INTERVIEW
P52
2015 SUPERCROSS AND 450 MOTOCROSS CHAMPION RYAN DUNGEY
RYAN DUNGEY'S 2015 SUCCESS
ISN'T AN ACCIDENT
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE COX
W
hat makes a champion, and what wins
a championship? There are a lot of
very simple sayings that people throw
around, such as, "You've got to be in it to
win it," or, "Championships are won on your
bad days," but what does it really take to win
championships?
Teamwork, pure and simple. To win a
championship as a racer, sure, you need to
be physically fit, and you need to be fast.
Those two go without saying, because they're
the two things that everyone talks about.
But you need a great bike, which means you
need a great team to help build that bike. You
need to have that bike set up properly, which
means you need to be a good test rider, you
need to be able to transmit what you feel to
the team, and the team needs to be good
enough to take what you tell them and make
the bike work as close to perfect for you and
your riding style as possible. You need engine
builders and suspension technicians who put
in long hours when necessary—and it's often
necessary—to make sure your bike stays
fresh. And that means you need parts ordered
and supplied to accommodate those needs,
which means team members with desk jobs
are crucial to your success as well. And
finally, you need a support structure around
you, such as a management team, as well as
family and close friends, who can handle all of
the other obligations that come with racing—
making sure the right food is supplied dur-
ing the week, clothes are washed, practice
bikes are maintained, public appearances are
scheduled, travel is booked, etc., because all
of these things are time-killers if you have to
handle it yourself when you should be train-
ing, testing and practicing. And, last but not
BUILDING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
