King of the Track: Motocross' Ryan Dungey

The Bike

Dungey rides a KTM 450SX-F. KTM, an Austrian brand, saw little success on U.S. soil until Dungey scored the 450cc championship this season. KTM pours millions of dollars into developing its engines, tires and exhaust. But so do Honda, Suzuki, and other dirtbike companies. So what really makes the difference? Suspension. “Being able to make the bike settle and absorb energy in as effective a manner as possible without inhibiting Dungey’s ability to ride the bike is the key to success,” said Short. Mechanics make minor tweaks and changes according to race track layout and type of dirt to ensure Dungey has maximum riding comfort.