AMA Motocross
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey ended his amazing season on a high note, winning both motos and the overall at the final race of the 2010 AMA Pro Motocross series at Pala Raceway in Southern California.
Dungey won 10 overalls this year, nine in a row, with an impressive 19 moto wins. That along with his 2010 AMA Supercross Championship in May makes Ryan the most successful rookie ever to race. His 2010 Suzuki fuel-injected RM-Z450 took him all the way to the championship in both series.
Ryan Dungey says: “My team, this group of people, have taught me well. I’m fortunate to work with so many great people, and now that the season is over we’ll enjoy the championship and then put our heads down and be tough in preparing for Supercross in January.”
Dungey started the day with a first-moto victory in which he took over the lead by the third lap and then steadily put time between him and the rest of the field. By the time Dungey crossed the finish line on his championship-winning Suzuki fuel-injected RM-Z450, he was 28 seconds ahead of second place.
With that convincing win, Dungey was prepared to take on Moto 2 and finish off his rookie 450 season in style.
When the gate dropped on the second moto, Dungey didn’t get as smooth a start as he would’ve liked. Dungey came out of the first turn in eighth place, and though the 2010 AMA Pro Motocross title was already his, the same drive that led him to be a double champion this year kept him from coasting through the race.
Dungey methodically picked off riders ahead of him and by the midway point of the moto he took over the lead. Dungey kept himself out front with the power and smooth-handling suspension on his RM-Z450, which really helped on the tough and rutted track.
Dungey easily won the race and took the overall, his tenth of the season and also a new record for wins by a rookie in the 450 class.
Ryan Dungey says: “I’m happy I went 1-1 on the day, and I enjoyed the Pala track. It was tough out there and it took a lot of physical and mental fitness. I prepare for tracks like this, so having a rough race shows the hard work we all put in during the week.”
Ryan Dungey and his Suzuki RM-Z450 made history this year by winning the AMA Supercross championship, making him only the second rookie ever to do so and also the youngest.
Dungey then followed that up with the 2010 AMA Pro Motocross title, which he wrapped up at Round 10 of the 12-race series. With his 10 overall wins and 19 moto victories, Ryan Dungey will go in the record books as the most successful rookie in the sport. He has now earned four titles between the 2009 and 2010 title, and he’s been named captain of Team USA for the Motocross of Nations that takes place in Colorado at the end of September.
Ryan Dungey Quick Stats after Pala:
- Ryan Dungey won both motos at Pala, making his tally 19 total moto wins out of 24.
- Dungey
dominated the first moto with a 28-second lead as he crossed the finish
line, and in the second moto came from an eighth-place start to take
the lead and the win. - Dungey won 10 overalls in 2010, making him the most successful rookie ever in the AMA Pro Motocross class.
