Courtesy of KTM
Ryan Dungey At Glen Helen
MURRIETA, Calif. – Red-colored Bull KTM regrets to document that reigning motocross champion Thomas Dungey has sustained a cracked vertebrae and will miss High Stage and several upcoming rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
The injury occurred when he crashed while combating for the lead on the opening panel of Moto 2 at Thunder Valley MX last weekend. Showing immense heart, Dungey bounced back again from the crash and rode a remarkable come-from-behind race coming from 19th place back to 4th spot by the contests end to finish 2nd overall for your round.
After evaluation by many doctors this week, the doctors have confirmed that Dungey cracked his C6 Vertebrae in the fall and requires a minimum of 6-8 weeks recovery time.
“It's very difficult to share such unsatisfactory news, ” said Ryan Dungey. “It’s heart breaking mainly because of all of the hard work the team and I have put in preparing to defend the motocross title this year. But I'm really thankful that the injury wasn't worse. I will use this time away from racing to recover fully, knowing this will only make me stronger and more motivated. Thanks a lot everyone for your support and knowing. ”
“Obviously Ryan being injured is definitely tough on the team, ” said Red Bull KTM Team Supervisor Roger DeCoster. “At the time we all didn’t know about his injury and were so proud of the way he or she raced that second moto in Colorado coming from 19th place all the way to almost finish on the podium. But to now know that he or she accomplished that battling through the discomfort of a cracked vertebrae shows what an unbelievably tough champion driver he really is. The plan right now is to reassess his return to racing in 6 weeks’ time once he or she is reevaluated by his doctor. ”
The whole Red Bull KTM Factory Group wishes him a speedy recovery.