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DeCoster challenged Yves Demaria in 1994, when they created a big HRC team loaded by Pepsi. After 2 really bad races in the sand, DeCoster said that Demaria was not serious enough in his training. I am even wondering if Decoster attended the rest of the season ! Demaria was so mad at it, particularly being from Marseille, that he changed a few things, including to go back to a more stock CR version, and he proved Decoster wrong by winning something like 9 GPs that season (incl. the US GP), coming back from something like a top 15 in the championship to 3rd.
In the "how was your week end", I felt Dungey was more laughing about this crazy week end. There has been a "declic". A crazier Dungey will do some damage for sure.
Angy Dungey - Average finish 6
Did any notice the look back after the finish RV gave him. RV was looking at him like what the F?
Then when he took out Tickle yesterday I thought, OK, but that's just Tickle. Let's see you pick on S.Y.O.S.
Cut to the last lap of the main...
I think Dungey might be getting serious enough now to continue his current behavior. This is his new rep now, anyway, so he might as well use it.
Pit Row
Discuss...
First of all he said that the last 3 years have been fine but it's been since 2010 now since he won the championship. You get a sense that he is feeling a bit of urgency now where nothing will be good this year except the #1 plate.
Second you have all of the comments from last year about him not being aggressive enough and not pushing hard enough early in the race. We saw some early previews of the effect during the outdoors where he was definitely pushing harder, especially if Villo was in front trying to pull away. Anyone remember Budds Creek where he crashed his brains out and still finished second from how much of a gap they had on 2rd place? The old old Dungey would've taken a second instead of crashing, especially that early in the season.
Third you have those embers still burning from those 2 seasons where he effectively lost the championship due to mechanical failures.
Last, now he has a trainer that seems to be unlocking all of that building anger and funneling it into fire during the race. There was one segment where his trainer asks him what he thinks he has left in the tank for another session on the Concept 2 rower and Dungey responds "maybe a 1:40" (meaning 1:40 split I think). His trainer got right his ass for using the word maybe, because maybe is a defensive mechanism for when you are not confident you can do it. This is the kind of metal training Villo has been receiving under AB now for 3+ years.
All in all, my opinion is that the biggest difference this year is Dungey truly believes he can beat Villo, where the last couple of years that just wasn't the case. Quite frankly, I love it. I don't think he went overboard on any of those pass attempts, especially the one on Villo. You're talking about a guy who has, on multiple occasions, lost a championship by a handful of points, and usually to the #2 Kawi. You're telling me that after years of going through that much pain and coming up that close that he shouldn't try absolutely anything and everything he can within the legal limits to finish ahead of Villo?
This thread is classic Vitardness at it's best. Years and years of complaining about Dungey not being aggressive enough and as soon as he shows signs of aggression everyone is like, woah, hang on a minute, just don't be aggressive against my favorite rider. This is motocross isn't it?
Because there are so many guys now that are capable of winning, it has caused everyone that wants to win to be more aggressive. Dungey has done very well the past few years because for the most part he has ridden within his comfort zone imo. Unfortunately, because of this and the fact he has finished second (to a great RV) everyone is heaping loads of criticism on him. You read it here and you hear it in the words of his manager.
The point I'm trying to make is, in order to contend for wins and championships, everyone has to exceed their comfort zone, which means crashes and potential injury (serious injury at times). Dungey rarely crashed (compared to many other contenders) and because of this and his ability and speed was almost always near the front. If a person has the mentality that nothing other than a win is acceptable, then it more than likely is easier for that person to push beyond their limits.
I believe Dungey wants to win nearly as much as anyone, but within reason. He doesn't seem to like dirty riding that can potentially harm him and other riders. You can see it in the way he was racing and the comments he made after races when a rider took him out. I don't belive being this aggressive is instinctive to him as it is with others.
For whatever reason(s), he is becoming more aggressive and that is probably what led to his crash in the whoops. There are 22 guys fighting it out each week for a chance to become champion. One guy will take that prize each year. That certainly doesn't mean the 21 others suck.
Much of this BS that is overdiscussed in regards to sports personalities is just rediculous.
We've seen Dungey race "angry" or aggressive once or twice, and we've seen his consistent racing probably 100x or more. . .
He picked up two passes this week when he passed aggressively and it bit him on a third aggressive pass but didn't cost him any positions or points.
Post a reply to: The new Dungey?