Dungey Takes 7th victory at Southwick
OutdoorHub 08.12.12
Red Bull/KTM Factory rider Ryan Dungey claimed his seventh win of the season at the ninth round of the US MX Nationals at Southwick, MA on Saturday while Ken Roczen of Germany and French rider Marvin Musquin finished 3-4 in the 250 cc class in this classic event.
KTM’s factory riders were in bristling form at Southwick after the summer break to indicate that the team intends to make its mark on the remainder of the events.
Dungey had a decent start in his first moto and was third at the first corner. He slipped past Phil Nicoletti into second in lap two and began to reel in Mike Alessi in the lead. At the half way mark Dungey assumed control of the race, shot into the lead and extended it to an impressive 16 seconds by the end of the race. Dungey was in a better position when the gate dropped for the second race putting his KTM 450 SX-F into the lead position within the first few turns.
He quickly pulled out to a seven second lead on the rest of the field. It looked like it was going to he an open and shut case for the Red Bull/KTM rider until he cross-rutted near the halfway point and crashed. In the process his gas cap fell off and he lost a large amount of fuel. Dungey quickly recovered, slipped into second place and after two laps had passed Alessi for the lead.
The team then decided to pull him in for a quick for a quick fuel stop. With the help of some of the KTM off-road mechanics that were there to assist with Mike Brown and Kurt Caselli they made a lightning quick stop and he was back on the track only losing one position to Tyla Rattray.
With four laps remaining, Dungey tried to close the gap on Rattray to retake the lead. He couldn’t make the pass, but he was able to hold on to second to secure his seventh overall victory of the season. With three rounds remaining, Dungey now holds an 85-point lead in the championship point standings.
