Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey has been put down by fans and media alike for failing to win a main event in 2011, since he's the defending champ. However, one thing he has been is consistent. With the exception of Anaheim 2, when he threw a chain, Dungey has only been off the podium twice, and those were a fourth-place finish in Indy and a fifth at round two in Phoenix. That's it. Every other race, he's been on the box. And then this past weekend in Toronto, he finally nailed down his first win of the season, and just like that, he's only eight points out of the championship lead as we hit the stretch run with five rounds left.

Motocross.com: So, do you feel like people were counting you out a little bit?
Ryan Dungey: You know, I don't think that's important. What's important is that we keep plugging away. And nights like tonight, it's not about what everybody else thinks and what everybody else says. It's not about the drama and this and that. It's about racing dirt bikes. And I think at the end of the day, we always try to keep our head down and keep pushing forward and be on top of the box. You know, that's the goal; to win races and win championships. But I think more importantly, to get this first win of the season felt really special. And getting off to a great start was really key tonight and putting down good laps. And thankfully we were able to come out right on top. And just got to give it up for the whole team and all the fans; everybody for sticking behind me, really.

What made the difference between being on the podium and finally actually winning?
I don't think anything was necessarily missing or anything. I mean, if anything it might have been a little bit of bike set-up in the beginning. Maybe I was chasing a set-up a little bit that, you know, wasn't the best. But I think overall we were able to find a good setup and just keep plugging forward. This year is really a lot tougher than last year, you know? Hands-down. There's a lot of tough competition. But at the same time it's a great opportunity to keep moving forward and it means that much more to accomplish your goals and to pull off a race win like we did tonight.
Ryan Dungey just found himself in the championship hunt after his first win of the season, and his timing couldn't be better. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

In Daytona, you were really moving forward, for example, but had that setback in the heat...
Yeah, and that's where it kind of comes down to as well; putting yourself in a good position to win, you know? And that really comes from getting a good start, putting in good laps and being right there from the very beginning. And I think Daytona, for example, obviously I had to go to the LCQ and then the gate position wasn't as great. But it's the bad days like that where you can really make a difference in your chances at a title, because we're all going to have them.

And you did make the most of that night...
That's what you try to do. I mean, don't get me wrong; those days are hard. You know, they're hard on you mentally, physically and so forth. But I guess to win in the end and to know myself that I never gave up is reward enough.

How do you handle it mentally to be so close but keep failing to win a race?
Well, the way I look at a championship is that it's not always going to be everything you wanted. Some days are going to be harder than others. Some days it's going to really play on you physically as well as mentally. But mentally it's huge to be ready for a season because sometimes, when things aren't going your way and you need to kind of pull yourself out of that little bit of funk you're in mentally, you've got to be strong and never give up. You have to remember that it's a 17-race series, which is not only hard on a body, but mentally; every single weekend, racing takes a toll. But I always believe there are tests in life. You know, sometimes days are harder, things aren't clicking, things aren't working, and you got to keep believing and keep having faith and keep plugging away, because in all reality no matter what position you're in, it's not over 'til it's over. And I always believe it's important whether it's a race, championship, whatever the case may be to never give up. There is still a lot of racing left.
Dungey's win puts him eight points out of the championship lead with five rounds left to run. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

There are five races left and you're eight points out, so how does that feel?
It's good, but at the same time there's a lot of racing left...

A hundred laps...
Yeah, and at the end of the day that's what's important. But at the same time you can't jump steps and you need to take it one day at a time. And that's what we're trying to do, you know? I think it's important that we keep our head in the game and keep things rolling. You know, it's special to pull nights like tonight off and to have my family, friends and team to do it with. And I know how hard those guys work, and myself as well. And I can guarantee that if I lose it's not going to be because we weren't ready. We prepare and do all we can. But I think it's important to just keep having faith, believing and taking it one day at a time.

Dean Wilson is a bad dude to come from as far back as he did to eighth.

James Stewart might be the baddest dude around to come from the crash he had, within a few seconds of being a lap down, and then climb all the way up to ninth place, never going a lap down to Ryan Villopoto.
James Stewart clears one of the crazy jumps he was the only one doing. The penalty for not making this would've been very, very bad. And this was after his big crash in the main event. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Andrew Short is riding that 350 like a 250, and it's working. Fourth? Nice. He has matched Mike Fisher's KTM finishes now...

The retro Fox gear was cool, but it did look a little out of place on Ken Roczen, considering he was riding a bright-orange KTM.
Ken Roczen's old-school gear looked cool, but the bike was a bit too "new school" to fit with the gear. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Chad Reed is scrappy, and he was gaining on Ryan Villopoto at the end of the main event.

