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Supercross & Motocross
SX: Countdown To A1 - #4 Ryan Dungey
2010 champ Ryan Dungey is the most reliable rider in the field, but will the new KTM man be able to rack up the wins needed to push for the '12 title?
Red Bull/KTM's Ryan Dungey (Photo: Hoppenworld.com)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The 2012 Monster Energy Supercross season opener from Anaheim, CA will air LIVE on SPEED Saturday, January 7th at 10:00pm ET.
Yesterday we kicked off our week-long countdown of our top five picks for the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Championship by placing Justin Brayton at #5. And with that, it's time to turn our attention to the four champs set to square off for the crown…
#4 – Ryan Dungey
It very well could be a matter of one to two points that will ultimately separate any one of the 'big four.' Picking the top four was easy -- deciding where they will rank at the season's conclusion is a whole other issue. Factoring in the way last season went down, it becomes an even more challenging task. Then combine that with the major changes a pair of these riders are experiencing coming into the season and, well, you get the idea…
Who will win the most races this season is anyone's guess. As is who will assume control as the dominant force at various points of the 17-race schedule. But, it's not hard to imagine that '10 champ Ryan Dungey will be a factor at each stop, and very well might prove to be the most consistent rider over the entire season, just like he was one year ago.
However, it takes more than consistency during an era in which upwards of five riders can win on any given night; there is also a requirement to separate from the pack in order to truly take control. The easiest way to do that is win and win frequently. And of the riders who will make up my top four, Dungey had the least amount of wins in 2011, with just one to his '11 campaign.
The change to KTM and subsequent adjustments that come with that move make it easy to expect a similar tally in 2012. Dungey already proved that he’s fast on orange, just like he was on yellow, but there are some major developmental advancements that KTM needs to make in just one offseason in order to compete at the highest level week in and week out.
Is it possible? Absolutely. KTM wants to win -- and badly -- starting immediately. They have all the tools necessary to do so. Dungey will ultimately be the first rider to give the Austrian brand its first taste of significant success in the premier division this season, but when you throw everything else into the mix, fourth is where my gut tells me the 2010 champ will end up at season's end.
Yesterday we kicked off our week-long countdown of our top five picks for the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Championship by placing Justin Brayton at #5. And with that, it's time to turn our attention to the four champs set to square off for the crown…
#4 – Ryan Dungey
It very well could be a matter of one to two points that will ultimately separate any one of the 'big four.' Picking the top four was easy -- deciding where they will rank at the season's conclusion is a whole other issue. Factoring in the way last season went down, it becomes an even more challenging task. Then combine that with the major changes a pair of these riders are experiencing coming into the season and, well, you get the idea…
Who will win the most races this season is anyone's guess. As is who will assume control as the dominant force at various points of the 17-race schedule. But, it's not hard to imagine that '10 champ Ryan Dungey will be a factor at each stop, and very well might prove to be the most consistent rider over the entire season, just like he was one year ago.
However, it takes more than consistency during an era in which upwards of five riders can win on any given night; there is also a requirement to separate from the pack in order to truly take control. The easiest way to do that is win and win frequently. And of the riders who will make up my top four, Dungey had the least amount of wins in 2011, with just one to his '11 campaign.
The change to KTM and subsequent adjustments that come with that move make it easy to expect a similar tally in 2012. Dungey already proved that he’s fast on orange, just like he was on yellow, but there are some major developmental advancements that KTM needs to make in just one offseason in order to compete at the highest level week in and week out.
Is it possible? Absolutely. KTM wants to win -- and badly -- starting immediately. They have all the tools necessary to do so. Dungey will ultimately be the first rider to give the Austrian brand its first taste of significant success in the premier division this season, but when you throw everything else into the mix, fourth is where my gut tells me the 2010 champ will end up at season's end.
SX Seattle
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