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A Season of Firsts in the U.S. Motorcycle Racing

CheckersTalk about too much news to report... The five-week period from April 17th through May 22nd saw no fewer than four "firsts" in U.S. motorcycle racing. It all started when Ryan Dungey clinched the 2010 AMA Supercross Championship-the first premier-class rookie to do so since Jeremy McGrath 17 years ago and, at age 20, the youngest ever. The season started off with fireworks when former champions James Stewart and Chad Reed tangled and got hurt, forcing them to sit out the remainder. The title chase then became a battle between two Ryans: Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Dungey and Monster Energy Kawasaki's Villopoto. RV came out of the gate slow, but went on a tear mid-season, winning seven races. Both Ryans suffered some serious crashes, none more so than in St. Louis, where after taking out Dungey and himself early on, Villopoto remounted only to come up spectacularly short on a double, breaking his lower leg. That handed the crown to his rival with three rounds remaining. Dungey's championship, in which he won six races, validated the decision of one Roger DeCoster, the five-time world champion and current Suzuki race boss who plucked the Minnesotan from the amateur ranks on the strength of his polite manners, dogged work ethic and blazing corner speed. It didn't hurt to have the "GOAT," Ricky Carmichael, in his corner either.


Photo Gallery: A Season of Firsts in the U.S. Motorcycle Racing - Motorcyclist Magazine


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