The wrist injury that Justin Barcia has sure does take the spring out of his step after 5-8 laps of racing. Then again, wouldn't it do that to you, at minimum?
Justin Barcia talks to Fox's Chris "Beeker" Onstott about his write wrist after the main. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Blake Baggett now not only has all the pieces to the puzzle, but he knows it. Uh oh...

Trey Canard sure is having some horrible luck lately. In Daytona, he crashed early on with Ivan Tedesco, then as he was coming back through the field, Brett Metcalfe crashed in front of him and took Canard down with him. The only guy with worse luck in that incident was Metcalfe, who got hit by Trey.
Trey Canard is having some seriously tough luck lately. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Malcolm Stewart is fast. He challenged for the lead in his heat race against Blake Baggett, who ended up winning the main. The problem isn't Malcolm's speed, it just seems like he gets too excited and crashes. More racing will be good for the younger Stewart.

Ryan Dungey sure is having some crap luck. He blew a motor while winning his heat race over Ryan Villopoto, who ended up winning the main. He had to go through the LCQ and came from way, way back for third. His time is coming. It has to be. Unless the bad luck this year is simply payback for the good luck from last year...
Ryan Dungey (1) was on it in Daytona, but a mechanical cost him a real shot at the win. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Rookie Tomac Grabs Inaugural Supercross Lites Main Event Victory

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (February 19, 2011) - A dedicated crowd of 53,342 fans withstood the rain inside Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday night as the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, hosted its final race in Southern California this season. In his debut season piloting his own TwoTwo Motorsports team, Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., captured his sixth-career San Diego win in the Supercross class. GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac, of Cortez, Colo., captured his first career supercross victory in the Western Regional Supercross Lites class.

It was Reed who crossed the holeshot stripe first to kick off the 20-lap supercross main event with American Honda's Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., and Red Bull KTM's Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, in tow. Canard quickly made his move for the top spot and held it for the first five laps before falling and stalling his bike. Reed assumed the lead and held it for the remainder of the main event.

"This is incredible," said Reed. "I've put so much work into this team to make it the best it can be. To win with your name on your chest makes everything so much better. This one is emotional. I just followed Trey because he was showing me some lines. When he went down, it became just about putting together 20 clean laps."

Canard remounted in third, allowing San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., to take over second. However, on Lap 15, Stewart stalled his bike, falling to fourth. While running second, Canard suffered his second fall of the evening, allowing Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., to secure second with Stewart in third. They would complete the podium in that order.

Championship leader Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., crashed on the opening lap, but fought through the field to secure a seventh place effort aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki. He now holds a three-point advantage over Stewart in the points.

"I just stalled it," said Stewart. "I'm trying my best. I don't want to just throw it away like that, but I'm glad to get on the podium. I had nothing for Chad tonight, he was riding great, but I made up a lot of points."

As the gates dropped on the Supercross Lites class main event, Tomac grabbed the holeshot and never looked back, leading wire-to-wire with a convincing win.

"The first five laps I just put my head down and pulled away. It was kind of crazy," said Tomac, who won by over 10 seconds. "The track was really tricky and slippery. I got a little nervous out (front), but overall it was really good. I've learned a lot this season and I've gotten a lot better in recent weeks."

Behind him, a stellar battle ensued for the remaining podium positions among the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki trio of Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., Tyla Rattray, of Wildomar, Calif., and Broc Tickle, of Holly, Mich., as well as GEICO Honda's Jimmy Decotis, of Peabody, Mass., and Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda's Cole Seely, of Corona, Calif. As the group of five riders traded positions, it was Rattray and Tickle who prevailed to round out the top three.

Hansen, the class points leader, fell to sixth, still on the mend from a hand injury suffered at the previous round. His advantage over teammate Tickle dwindled to three points as the Western Regional Supercross Lites class Championship takes a midseason break until April 16 in Seattle.

Supercross Class Results: San Diego

• 1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
• 2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
• 3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
• 4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
• 5. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
• 6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
• 7. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
• 8. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
• 9. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
• 10. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha

Supercross Class Season Standings

• 1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki - 146
• 2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha - 143
• 3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda - 130
• 4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda - 130
• 5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki - 123
• 6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM - 95
• 7. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki - 93
• 8. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha - 78
• 9. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha - 76
• 10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki - 66

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: San Diego

• 1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
• 2. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
• 3. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki
• 4. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda
• 5. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
• 6. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
• 7. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM
• 8. Ben Evans, Garden City, Idaho, Kawasaki
• 9. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
• 10. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

• 1. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki - 128
• 2. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki - 125
• 3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda - 116
• 4. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki - 96
• 5. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda - 88
• 6. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM - 83
• 7. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki - 80
• 8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha - 71
• 9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki - 69
• 10. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda - 67

The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season continues next weekend at Atlanta's Georgia Dome for the eighth race of the season.

