Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey had an amazing year in 2010, resulting in a 2011 racing season that sees him running the number-one plate for the entire year. Now entering his second title defense of the season, he started out with a bang, winning the opening moto, and then leading moto two, only to give way to Chad Reed and finish second in the moto, and overall. Still, he's tied for the points lead heading into Texas, where he was absolutely dominant last year in the heat. Here's what he had to say after the race at Hangtown.

Motocross.com: Having experienced the pressure of defending a title once already, what was it like coming into your second title defense of the year?
Ryan Dungey: Well, I think in a way it is different. You are carrying the number-one plate but at the same time there's a job at hand to do and that's to go out there to win races; and overall, the big goal is the championship. But I think it's important that we execute our game plan, just like we did last year. What's done is done and what we have accomplished I'm very thankful for, but at the same time I feel like it's important to progress, move forward, and win races. You know, you're only as good as your last race and a lot of people tell you that. It's a new season, a new year, and I'm excited. The competition is tough. It's going to be a challenging year but I'm looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity. But I think overall I'm just trying to really focus on our deal and see where we can keep making improvements, because that's key.

I think people perceive you as a supercross specialist because of how many races you won in the Lites class while getting beaten outdoors for the first couple years...
I'd like to think I'd be both [supercross and outdoor specialist]...

Right, of course.
I definitely grew up riding Outdoors; everybody did. And you don't ride Supercross until you're pro...

Right. That's what's always funny about that. But my point is that your critics wanted to write you off before the season started in SX, and now they're doing the same outdoors, but you went out and won the opening moto anyway. Do your critics motivate you?
I think at the end of the day I'm not really worried about the critics. People are always going to have an opinion. People are always going to say stuff. And I'm not going to lower myself to that level to think that. I mean, I go out there every race and the goal is to win the race, whether everyone is there or not. You've got to be there all year long, and being healthy is definitely key. You've got to be smart. So, I'm really thankful for that.

Yeah, health is key, and it seems some people forget that the racer has an amount of control over whether or not he stays healthy...
Absolutely. Some years are going to be tougher than others. Some championships are going to be harder than others. It's just the way racing is; sometimes there's one guy, sometimes there's five guys. You know, it all plays a factor. But I just try to prepare the best that I can so that when I show up for any given season I know I did everything I could whether they were there or not. It's going to be what it's going to be and it's up to me to execute my game plan and go out there and get the job done. Does it make it harder when there are more guys there? Yeah, absolutely, but that's what racing is about. It's a challenge in many different areas whether it's the track, the other riders putting you under pressure behind you, or so many different variables that play a factor to winning a championship. And it's a long season. It's 24 motos and I'm excited for the challenge. So, I think today was a great start to the season. Obviously, second overall, not too bad; 1-2 on the day. And I think from this point forward we can just keep building. And it's a long season. Some races are going to be hotter than others, too...

Yeah, you did well in the heat least year, in Texas. It makes sense coming from Minnesota because it's so hot in Minnesota...
[Laughs] Yeah, it's blistering hot in the winter time, too.

A lot of the guys who have ridden the factory Suzuki RM-Z450 have raved about how good of a bike it is. Having that kind of baseline must help you, right? Coming in with settings from last year, when you were obviously very fast...
Absolutely. You know, building off the last couple years with that bike, it does help that when you only have so much time from Supercross to Outdoors that you don't have to be at the track all day doing nonsense. You've got to do your testing, get the job done, which definitely makes it a little bit easier for getting prepared for this, but, like every other team, they've been building on their bikes for the last few years. I know the Factory Honda, Kawasaki, everybody has that... So, I just look at it like it's good to have a base setting from last year but at the same time every year seems like you change suspension, you change here, you like this better...
Despite his critics, Ryan Dungey is once again in the middle of the championship fight. (Photo: CoxMX.com)

Well, yeah, you want to get better...
Right. So, at the same time it is nice to have a base setting, and I think it's important not to reinvent the wheel, but also I think it's important to, if there's an area you feel like could be better, that you try to address it.

Like, keep an open mind about it.
Open-minded, exactly...

Good job today, Ryan.
Thanks.