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SX Race Report
Dungey’s desire to win as well as the suspension on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 motorcycle were put to the test in Houston. With a busy track that involved some of the deepest whoops of the series and a kicker jump off the starting gate, the 13th round of the AMA Supercross series had a unique layout that was tough on both the riders and bikes.
Ryan Dungey went into the main event with a convincing Heat 2 win and the fastest lap in practice. With a few tweaks on his suspension to fine-tune his motorcycle, Dungey lined up on the starting gate looking to extend his lead in the Supercross class.
Dungey has won four rounds so far in 2010, and he looked confident in his ability to race well on the dirt in Reliant Stadium. After the first corner, Dungey found himself in third place. He and his bike worked hard to overcome the deep whoops, and Dungey traded spots with a few racers throughout the first half of the race. At the midway point, just as he was about to catch and pass the third place rider, Dungey stalled his bike in a complicated turn.
Stuck in the whooped-out corner as a few racers passed him, Dungey managed to restart his bike and move himself into fifth place where he finished the race.
Ryan Dungey says: "Some tracks favor you more than others, and some tracks you have to adapt to when things aren’t working," Dungey said after the race. "I stalled it in the middle of the race, but overall I’m all right with tonight. We’ll get out of here still holding onto the lead, and I’ll learn from tonight and move on."
Roger Decoster says: "I think Ryan rode a little too cautious today, and once you become too cautious you get out of sync," DeCoster said. "It’s almost worse than being too aggressive, because you make more mistakes when you don’t ride your ideal race. Also, we didn’t hit the setting on the bike the way we should have. We would’ve been third most likely, but Ryan stalled the engine once and we ended up way back in fifth and gave up some points. We need to go back to work and come back in St. Louis. We’ll work it out this week and I think we can turn it around."
2010 AMA Supercross Class Results: Houston
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
3. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
4. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Kawasaki
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
6. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Suzuki
7. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
10. Josh Hill, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha Â
2010 AMA Supercross Points Standings | Houston
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 277
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 265
3. Josh Hill, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 217
4. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 203
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 201
6. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 179
7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 176
8. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 141
9. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Suzuki, 128
10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 123Â
Dungey is currently 12 points ahead of second place in season points. The next round of AMA Supercross action takes place at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 17.