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow Monster Energy Supercross on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://www.facebook.com/supercrosslive and http://twitter.com/supercrosslive.

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Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world's largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

One race ago, defending champ Ryan Dungey of the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team finished last and scored only on point because of a derailed chain - which Trey Canard is taking responsibility for. Canard says a few turns before the derailed chain, he hit Dungey's bike in the left rear.
Ryan Dungey (1) and Trey Canard (41) get off the gate in their heat race. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Still, Dungey seemed to be out of the title, 38 points behind points leader James Stewart. One race later, he's only 22 points behind Stewart, and 31 behind new points leader Ryan Villopoto.

So, while he still has a long way to go, this sequence of events should be enough for anyone to realize that absolutely nobody in the top five in points is "out of" this championship. Anything can and will happen. Just like it did in Houston, and at Anaheim 2 before that.

That being said, Dungey was within a hair of being three points closer to Stewart and Villopoto, as on the last lap, he got to the inside of Canard heading up to the checkered flag, and Canard smartly squeezed Dungey off to take his first-ever 450cc SX win.

Canard Is A Streaker

The danger now is that Canard has put together one race (with a lot of help, admittedly), after his two worst finishes of the season. He was very upset during the week, just like he was last year during the AMA Nationals after the Colorado National. Remember what happened next?

He won RedBud - his first ever - and then a handful more on his way to the title.

And remember last year when Canard was just messing around in the 450cc class on Andrew Short's factory Honda? One podium, and then he started streaking - to five in a row before moving back down to the Lites class. This is a guy who, when he gets hot, is hard to stop. Of course, he wasn't racing against Stewart, Reed, Villopoto and Dungey outdoors last year (although he was racing against the latter two indoors). It's not quite the same, but they'd better watch out regardless. Trey Canard is no joke once he starts a snowball rolling.

Patience Is Key

Another thing that we should pay attention to is that James Stewart was not the normal, patient Stewart at Houston that he has been most of the rest of this year. I don't think it's because he was afraid of losing points. I think what happened is he had such a dominant race at Anaheim 2 last weekend that he simply believed he was "on" and could do just about anything he wanted. And it bit him early in the main when he jumped into Jason Thomas in the track's main rhythm section. The result was a damaged front brake that was causing his front wheel to stop spinning in the air, and for JT Money, it was the end of his night. JT has a torn ACL, so he'll be out a while.
James Stewart had a lapse of judgment in the main event. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

A lot of this carnage could've been avoided if the track were more rider-friendly, or racing-friendly. The first turn was very reminiscent of the one in Dallas last year that claimed well over half of the Lites main-event field, and it claimed a big chunk of both fields at the start of both mains this weekend. And the dirt was very, very dry and very, very slick.

Windham's Woes

You know dirt is slick when the king of throttle control - Kevin Windham - wads it up because he spun too much in a rhythm section. And that's what happened with K-Dub. When I saw him after the race, he looked beat up, and he was a bit high on pain meds, so he was loopy. But he came up short on a jump from the top of one table to the next, and when he landed, he got hard on the gas to still get over the next jump after the table, and just spun. The bike went sideways, he was tossed off, and the bike drilled him.

This was Kevin Windham's race to win, and he would've 99 out of 100 other times. He was checked out, and even though Canard was eating into his lead, I don't think he would've caught K-Dub. Not on this night. It was the halfway point when he went down and Canard wasn't making up enough time. And Windham normally rules on surfaces like that, once he has a lead. For Windham, this was the one that got away, but you still have to be impressed by him. It's the closest race to his house, and he was flat-out going to win it until it all went wrong.

He has nothing broken, and he should be back for San Diego, which could end up being a mud race. And Windham easily could take back the one that got away next weekend, if he's healthy enough to take part.

KTMs Are Getting There

It could be that the tighter tracks helped the KTM 350s to be competitive, as all three were in the top 10. However, contrary to reports, the fifth place by Andrew Short was not KTM's best-ever finish in the class. I don't know what is KTM's best finish, but I do know that none other than Mike Fisher - current Monster Energy Kawasaki team manager - finished fourth place two or more times in 1991 on a white-and-teal KTM 250.
Andrew Short (29) leads Trey Canard (41) in their heat race. Short scored a best-ever fifth-place for the KTM 350 SX/F. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Riding Dirty

Dean Wilson got arm-pump in the main event, and I don't know if he would admit it, but I think he got arm-pump because he was battling with Justin Barcia. And I'm not saying he got arm-pump because he was battling with someone, and that person happened to be Justin Barcia. To be clear, I'm saying I think he got arm-pump because he was battling specifically with Justin Barcia, who looks like he should be chasing ghosts with his dog, Scooby.
Justin Barcia (right) and Dean Wilson (left) talk things over after the main event. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

The two raced a lot as amateurs, and Barcia is known to clean people out at times. This may be a time when Barcia's reputation is starting to serve him well, rather than hurt him. Last year, racers were taking shots at him all the time because of his earned reputation for ramming guys who were in his way. But I always figured that if he weathered the storm, so to speak, the reputation could work in his favor, like it used to work for Bob Hannah, Ricky Johnson, and even Ricky Carmichael.

