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RYAN DUNGEY
450 SX / A2
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / WILSON
>> Another year, another strong Ryan Dungey. With all the flash and swag- ger that Ken Roczen has brought this season, Dungey has almost become second fiddle to the German rider despite being the reigning champion. The Dunge has quietly continued his rigorous training regimen and it showed when he challenged the seemingly untouchable Roczen all the way to the finish, a week in San Diego. He felt some momentum swing in his favor after that race and felt he had a little edge on Ken heading into A2. Steady rain all week long in Southern California had many anticipating a mud race but the Dirt Wurx crew fended off most of the elements and could prep a solid track ready for racing. Dungey was a tad off his usual exceptionally quick practice lap times and only came away with the seventh fastest time. The track was just a bit wet in practice and that could have played a factor but he and the track would be more than ready for the night show. The gate dropped in the heat race and Dungey would almost immediately hit the deck. A very unchar- acteristic mistake from the Dunge as he got tangled and knocked down in the first turn. His throttle cable got damaged and he would instantly have to resign from the race and regroup for the semi. The semi went better for the KTM rid- er but he still had to work for his transfer spot. He started outside the top five but made some silky-smooth passes like when he power scrubbed by Brayton on the final lap to finish in third. He looked motivated and ready to take on
the main event. The thirteenth gate pick was all that Dungey needed to rip a holeshot and never look back. He would lead the main event from wire to wire without much of a challenge to secure his first win of the season. Seely and Musquin each closed to within three seconds at separate times throughout the race but Dungey could extend his gap right back out. It was a clinic from the defending champ but it is worth noting that his fiercest rival, Roczen, suf- fered a horrific crash while chasing him down leaving us to wonder what could have been for the outcome of the race, and the championship.
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GRITMOTO • JANUARY 22, 2017