As Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing's Ryan Dungey begins his second year with the factory-supported race team, he is more excited than ever about his chosen career. Last year, Dungey was one of a handful of riders in recent history to transfer straight from amateur racing directly to a factory team. He was recruited by motocross legend and Suzuki Team Manager Roger DeCoster, who enlisted Dungey's services after one impressive riding session in June of 2006. Now, with a full season of racing AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross under his belt -- not to mention being named the AMA's Rookie of the Year for Supercross/Motocross -- Dungey is properly prepared for the challenges he'll face in his sophomore season.
"I learned a lot last year," said 18-year-old Dungey. "In Supercross, I had a few bad races and I made some on-track decisions that I regret. Going into this season, I know I need to be smarter on the track and I need to be more consistent with my racing. I wasn't as consistent as I'd like to have been last year, but that was my learning year. Now I've been through it and I'll try to not make the same mistakes again. Even though motocross is a lot more physical than Supercross, the lessons are pretty much the same in that I need to race smarter and be more consistent. Also, I need to adapt to the tracks quicker than I did last year."
Fortunately for Dungey, he has the full support of the Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing team behind him. Led by DeCoster, the Suzuki squad is a tight-knit group that works hard to mentor its young riders.
"Definitely, all of the guys on the Suzuki team give you 110 percent," said Dungey. "All around, they're great. At the track, it's good to have Roger at all the races because he used to race and he understands what it's like. When I'm struggling in areas, he helps me a lot with bike set-up. And it's not just Roger, it's the whole team. When you're struggling, they help you get through it and get up and running as best as possible."
In 2007, Dungey raced the East Coast rounds in the AMA Supercross Lites class. He won three races and brought home an additional podium spot, thanks to a third-place finish. In 2008, Dungey will still contest the Supercross Lites class but he'll be racing the West Coast rounds instead. He's anticipating the challenge.
"I don't know who else is racing the West Coast rounds, but I'm going in 100 percent," he said. "I am making sure to do everything I need to do before the season starts with training and everything. I want to be the guy on top. I know I have to work hard, but I really want this and that's why I give it my all -- because I just want to be the best. To come out on top at the end of the season would be great."
In addition to the physical and mental preparation that Dungey is doing, he is also equipped with a great race bike in the 2008 Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250. This bike is similar to the one he raced successfully the previous year, but definitely features some improvements as well.
"It's a great bike," said Dungey. "There have been a few little changes here and there but the Suzuki is pretty close to the RMZ250 I raced last year. For this year, though, we have some better suspension and settings. It's going to be a winning motorcycle, that's for sure."
Classes of Racing Entered:
AMA Supercross Series, Supercross Lites Class (West Coast) AMA Motocross Championship, Motocross Lites Class
His Motorcycle:
Look for the yellow No. 28 Suzuki RM-Z250 tuned by mechanic Mark Valcore
Personal items:
Single. Dungey lives at home with his family in his hometown of Belle Plaine, Minn. Although these days, he splits most of his time between Minnesota -- so he can see his family -- and Southern California and Florida, so he can take advantage of good weather for testing.
Noted Accomplishments:
2007 Fifth overall with four wins and one additional podium, AMA Supercross Lites (East Coast) Fifth overall with four podiums and two top-five finishes, AMA Motocross Lites Awarded AMA Rookie of the Year for Supercross/Motocross 2006 Second place, on the Makita Suzuki RM-Z250, Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP at Vancouver, B.C., Canada Seventh overall, the Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 (8-8 moto finish) in professional debut at Millville MX Won the Lites main event on the Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 in the Saturday night program at the Fresno BooKoo Arenacross Amateur
Racing Accomplishments:
Loretta Lynn's - one championship
Lake Whitney - three championships
Oakhill - three championships
World Mini - four championships
Winter Olympics - two championships
Branson -- one championship

Racing History:
Dungey initially got into racing because his dad, Troy, raced as an amateur and instilled his passion for the sport into his sons. Eighteen-year-old Ryan has raced across the country for the better part of the last decade, with mom, Michele, pulling the double duty of parent and team manager. Dungey is considered by many in the motocross industry to be at the top of the next crop of talented riders so it was no surprise that Ryan was named AMA Rookie of the Year for Supercross/Motocross this year. This is his second year racing for the factory Suzuki team.
2007 Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series:
Supercross Lites Class, East Coast -- 5th place overall
1st place -- Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
18th place -- Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO
DNR -- Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
21st place -- Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
1st place -- RCA Dome, Indianapolis, IN
3rd place -- Texas Stadium, Dallas, TX
1st place -- Ford Field, Detroit, MI
1st place -- Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
2007 Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP
Supercross Lites Class:
DNR -- Rogers Stadium, Toronto, ON, Canada
2nd place -- B.C. Place Stadium, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship:
Motocross Lites Class -- 5th place overall
3rd place -- Hangtown Classic, Sacramento, CA
4th place -- High Point National, Mt. Morris, PA
3rd place -- Motocross 338, Southwick, MA
4th place -- Budds Creek Raceway, Mechanicsville, MD
DNF -- Red Bud Track 'n' Trail, Buchanan, MI
2nd place -- Unadilla Valley Sports Center, New Berlin, NY
11th place -- Thunder Valley MX Park, Lakewood, CO
3rd place -- Washougal MX Park, Washougal, WA
15th place -- Spring Creek MX Park, Millville, MN
DNF -- Steel City Raceway, Delmont, PA
DNR -- Freestone County Raceway, Wortham, TX
DNR -- Glen Helen Raceway, San Bernardino, CA