I think it's starting to.

But I would be remiss not to point out that Wilson hasn't been riding that long since returning to action from his separated shoulder, so that is most definitely a factor as well.

Baggett's Blues

I talked to Blake Baggett after the race, and he was flat-out pissed off that he got third. Don't you love that? He said, "I didn't work my butt off all off-season to come out here and get third." He was disgusted with himself. Watch out for this guy. He was fast all day, but starts and falls cost him. Knock those out, and he's going to be gnarly.
Blake Baggett has a winning attitude. But he benefited big-time by a Ryan Sipes takeout move on Blake Wharton late in the main. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Sipes' Slam

Baggett did benefit from a serious bonehead move by Ryan Sipes, though. Sipes was fourth, pressuring Blake Wharton for third with two laps to go. Wharton does ride a pretty wide bike sometimes, but Sipes picked the absolute worst part of the track to try and make a pass, diving to the inside of Wharton before the track's most difficult triple, where there was no traction, and taking them both off the track and down. There was simply no way Sipes was going to complete the pass right there, but he went for it anyway. In the end, Sipes ended up fourth anyway, so he gained nothing, while Wharton ended up sixth. And he also gifted four points to Baggett, who absolutely will be a factor in this championship. If Sipes wants a shot at the title, he did damage to it at round one.

Look inside this piece of mechanical art

Photos and text: Scott Hoffman

After taking championships in both the 2010 Supercross and 450 Outdoor Championships, Suzuki has been sitting on cloud nine ever since. Even with Roger DeCoster leaving Suzuki for KTM, the team did not fret - they already had the guns to shoot their way into the 2011 season. With a solid platform to work from, the 2011 Factory Suzuki race bikes look very similar to last year's mount. With famed wrench Mike Gosselaar once again spinning the wrenches for Mr. Dungey, the mix of man, machine and mechanic was already a match. Like one would expect from a Factory bike, Dungey's 450 is a one big hunk of eye candy - just looking at the titanium, magnesium and array of Works Suzuki components and Works Showa suspension on the bike makes a moto fanatic start to drool. Check out these detail photos of his mount while I swab up the drool puddle under my keyboard.
No, money can't buy this bike - well I bet enough money could if you asked the right person. It is probably easier to count the stock production components over the works and aftermarket parts, there are very few of them. Yes there are parts on this bike that are available to the public. chain, sprocket, tires and bar, to name a few.

Rumor is Dungey prefers the sound of the bike with the single outlet exhaust compared to the newfangled Yosh RX4d that Brett Metcalfe has been seen running on his steed.

Lots of sick parts, titanium axles, billet hubs and little detail parts like the jam nut spacers on the axle adjusters. Suzuki uses castle nuts just to be safe - and yes they do run cotter pins when it goes to the line.

Nearly every factory bike sports a Hinson clutch cover and runs Hinson clutch components. This factory bikes run special Works engine covers, Ti pegs, Ti hardware and possibly a magnesium water pump cover.

Being the champ has its perks, including these sweet number 1 stickers.

Billet moto mounts add that extra bit of strength and the team probably spent a lot of testing time figuring out the best material, thickness and shape to improve or adjust chassis flex.

I bet all of you wish you had this adjuster on your mount. Big fingers make it easy to make clutch adjustments in mid air during the race.

These are the components that separate the men from the boys. Yoshimura has been a big part of the engine development and trick parts like the clutch cable holder and cam chain adjuster add to the lethal ability of this machine. Each week the engine is taken down, inspected and/or rebuilt.

Works clamps hold the Works Showa suspension. For added rigidity, Suzuki runs a pinch bolt to clamp the upper clamp to the steering stem. Stock production bikes do not have this feature.

The team goes that extra mile by welding the outlet tubes on the radiators for increased strength.

Although performance has nothing to do with this part, this is one of the most trick parts on the bike in my opinion. The transponder is one of the most important components on the motorcycle simply because it officially tells the AMA how well you qualified and what place you finished in the race so of course you must use titanium to make a mount to hold it.