Ryan Dungey retires

Red Bull KTM off-road star Ryan Dungey has announced his retirement from professional racing, just 10 days after claiming his third consecutive AMA 450SX title after a season-long battle with Eli Tomac (Kawasaki).

The Minnesota-born rider said it was his head, not his body as the reason he’s decided to hang up his helmet.

“Physically I feel that I’m in the best shape of my life, race craft-wise I’m in the best shape of my life and I have the equipment to win, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “However, this year I have struggled mentally. I have always raced because I love it and want so badly to win, but this season was just different for me.

“I never thought I would get to a place where I had to talk myself into starting a race but that’s how it was for me - and the truth is that bothers me a lot. I could easily take the paycheck and just race to finish but that’s not who I am and not how I want to race, nor be remembered.”

Dungey, now 27, won his maiden 450 motocross and supercross titles in his rookie seasons in 2010 after also securing both the 250 titles the season before.

“I couldn’t believe,” he said during his press conference overnight, “that at 20 years of age I’d when every major title in the sport, including winning the Motocross des nations.”

Dungey went on to become the just the fourth rider to lay claim to winning four or more premier-class titles, joining the elite list of off-road racing’s big names in Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villopoto.

“I love racing and I love our sport but I just feel it in my heart that I am ready to step away now,” he added. “Happy, healthy and feeling totally blessed.”

The CEO of the KTM group Stefan Pierer thanked Dungey for his contribution to KTM’s racing success saying: “Ryan is outstanding. His performance and his personality brought KTM to the next level and we thank him for that.”