win this if he wasnt winning in the points and now wins with Reed out and now Dungey missing some races, but RV was laready winning. So anyone who says his title is somehow gifted to him is just not a fan or clueless..
And Preston, you are right. You have to be IN IT TO WIN IT, so no matter who wins the title, they earned it and it is just as important no matter who WASNT there right?? Thats right..
@BillC, pick Obama, then pick Romney--he is a flip flop... Then pick Santorum ,--he is a phoney--clean them all out, they are all crooks and liars..
"It's over, Congrats RV"
talk about a jinx...
therealmofo.. I hear ya, Not a fan of any Politicain's but I have had more than I can take from obama so I will take Romney anyday at this point.
hey handlebardragger
full face helmets brake collarbones. maybe but cmon, could you imagine morais without a ff helmet on
SO is there any word on how long Dungey will be out? 2-3 weeks??
So I suppose what's good for the goose is good for the gander. For all of you saying that Dungey crashed trying to run RV's pace, I suppose we can say that in 2010, RV crashed out trying to stay ahead of Dungey at St. Louis. And if Dungey lucked into his 2010 SX title while leading the series when RV crashed out, then if RV wins the 2012 SX title he lucked into it because Dungey crashed. I don't expect any RV fan to be honest and apply fair standards across the board, but at least try to use your heads a little bit. Dungey had a practice crash. Saying that he crashed trying to run RV's pace is ridiculous. If I recall correctly, quite a few years ago when Ernesto Fonseca was paralyzed while practicing, he said he wasn't even going that fast.
RV fans would do good to remember that RV has crashed plenty of times and saying that Reed and Dungey crashed out trying to run his pace is absurd. That is, unless RV fans are going to be fair and account RV's crashes to trying to run the leader's pace. Any one of these guys can crash out at any moment. No wonder people call you guys Villotards.
And just to clarify: Last week Dungey closes in on RV in the second half of the race with a cracked collarbone. Yeah, I'm pretty certain that Dungey was getting faster and faster on that KTM and would have been a serious threat for the title.
@BillC, NO WAY ON ROMNEY---We tried a big business loving multi-millionaire, and he killed our entire economy, by 2005 our economy was destroyed and our debt was huge again. We tried a liar and big business guy once, never again for me..They all suck..But he is probably the worse flip-flop liar of them all..
Therealmof Still I would take him over obama anyday!!!. And it looks like it will be him going agenst obama.
J_Sloan... This has to be hard for you I know. But please be nice to others.
. I am not saying RD lucked into anything in 2010 but that is still no where near the same deal as this. in 2010 Reed and JS were gone after the first round or 2 and RV was not up to speed till well into the searies so the speculation on RD's season had some merit to it because the top guys went out very early and he only won one race in 2011. This year no one showed they had RV's speed yet and it is well into the year and RV has 5 wins out of 9....so it's a lot dif.
Was it you J_Sloan who has some statistical data that showed RD would win this title??
@ BillC, I never claimed that I had statistical data that showed that RD would win the title. Not sure what you're talking about there. Ad for 2010 vs. 2012: It's ALWAYS different with RV fans, and it ALWAYS favors RV. It's quite laughable seeing the double standards from RV fans.
Shame for RD get well soon! And the last time I checked this is not a polictical blog let it be our safe haven, PLEASE
never write an article about a streak.... streaks are as fragile as a collarbone. Don't mess with a streak ever unless it is a losing streak.
I'm no doc but why would you plate a cracked collar bone? i had my collarbone plated 10 years ago and it still aches when i use it to much.. the one i broke and didn't have plated is fine. putting screws through yer bones is not always good for a quick fix.
i disagree to the guy who said rv was not dominating this year look as the amount of race wins not the points 5 wins to everyones 1 or 2.............1 guy has half the total wins