Courtesy of MXVice.com
Even though he hadn’t raced since hurting his neck at the Thunder Valley National back in June, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey was still the favorite heading into the first-ever SMX Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup in Germany, as this was a stadium race and Dungey is a three-time (and defending) Monster Energy Supercross Champion. Indeed, Dungey pulled through to win the SMX Cup overall, but he did it with 2-3-2 scores in the three main events. Dungey wasn’t dominant, but he rode smart and steady in his first race back.
The boys at MX Vice caught up with Ryan after the race—you can read the interview below or listen to the audio version here.
Racer X: You won as a team and as an individual, so as far as comebacks go, this was a success?
Ryan Dungey: Yeah, just like you said, it’s been four months since I’ve been on the gate and not that you forget that feeling, but controlling yourself and getting used to that feeling again is good. We just try to execute really well and not make any mistakes. The track, I think a lot of people thought, Oh, the track is going to be really easy. And as far as the layout, it was, but it got so rough and choppy, it was on another level. And with supercross suspension, we had to make some adjustments! But it wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle. It was nice to get the Manufacturer’s Cup for Red Bull KTM, it was a really unique race and this was the first one, and also the individual overall, we went 1-2-3 so that’s awesome, it could have been any manufacturer up there but it was all KTM. And the all the bosses were here to see it so that was pretty cool, too.
As far as the race, is this almost an easier one to come back to? You’re not in the spotlight quite as much, and it at least looked like, before the race, the track would be a little easier.
That’s why I thought it would be a good race to come back to. For me to do this race and get back on the gate, and get that feel before we get back onto the gate again for 2017. You’re trying to control the nerves, there’s a lot going on and you’ve just got to focus. Getting used to that feeling again was nice and we’ll get a few more races in in the States before the season starts so that will help as well.
Where are you at as far as the injuries go?
All is good, physically I was able to take the time to heal. And that’s the other thing, you know, we had a good safe night, there were no big injuries, and that’s what’s most important. I’m fine. Once I got back into riding I did some outdoor riding the whole month of August, then I took a couple of weeks, maybe three weeks off, then about two and a half weeks ago I got back into supercross. That’s obviously the main priority right now.
Was that one of the goals here? Obviously it would have been nice to win one of the individual main events, but pushing over your limit in your first race back is obviously not a smart thing to do.
Absolutely. Physically, I wouldn’t have come here if I wasn’t ready. That side was fine I didn’t struggle with the physical side, it was more the laps. We had, shoot, 39 to 40 laps just in racing then you add in another 15-20 on top of that [for practice] and it’s just a lot of longevity on the body. These are good days to put in the bank for your physical fitness, there’s nothing like a race. Your heart rate it definitely higher at a race.
Since this was in a stadium, did you arrive with sort of a base supercross setting? With the way the track developed were you searching a little bit, did you go to more of a motocross setting?
We softened it up a little bit. If we wanted to go crazy you can go internal, we didn’t do that, but we softened it up, got it to a good point, opened the rebound up on the rear a little bit. It wasn’t great, but it was just to where I knew I could ride it the way I wanted to. It’s give and take, some guys had a little bit softer setup, but it’s racing, you’ve got to make do with what you have as well.
I’m guessing the way the track developed it maybe helped you? When the track was more basic it kind of levels the playing field, but as it got rougher and more technical, and obviously you’re one of the best riders in the world, did it allow you to showcase your skills a little bit?
It definitely got rough, and that’s what kind of brought the separation into the picture. When a track’s flat, there’s not really much challenge. When it’s rougher, that’s when things really start to add up.
Did you have any lines in the back of your mind where you could make a pass? When you were chasing Tim [Gajser] in the first one, even if you’d gotten right on him, I don’t know where you would have gotten around him?
Yeah the passing was tough. You just have to hope he makes a mistake at that point.
What’s next for you? The Monster Cup, Red Bull Straight Rhythm? You’ve never won a Monster Cup so I guess that’s a goal?
Yeah, you always want to win when we’re competing, and I’d love to. I just haven’t won it yet. We’ll keep pushing for a win there while also knowing the main focus is supercross in 2017.
