Marvel at the Rivalry That Is Dungey vs. Roczen
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 2:22PM Feast your eyes on the Marvelous stylings of Ken Roczen’s and Ryan Dungey’s Fox Racing kits for the 2016 Las Vegas Supercross. In conjuction with the release of the latest big screen release in the fan-favorite superhero genre, Roczen and Dungey will take to the track in Sam Boyd Stadium donning the likeness of Iron Man and Captain America, but with dirt bikes (obviously). It may seem like a stroke of the ego for Hollywood, and it kind of is, but it is also a noteworthy moment capture of the sport’s greatest rivalry in 2016.
The Ken Roczen/ Ryan Dungey rivalry has matured tremendously since Roczen’s move to the 450 class in 2014. Immediately a winner, Roczen posed a completely new threat to Dungey’s championship efforts, a deck that was already stacked with the likes of Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart, Chad Reed, Trey Canard and others. But Roczen was different — a then-19 year old filled with all the piss and vinegar that Germany could possibly produce, and an unheard of natural ability on a motorcycle. Americans had already seen what Ken could do, but when he blasted out of the gate in 2014 on a 450, no one was prepared for him to be of championship caliber that quickly.
Roczen of course won the 2014 AMA Pro Motocross 450 Championship, in his first attempt at the title. It was a feat the motocross world had not seen since Dungey did exactly that in 2010. But 2015 brought with it the second era of the Dungey Dynasty. The Dunge hasn’t won everything since then, but it sure feels like it sometimes. Since the beginning of 2015, Dungey has decisively won all three major AMA championships: 2015 Supercross, 2015 Nationals and now 2016 Supercross.
But in the last several weeks of the AMA Supercross series, we have seen a new Roczen. His trademark speed is now coupled with a fresh dose of consistency — Roczen starts up front every week, and is now the fastest rider on the track by a solid margin. He has won the last two rounds in Massachusetts and New Jersey with huge leads over second place. Dungey was focused on wrapping up the title, and now that he has done it, his sights are set on making a statement to Roczen before the two start with a clean slate in the opener of the AMA Motocross Nationals at Hangtown just two weeks later.
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