Ryan Dungey Earns Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award with Dramatic Effort at Rockstar Energy Southwick National

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - In winning the first 450 Class moto at Southwick's Moto-X 338, defending Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Champion Ryan Dungey had already put in a hard day's work. The Rockstar Energy/Makita Suzuki rider had to hold back not only the late charge of his championship rival Ryan Villopoto, but also the deteriorating elements, as Hurricane Irene was approaching the legendary Massachusetts motocross track. But then an electrical malfunction with the race bike left Dungey's entire team back in the pits scrambling to discover and fix the problem before the start of the second moto. That's when the real work started!

Despite their best efforts, the event began without Dungey's #1 motorcycle on the grid. As soon as master mechanic Mike Gosselaar could sort out the problem and get the engine running, he raced the bike down to starting line. Dungey started his race nearly a full lap behind the rest of the pack but, in heroic fashion, rode as fast as he could through the treacherous rain, picking off riders left and right. By the time the 30 minutes plus two laps of racing were complete, Dungey had climbed from 39^th position all the way up to seventh. In passing 32 competitors he both salvaged his hopes of repeating as champion and laid claim to this week's Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award.

Dungey has been locked in battle with Monster Energy Kawasaki's Villopoto all summer long and, after a close first-moto win, had trimmed Villopoto's championship lead to four points. Had the equipment malfunction prevented him from starting moto two, he would have been faced with a 25-point deficit.

Having retrieved his now-running bike from Gosselaar on the line, Dungey actually stalled it for a moment before re-firing the engine. The crowd roared as the #1 rider jumped out onto the racetrack just ahead of eventual moto winner Justin Barcia of the GEICO Honda tea. The fans stuck him with as he climbed steadily back through the field.

At the halfway point, Dungey was still not in the top 20, but once he got into a points-paying position, he picked up his furious pace even more. When he took the checkered flag in seventh, he was just three spots behind Villopoto, the series points leader. Despite the drama, Dungey still left Southwick just eight championship points behind Villopoto with two rounds remaining in the series: this weekend at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa., and the grand finale on September 10 at Pala Raceway above San Diego, Calif.

For his dedication in the extreme conditions of Southwick, Ryan Dungey will be presented with the Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award at Saturday's pre-race riders' meeting prior to the Steel City National in Delmont. The announcement will provide well-deserved recognition for his efforts in front of his peers.

Tickets for the upcoming Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship are on sale now at www.allisports.com. Special discounts and incentives are available for advance ticket purchasers.

For media information about the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact Media Manager Brandon Short via email at media@mxsportsproracing.com or by phone at 949-365-5750.

 

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world's most prestigious motocross series - the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The industry leader in off road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, King of Wake series, and the Gatorade Free Flow Tour. Alli TV Productions creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. Visit www.allisports.com.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the "Official Motor Oil of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship." Visit www.LucasOil.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing sanctioning body in the United States, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization sanctions professional motorcycle racing competition, which includes, AMA Pro Motocross, AMA Pro Road Racing, and AMA Pro Flat Track. Visit www.amaproracing.com.