Ryan Dungey takes 450 AMA title

Following on from outstanding success last season, where Ryan Dungey brought home KTM's first and prestigious title in the higher capacity Supercross class, followed by the AMA Outdoors 450 Motocross Championship, the American racer from Minnesota has delivered week in, week out in 2016. His emphatic championship victory, won on KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition machinery, was taken with a fourth place finish, following the KTM-ace's 31 consecutive podium streak. 

 

After a determined heat race win, Dungey gated into the top five in the main event, where he immediately engaged in a battle with the front-runners. The 26-year-old pushed hard throughout for a podium position, although the KTM racer played it safe toward the end en route to his third 450SX Championship. 

 

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team is looking forward to racing at the final Supercross round in Las Vegas, California next weekend. Dungey's class rookie teammate Marvin Musquin, who has also taken five podiums this season, is currently sixth in the series. 

 

Ryan Dungey: "Obviously 4th place isn't the goal but the championship is and it's nice to have a little cushion and wrap it up a round early. The (31 consecutive) podium streak was cool and I was definitely going after Cole Seely there just to try to get on the podium, but I gave it my best and did what I could, although I wasn't going to do anything stupid either. It's been a fight, mentally battling week in and week out, with lots of riders challenging us all season. I feel like I was consistent across the board the whole season and fourth place – if that's our worst finish all season up to Round 16 – I don't think it's bad.” 

 

Pit Beirer (KTM Motorsport Director): "We are just extremely happy to have another championship. This was a dream of ours for so many years and last year it happened for the first time but as we know it's a difficult sport so to win a championship is one thing but to keep the level is another one. The team here in the U.S., and Ryan Dungey, they didn't just keep the level; they put it on another level again! It was amazing to watch Ryan this year, how strong he was week in and week out, and we just want to thank the team and Ryan for what they did.” 

 

Roger De Coster (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager): "I'm just super happy to be part of this and be able to help Ryan win this championship for KTM. I have to thank everyone in Austria that has helped us, including the WP side, Pit Beirer and Mr. Pierer especially, because he is the one who commits the budget and the money to allow us to do this and allow us to do what we love to do, which is race and win races. Without him this would be impossible. I feel very fortunate because I feel that our crew here in the U.S. is the best crew in the paddock. I'm certain we can do this again because I'm not happy with stopping here, we have to do it again and again and I think with the commitment of the crew in Austria and KTM we can do it again.”