Dungey to Make KTM Debut at Monster Energy Cup

Ryan Dungey will make his competition debut in KTM orange at the inaugural Monster Energy Cup, Oct. 15 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.

Dungey signed a two-year contract with KTM on Oct. 1, reuniting him with former Suzuki team manager Roger DeCoster. Dungey wasn’t expected to be ready to compete in the Monster Energy Cup but after practicing for a few weeks, Dungey has thrown his hat in the ring for the event’s $1 million purse.

“To my surprise, Ryan was eager to race the Monster Cup,” says Roger DeCoster, team manager of the Red Bull KTM factory team. “We didn’t expect him to race after only two weeks on the bike, but he will use the event to help gauge where he stands speed-wise against the competition. It will also give the team a racing opportunity to test different set-ups with the bike prior to the opening round of the Supercross. Ryan can then take this experience to prepare his training regime this winter.”

The Monster Energy Cup will have no homologation restrictions and the track will offer a blend of both supercross and motocross styles. Dungey will compete on the KTM 450SX-F, not the 350SX-F as we expected he would use.

Dungey’s entry will make up for some of the star power lost by James Stewart’s decision not to compete in the Monster Energy Cup. Stewart, who is without a contract for the 2012 racing season,  announced he is withdrawing his entry into the one-off event.

[Source: KTM, photo by Hoppenworld.com]

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By Dennis Chung