Name/Title
Dungey, RyanEntry/Object ID
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Motocross & SupercrossDescription
Possessing one of the most noteworthy 10-year runs in AMA Supercross/motocross racing, Ryan Dungey’s induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame comes as little surprise to motorcycle racing enthusiasts.
From 2007-17, Dungey claimed four AMA Supercross 450SX titles and a trio of AMA Pro Motocross championships in the 450 class, elevating himself to the upper echelon of all-time motorcycle racers.
“It was kind of a surreal moment, honestly, because after racing, you didn't really think about all that stuff,” Dungey said about reaching the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. “Then, all of a sudden, you kind of go back to when you're younger, and you're thinking, 'Oh, man, if I could just win a race or I could win a championship, that would be cool.' But then years later, to be along with some of the greatest guys to ever do it, it was a huge honor.”
Born Dec. 4, 1989, in Belle Plaine, Minn., Dungey first hopped aboard two wheels when he was 5 years old, sharing his first bike — a Yamaha PW50 — with his older brother, Jade. For Dungey, it didn’t take long for him to find his calling as a racer, especially thanks to a push from his father, Troy, who was a mainstay on the racetrack prior to the birth of his children.
“My dad actually raced quite a bit growing up before us kids,” said Dungey, “and so once we were born and got old enough, he got us a bike and then we started to go to the local races. And then one thing led to the next, and you saw AMA Supercross on TV, and it was like, ‘that's what I want to do for a living.’”
Dungey’s introduction to AMA Supercross came well before he made any noise as an amateur, with him taking part in KTM’s junior racing program, which opened opportunities for children to get the full factory rider experience at an AMA Supercross event. For Dungey, the experience set the tone for his career pursuits.
“Being at that race and feeling like a factory rider for a day as part of KTM’s Junior Racing program was the experience of a lifetime,” Dungey told American Motorcyclist in November 2022, “and a chance to forge a connection with KTM. Racing on an actual AMA Supercross track lit a spark in me as a kid and resulted in a love for racing that fueled my 11-year career.”
Despite making his amateur debut in 2002, it took some time for Dungey to find his footing within the motocross scene. Dungey claimed his lone AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship title in 2005, emerging victorious in the 125cc Modified (12-15) class at Loretta Lynn’s ranch.
Just one year removed from his championship outing at Loretta Lynn’s, Dungey received a surprise offer from Suzuki in 2006, elevating him into the professional ranks for the season’s final four outdoor races. Despite struggling to find his footing during the brief introduction to the professional racing scene, those four races were immensely important to Dungey’s acclimation to the highest level of racing.
“It was huge because I knew the pace, I knew the intensity, and I knew what it was going to take,” Dungey said. “I was fortunate to be around guys like [AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers] Ricky Carmichael and Roger De Coster, as well as Ivan Tedesco. These guys were hugely helpful. Just seeing that championship mentality, how to act, how to carry yourself, how to approach the testing, all these things.
“Those four races, had I not done that? I don't know if my career would have gone the way it did,” he continued, “especially early on just because I was able to get thrown into the deep end, so to speak.”
Following his brief endeavor in 2006, Dungey began to make some noise as a young professional, earning AMA Supercross/Motocross Rookie of the Year honors in 2007 — his first full season as a pro — behind four podium appearances.
Dungey broke out in earnest in 2008 and 2009, collecting runner-up finishes in both the MX Lites and SX Lites West class in 2008 before capturing the SX Lites West and AMA 250 Pro Motocross title a year later.
“Going into 2009, Suzuki was like, 'Alright, this is your last chance, you have to win this year,’” Dungey said. “I just felt like an overall ready mature rider and going into 2009, It was like, 'Alright, this is your year, you have to do it.' And so it was a good year.”
In 2010, Dungey elevated to the upper echelon of the racing scene, riding his way to the AMA 450 Supercross and AMA 450 Pro Motocross titles.
Riding on the momentum from his dominant 2010 campaign, Dungey — who joined KTM ahead of the 2011 season — went on to produce additional motocross titles in 2012 and 2015 while winning three-straight AMA Supercross Championships from 2015-17. During the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Dungey produced a record-setting 31 consecutive podium finishes in the 450SX Class.
Dungey retired from professional racing in 2017, but he wasn’t quite done there. He made a brief return to the sport in 2022, racing on the AMA Pro Motocross Circuit for KTM during the season. Despite rumors that he was mulling another season of competition in 2023, Dungey said the plan was always for him to race just the one outdoor season with KTM.
“I had kind of always wanted to go back and do it one more time. For what reason? I don't know, other than I just missed it,” Dungey said. “The guys, the intensity and everything improved, not to my surprise, but it was nice to do it once again, seeing the fans and checking out all the stops. I really enjoyed it.”
At the conclusion of his professional career, Dungey was one of only seven riders to have more than 30 wins in the 450SX class. On top of that, Dungey added 39 career wins in AMA Pro Motocross.
Dungey saw similar success on the international circuit, leading Team USA to three consecutive Motocross of Nations titles in 2009-11. Not only did Dungey succeed on the track during the international competition, but he also gained valuable life experiences from those journeys beyond the confines of the U.S.
“Honestly, every single year we went, whether we won or lost, I had a great time,” Dungey said. “I hated losing for sure, but the experience of going to a different country and racing for your country, with your teammates, and just kind of that camaraderie that you had, and trying to get the job done so you could bring the trophy back to America. It was fun.”
Off the track, Dungey also earned back-to-back ESPY Awards for Best Athlete in Men’s Action Sports in 2015 and 2016.
Outside of the world of competition, Dungey has developed the Ryan Dungey Foundation, which is dedicated to fighting childhood cancer and helping youth lead healthy lifestyles.
Dungey was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2023.Relationships
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Dungey, Ryan