Story Written by:  Steve Cox

Publication:  http://www.racerxonline.com

Original Publication 3/4/2010 by Racer X

As Franklin Delano Roosevelt says in the movie “Into the Storm,” “To believe is to be strong. Doubt cramps energy. Belief is power.” Nowhere is that more true than in motocross and supercross racing. A rider who believes in himself will always beat a rider who doesn’t. And perhaps that’s why Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey is so strong today, and now holds a 20-point lead going into the halfway point in the championship. We talked to him yesterday to get his take on the year so far.

Racer X: This weekend marks the official halfway point of the championship, and you had a lot of pressure in the last couple of weeks with guys breathing down your neck, and I wouldn’t say the pressure’s off now, but it’s not like it was. How is it to go into two rounds in a row with a guy tied with you in points, and then head out of those two rounds with 20 points in hand?
Ryan Dungey: I mean, with Indy and Atlanta, going into those two races, I was tied with two different people, but I think the beginning of the year was solid, and it was new for me. After the third round, though, there was a lot of stuff we were trying to make better [with the bike] and I really felt like we had some good stuff, but we made some bad decisions. At the end of the day, though, we learned a lot along the way, and I really feel like what we all learned up to this point has been very valuable. I did have a couple tough races in there, but I was looking for a way to rebound and get back, and the second at Indy was great for that, and the win in Atlanta was even better. There are still a lot of races left to go, though, and I really feel solid. I feel like everybody on the team has kept it fun, and they’re doing a great job, so I’m just trying to keep it moving in the right direction.

When you were in the middle of a slump like you were, and your rival Ryan Villopoto was on fire like he was, what were you thinking?
There were a couple rounds there where I gave up a lot of points, and it happens. It’s just one of those things. You get a couple finishes outside the top five, and all of a sudden they’re right there in points. It really happened fast. But at the same time, I knew what I had to do, and I knew I had to keep focusing on my own deal. Villopoto’s been winning some races, and he was starting a little streak there. They’re good riders, and they’re all there for the same reason, which is to win, but at the end of the day, I knew I had to put in my laps and race my race. I’ve been trying to have fun, too. It’s important to enjoy it along the way, and I go to each race not just to get the job done, but to enjoy it. On the weekends, though, I know everything I did during the week to prepare, so I know I did all that I can do, so that’s good peace of mind. All I can do is the best I can do, and I wasn’t going to freak out or anything like that. It’s just another race.

Throughout the pits, though, people talk about how you aren’t good under pressure, because of what happened between you and Jason Lawrence in 2008. But last year you won both of your titles, and then stepped up huge at the MXdN. However, people are still saying it. Are you even aware of that?
To be honest, if they do, I really don’t care! It’s just one of those things. I don’t really care what anybody has to say about me with that stuff. Yeah, I’m going to have tough days, and I’m going to have tough weeks. I’ve learned a lot over the years, and I’ve lost a championship by one point, and it hurts like hell. I never want to feel that again. I don’t have control over everything, but the little bit that I can control, I do that. I work hard, and I do everything that I can. Will I lose by such a slim margin again in the future? I don’t know. I may, or I may not, but I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that I’m as prepared as I can be. And losing that championship, it made me a better person. I really believe that. Maybe at the time I wasn’t ready. Maybe at the time I needed to get myself figured out, and maybe there were some things in my life that weren’t in order, and I had to learn what those things were. And if that’s what it took for me to learn that stuff, then that’s what it took, but at the end of the day, I can’t worry about what everyone else thinks. I just have to go off of my experience and knowledge that I’ve gained over the years, and put it to work.

Speaking of experience, with that final moto at the Motocross des Nations last year in Italy, you had the weight of the entire country on your shoulders, and you pulled through, winning the moto outright to guarantee a Team USA victory. Is that one of the experiences that really taught you how to handle pressure?
The pressure that’s on your shoulders on a day like that... I mean, through the championships last year, I felt pressure, but the pressure that day was crazy. I’ve never felt like that much was weighing on me before, so it was tough, but at the same time, I felt like I had the ability to calm myself down and keep myself collected, and that was very important. Also, I was on the 450, and it was my first race, and I was just thinking that whatever happens is what happens, so I needed to just take it like another race, and that’s what I tried to do. I tried to have an open mind. So maybe something did click that day, but at the time I didn’t notice it. But I hope I have many more opportunities to be in that position, because that means you’re in the right spot and at the right time.

The real point I’m making, though, is to have Villopoto be on the streak he was on, and have you be in the slump you were in, you had to get a start in Atlanta. You had to. And you did. And you led every lap and won. That’s high-pressure stuff, and you performed.
It’s not like it’s easy at all. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s a piece of cake, because it’s not by any means, but I just try to enjoy it and hope for the best, and sometimes it goes your way, and sometimes it doesn’t. But you can’t let the stuff that doesn’t go your way knock you down. Those weeks when it’s not going your way, it’s tough, but I’m not going to ask why, I’m just going to go off of what I know and try to do it better next time.

