Written by:
Steve Cox
http://racerxill.com
01/11/2009 - 11:16 PM
Phoenix, AZ
Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey (Photo: Steve Cox) ยป More Photos
Drama abounded at the Phoenix Supercross. The biggest news was that surrounding Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey and defending Lites West champ Jason Lawrence. In the offseason, Dungey was signed as the poster boy for the new-for-2009 One Industries riding gear. A longtime One Industries rider (wearing the company’s helmets), Dungey looked forward to the opportunity to have an entire brand identity built around him and his clean-cut, good-guy image.
However, just before Anaheim I this year, Dungey found out that his mortal enemy, Lawrence, was also going to be One-sponsored for 2009. This didn’t sit well with Dungey, as over the past year during which the two competed for the Lites West SX title (and Dungey lost), their relationship has been akin to that of a bully and his victim. During their title battle, Lawrence was the aggressor, doing everything he could to get into Dungey’s head. Even during
At the High Point National last year, Lawrence took Dungey out in a moto, which prompted Dungey to come back with stern words during the press conference that prompted cheers applause from the back of the room.
"Yeah, it was dumb,” Dungey said after the High Point race. “I mean, what happened, I should’ve seen it coming. Like, I knew he was already brake-checking me before I got around him, and then I got around him... I put on a charge to get away from this guy because he’s a dirty rider, and it came up to an awkward position right before the turning rollers, and he just came in and cleaned me out. I was just over it. I wanted to go over there (to Lawrence’s hauler), but I mean, I’m not going to lower myself to that.
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