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None of us has any idea how Dungey will do in his return to the Nationals. I wouldn't be shocked if he never got a podium this summer and I also wouldn't be shocked if he won the whole thing.
That being said the Ryans are linked hand in hand as far as where they rate in the overall ranking of greatest riders ever with Villopoto being favored by most guys because he won more head-to-head battles.
My question is if (Big if) Dungey can somehow have the Cinderella season of all time and pull off a championship this summer does he cement himself as the better of the two Ryans?
*** No need to get shitty and tell me he'll never win; this is just a hypothetical question. ***
That being said the Ryans are linked hand in hand as far as where they rate in the overall ranking of greatest riders ever with Villopoto being favored by most guys because he won more head-to-head battles.
My question is if (Big if) Dungey can somehow have the Cinderella season of all time and pull off a championship this summer does he cement himself as the better of the two Ryans?
*** No need to get shitty and tell me he'll never win; this is just a hypothetical question. ***
Poll
Lots of Southwick 2011 posts incoming….
If I needed to win a race I'm picking RV, if I need a championship, I'm taking the Dunge. The podium streak he put together was unreal.
The Shop
Heck, RV should get the nod just for Budds 07
However, RV had the most dominant peak I've ever seen. Of course, he didn't win 7 SX titles in 8 years like MC or win 7 straight MX titles like RC, but for a four-year stretch, there wasn't a single rider in America that matched him in either discipline. While RC was unbeatable outdoors, James often times was faster on an SX track. And while MC was unbeatable in SX, he obviously wasn't the same outdoors. But from 2011-2014, Villopoto was the class of the field, indoors and out. Every time I sat down on Saturday to watch the races, my mindset was always "will anybody be able to beat Villopoto?" I think that speaks a lot to just how dominant he was. I didn't even root for him either, I rooted for Dungey to beat him, but it seemed like that didn't pan out the majority of the time.
So, if Dungey manages to win this title, I think it wouldn't be insane to say that he's had a GREATER career than Villopoto, just because of having 2 more outdoor titles, one of which being after a 6 year hiatus. However, I will always think that Villopoto was the BETTER of the two riders. I believe if he raced 2-3 more years, he would be in the GOAT conversation, and I don't think Dungey ever had GOAT potential. We'll never know if Villopoto would've reached that level though, as he called it quits early. Dungey kept going and ended up accomplishing everything RV did and then some.
What if RD's seeming lack of all-out speed compared to RV was because he was so good at knowing where the line was and not crossing it, which is why he was so consistent? I've heard so many say they wish Stewart had been willing to take a 2nd instead of throwing it away, but then they look down on guys like Dungey for maybe doing exactly that.
RC never lost an outdoor title, nor missed one with injury. It was 10 straight including 125s. RV did not race outdoors nearly enough on a 450 to be in that conversation with RC.
Hell, I could go down that hill as fast as anyone, once.
That's also what makes RC the goat. He was able to go 99.5% as fast as anyone else at any time, but consistent enough to go undefeated outdoors in the 10 titles he chased.
That season was exceptional. It's seldom that i would say that all three top riders kinda "deserved" to win that title. Unfortunately only one can win.
Pit Row
We've had this same thread 15 times and it always ends the same.
If you want to know how good RV was ask RD. If you want to know how good RD was, ask RV.
These guys respect each other for the competitor that they were at the time that they were.
Anyway, here we are.
As it sits right now, they are both in that space that is getting very crowded for who is the 4th head on Mt. Rushmore after Jeremy, Ricky and Bubba.
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