Recently, at Indy, you got in trouble because of Lawrence getting up in your deal again, and I know you guys have a history, so what’s the story with that? It seems like he can almost play you like a fiddle...
I don’t know. I just know that I did the wrong thing when I tried to take things into my own hands out there, and I got a little frustrated. It’s just a bummer having to deal with something like that, but at the same time, I’m out there to win – I’m out there to do the job right – and when you’ve got somebody who’s out there to just... who knows what he’s out there for. It’s just tough. But hey, he’s out there to make a living, and so am I, so I’m going to try and enjoy it. I just got fed up with it and made the wrong decision. It’s just one of those deals. I’m over the whole situation, and I regret doing what I did. I’ve got to be a better person than that.

I think a lot of people can identify with having someone around whom you don’t like and who causes you trouble every time he’s around, and that can be annoying – especially when you’re trying to be serious and get a job done.
Yeah, that’s exactly it. It didn’t even have anything to do with the past or anything, it was just one of those things where I was out there trying to do my best, and I kept running into the same situation in that practice session, and I got a little fired up about it. That’s all.

Coming into the season, how was it to handle the fact that you were essentially replacing Chad Reed on your team as the 450cc star? Those are big shoes to fill.
Looking back at it, there was Ricky Carmichael, who won a bunch of championships for the team, and then Chad brought home a championship last year, and a lot of wins, so I know what standard I’m being held to. And having Chad on the team last year, it was awesome. He was really knowledgeable and he helped me out a lot. He’s a good dude, and he’s nice. I don’t really know how his contract thing worked, but a lot of companies got budget-cuts this year, and there were a lot of rides that withered away, but I know I wanted to stay with Suzuki because I’ve been here my whole professional career, and I love riding for them. I think Chad had an option to stay, too, but I don’t think it was for what he really wanted, and you’ve got to do what’s best for you. I thought staying at Suzuki was best for me given the circumstances, and he didn’t, but he’s a great guy. Even to this day, the guys on the team can’t say enough good things about how much fun last year was with him on the team. I have big shoes to fill, but I’m just trying to give it my all. That’s all I can do.

People are talking about how different it would be with James Stewart and Chad Reed out there right now, and in a lot of ways I think they’re right, but they were at the first race, and you still nearly won that one, so what do people expect from you?
Well, the team – guys like Roger, Ian, Mike, Mark, Ray, and everybody – they’re such cool people to be around, and they all bring a good vibe to the team that makes what we do enjoyable. They give it 100 percent, and to see that, I’m going to give it my all, too. It’s a great combination and a good place to be.

But with James and Chad, does your outlook change when they come back to racing? Are you still going to be out to win every time, like they are?
There’s no reason to change the plan. James and Chad have a lot of speed, and they know how to win championships. They’re tough competitors. They’ve been in the 450 class for how many years now? But still, coming into the season, that was my goal, to be up there running with those guys. I want to win. I don’t want to be the guy settling for third or fourth or fifth. I want to be up there right in the number-one spot. They make for some tough competitors, but when they do come back, it’s going to be interesting because I think the bar might have even been raised a little bit while they’ve been gone. Once they left, all of a sudden I was like, “Where did all these guys get their speed?!” It was pretty amazing because I underestimated a lot of these guys, too.

Funny how that happens when some of the field was defeated before they lined up, but then you remove the guys who had them beat already, and then they’re all going for it again.
Yeah, mentally, our sport’s tough. You really have to be there mentally, for sure.

Have you taken a moment to reflect yet on the fact that this is your fourth year as a pro now and you’re leading the biggest championship in the world?
(Laughs) Yeah, it’s easy to sit here and think about it, but the reality is that there are still a lot more races to be racing, and you don’t want to think about it too much, because you have other things to think about. But it’s everything that I’ve wanted in racing. Did I expect it this fast? Maybe not. But at the same time, I was going to try and be ready for anything that came my way and believe in it. That’s important.

I did an interview with Kevin Windham recently where he said that perhaps the biggest difference between he and Ricky Carmichael wasn’t work ethic – they both work hard – and it wasn’t talent – they’re both very talented – but maybe it was just that Ricky believed in himself all the time, and Kevin didn’t.
Believing in yourself is most of it. I think some guys can work twice as hard as the guys above them, but it really does just come down to whether you believe it or not. If you have doubts, then it might not ever happen. You’ve got to have faith in yourself.

From here on out, what’s your plan? There are a lot of hurdles between now and the end of the main event in Las Vegas...
There are a lot of races left, so I can’t kid myself, but I’ll just try to handle everything that comes my way as best as I can. I think there are going to be times that are tough, and times when I’m on top, so I just have to not let things get in the way, and I’ve got to be real smart. I want to win as many races as I can from here on out and let the rest take care of itself, hopefully.