DUNGEY FIGHTS BACK TO 8TH AT PHOENIX SUPERCROSS

Ryan Dungey got off to a poor start in the first 450 SX heat and came around the first corner in 8th position. Shortly into the first lap, another rider crashed and fell into Dungey pushing him off of the track right at the peak of a triple jump. After recovering from the hard crash, Dungey reentered the race in last position. He turned down fast laps but was unable to move up to qualifying position and went back to the pits to prepare for the LCQ.

Dungey found himself in a mid-pack position off the start of the LCQ. By the end of the first lap he had moved into 3rd place and was sitting in 2nd by the halfway point. He remained in 2nd through the end of the race to take the final transfer spot to the main event.

Dungey’s qualifying position gave him final gate pick for the main event which put him in the farthest outside gate for the start of the race. When the gate dropped, Dungey got pushed outside and was sent off the track. He came around the first lap of the race in 18th place and quickly tried to recover from his poor start and charge through the pack.

By the halfway point, Dungey had moved into 11th position. Two laps later he had climbed into the top ten. He spent the remaining laps reeling in Kevin Windham and Andrew Short and was able to make the pass on both riders to move up to 8th place at the end of the twenty lap race. Although disappointed in his night, Dungey is more motivated to return to the third round and put his KTM 450 SX-F up front.

Red Bull KTM Factory Team Manager, Roger DeCoster, stated, “Unfortunately, Ryan didn’t have great starts tonight which affected his overall results. He came from the rear of the field to finish a solid 8th place and we are grateful to salvage those points. Overall, the bike was running great tonight and once we perfect the starts we should be in the running for a win.”

Next Round: Anaheim II – January 19, 2013

Results 450 SX Class Phoenix
1. Justin Barcia (USA), Honda, 17:29:219 min (20 laps)
2. Ryan Villopoto (USA), Kawasaki, +4.065 sec
3. Davi Millsaps (USA), Suzuki, +12.327
4. Chad Reed (USA), Honda, +13.934
5. Trey Canard (USA), Honda, +17.521
6. Jake Weimer (USA), Kawasaki, +27.278
7. James Stewart (USA), Suzuki, +31.616
8. Ryan Dungey (USA), KTM, +33.357

Standings 450 SX Class after 2 of 17 rounds
1. Millsaps, 45 points
2. Barcia, 39
3. Canard, 38
4. Reed, 36
5. Dungey, 33

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