Ep 6. The Dream

Ryan Dungey took the 450-class by storm this year, but the road to getting there was not an easy one. The path paved by many of Motocross's historical figures like Ricky Carmichael began at Loretta's Lynn's racetrack where the often won multiple amateur championships. Not the fastest rider of his age, but perhaps more determined than the rest, Ryan Dungey took a different path. With only one Loretta Lynn Championship under his belt, Ryan spent a year knocking persistently at Roger Decoster's door until he was given an opportunity to ride alongside Ricky Carmichael on Suzuki's practice racetrack. After watching Dungey turn sharp corners on the track, Roger Decoster took him under his wing and signed him to Suzuki, where they would go on to win four Championships under the guidance of Decoster and mechanic Ian Harrison. But in 2010, after winning the Outdoor Championship, Decoster informed Dungey that he would be moving from Factory Suzuki to KTM. KTM was one of the few companies expanding their race budget and Decoster spent much of 2011 perfecting their equipment in the hopes of attracting Dungey. And in 2012, Ryan Dungey followed his mentor to KTM, a move that was risky given that KTM had never won a championship. Backed by the support of this family and armed with immense determination, Ryan Dungey and the KTM Team set out to prove that with the right people and strong company backing, championships can be won despite all odds. Winning, however, only makes Ryan more aware of how much work it takes to stay on top, and his successes push him to work harder in order to be greater. Urged by his parents to remain focused amidst the chaos of winning, and inspired by his grandmother to live life to its fullest, Ryan organizes a 60-mile bike ride near his hometown to support St. Jude's Children's Hospital to help kids fighting a cancer-the same disease that took his grandmother away from him too soon.