By Jordan Roberts and Steve Matthes
Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey is always consistent and always a contender, but the last few weeks he seems to have really found his groove. After a few solid rides that ended up giving him the Monster Energy AMA Supercross points lead, he logged a perfect night at Anaheim 3 by qualifying fastest, winning his heat, and winning the main event. Dunge is on it right now. Here’s what he had to say on the podium after the race.
Racer X: Now you’ve got a win.
Ryan Dungey: I’m putting pieces together each weekend, but trying to tie it all together. And there are areas we can still improve for sure. I’ve got to take everything for what it’s worth, but tonight was awesome. Everything really clicked nicely.
Can you talk me through the start and the first few laps?
[Blake] Baggett got the start and I was able to move around him within the first lap I believe and just make the pass. The quicker I could do that, the quicker maybe I could open up a little bit of a lead. It was small. I think it went from one second, slowly to two, slowly to three, and then to four. I messed up a couple times, which they caught back up to me a little bit, probably a second. But we were able to keep the gap open enough, a comfortable gap.
What kind of a track was it? Was it a passing track? Were there lines out there?
Actually this track was really good for passing. A lot of areas you could make a move and set yourself up. I think this is probably one of the best Anaheims I’ve raced.
[Referencing this crazy fan in the stands yelling “Dungey!”] How about this fan over here that has extreme volume?
I better go over there because I saw her today, and she’s like, ”I’ll see you down there popping champagne.” That’s a good thing. She definitely earns everything she gets. I gave her some gloves at the last Anaheim and she earned that, just how loud she is, obviously as you can hear.
Is it a little bit of a relief to get that win after you’ve seen other guys win it?
Yeah, I think it is, but at the same time it’s not enough to back down by any means. It’s going to take a lot of nights like tonight, consistently. It’s a tall order. The intensity’s high, the field is deep, a lot of talent. We all push each other to get better every weekend. Obviously everybody’s going to work hard and we need to answer those calls each weekend. With everything and my program and riding and everything, I think we can maintain and if not build.
The win in the heat race, how important was that as far as the mental boost?
It helps for a main event gate pick, but also just sets the tone I think a little bit. So does practice. Everything has an impact a little on everything. I know the impact it has for me and vice versa with other riders.
But you didn’t just win that one; you did beat Ken [Roczen] straight up. So that must be a confidence booster.
I think it was nice because obviously with that heat race it looked like we could open up the gap a little bit with that after I watched it. Knowing that the speed was there, now it was just about applying it on the track in the main event.
You’ve kind of consistently built up to this since the start of the series. Is it going to be something you can maintain every weekend to be right up there? Or is it more starts more than anything else?
Obviously we build up to the season, and then it’s maintaining. We do make progress because in racing you push yourself harder than you do during the week, and that elevates your game. With everything you try to maintain that, but also everything matters. It’s not just a win, it’s consistently getting good starts, getting to the first turn clean. Positioning is everything the first lap. We’ve learned that, obviously. So, yes, it comes down to a lot of small things that add up to the big goal.
Were you watching the gap with the guys behind you? There was a lot of action right behind you.
No, I heard. I just was kind of gauging where second was and if I was opening. Carlos [Rivera, Dungey’s mechanic] did a good job writing on the pit board what my lead was and what my lap times were and all that stuff.
Getting the point lead using your strategy, does that kind of justify and fire you up for a win?
Consistency is very important. It doesn’t pay to be there to win and then be fifteenth or second and then twentieth. I’d rather be consistently podium than up and down like that, and our odds are better in the long run. But consistently winning is the next step for me. – Jordan Roberts
Later our Steve Matthes chatted with Ryan again in the pits.
I felt like this race could have went until one in the morning and you wouldn’t have made a mistake. Seriously, it was a precision ride.
Honestly, everything felt good. I was hitting my marks well. I did mess up that rhythm lane before the finish line two times, so that was a couple. It was a three-three. I was going outside and I ended up going double-double-double, so that really cost me a couple times. Overall, everything felt good. Starts were really good; positioning was there. Just able to ride my own lines out front.
A big key tonight was getting the start and you got it.
I think we’ve learned within the last few races the guy who kind of gets out front and who’s going to be contending for the win and gets away, that’s the ticket. It was good. We had good practices today with both fastest qualifying times and then a good heat race win. And then was just able to kind of carry it through the day. It doesn’t always happen like that, but when it does you’ve got to be happy.
Did it piss you off a little bit, “Hey, he’s got the points lead but he doesn’t have a win.” I heard the announcers reference that a couple times tonight. Does that get to you a little bit?
Honestly, it kind of does. I’m well aware, holding the red plate with no win. I feel that, but I couldn’t worry about that. I needed to apply myself and get that win. And I’m glad it worked out. It could have took a while longer, but it’s good to kind of get the monkey off the back.
I haven’t talked to you about the new bike. Shorty loves it; Brayton loves it. Carlos [mechanic] said you’ve got to add weight to it to get over the minimum. How good is it?
It’s a solid bike. With the past three years we’ve been able to get a lot of good feedback from all the riders in the US, everybody in Europe, the test riders, and everything. They really did themselves on this KTM. It’s lightweight like you said, but not only that, just the handling from the chassis to the engine to the suspension, the whole package, they improved it and on another level. And that light weight is just to top it off. It’s a fun bike to ride. I truly look forward to going riding every day just to ride that bike.
You know how I know you like it? I asked Carlos, you’re a big tester—I know you’re big on making changes to the bikes. Carlos says it’s not too bad on the new bike. You’re staying pretty good and not changing much.
Obviously coming into the season, racing is like the test. So we did test a couple weeks after Phoenix and before A2, but that was it.
Which for you is good.
Yes. So I’m like, everything’s good, ride it and work on what I need to work on. It’s nice to just shut the mind off and just ride as hard as I can. The bike’s there.
Super cliché question, but how’s Aldon [Baker]? How’s that working out? Obviously pretty good.
Yeah, I’ve always wanted to work with Aldon. He’s a great guy. When that opportunity came about I’m glad everything lined up right and I hopped on it. I wasn’t going to pass that up again. I made the mistake years ago of letting that one fly with Ryan [Villopoto] taking him, and life goes on. When that worked out it was able to happen. I really feel like we work good together. He’s a solid guy. He helps my program out, not just physically, but mentally, just living a balanced life. He’s a good guy to have on your side and to be around. He’s just uplifting and the positive. – Steve Matthes