RYAN DUNGEY BECOMES PART OWNER IN THE GEICO HONDA RACING TEAM
After one of the most prolific careers with Red Bull KTM bringing the brand to the top of the podium multiple times, Ryan Dungey says so long to KTM to join as part owner in the Geico Honda Racing Team.
Before Dungey, KTM was an after thought. Because of Dungey, KTM is a consistent podium threat as the success brought by Dungey has carried into another Supercross title for the team with Cooper Webb and constant podiums for Marvin Musquin.
Factory Connection Racing has announced yesterday that Dungey, the five-time AMA Supercross Champion (four 450, one 250) and four-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion (three 450, one 250), will directly contribute to the operation of Factory Honda’s satellite Geico 250cc Supercross/motocross race team and its elite amateur motocross race effort, and will provide invaluable counsel and coaching for the riders.
“After I stopped racing, there were a couple years of waiting for the right thing that made the most sense for me and my family,” said Dungey in a press release. “This came along, and it’s a huge opportunity that checks all the right boxes. Factory Connection Racing is a premier team that has had a lot of success and has a great lineup of talented riders. I’ll be able to apply my experience and knowledge to the next generation and future generations of riders and, because I’m a part owner, it’s something long-term that I can help to build and grow for the future. Between all that and being involved with the Honda organization, there area lot of positives, and I’m excited to get to work.”
Ryan Dungey (1); Monster Energy Supercross; Las Vegas; May 5-6, 2017; Photo: Tyler Tate/T Squared Action Sports 
Ryan Dungey (1); Monster Energy Supercross; Las Vegas; May 5-6, 2017; Photo: Tyler Tate/T Squared Action Sports 
Ryan Dungey (1); Monster Energy Supercross; Las Vegas; May 5-6, 2017; Photo: Tyler Tate/T Squared Action Sports
While it is a loss for the Red Bull KTM factory race team to not have Dungey in their pits to aid in race day, it is a great addition to the sport as a whole to continue to have Dungey a part of the future of the sport.
KTM on the heels of the Factory Connection Racing announcement put out a statement in a press release.
Per the Release: On the heels of a big announcement released earlier today, KTM North America, Inc. would like to congratulate nine-time AMA Supercross and Motocross Champion Ryan Dungey on a brand-new career endeavor as he makes the transition from professional athlete to part owner of the Geico Honda Racing Team.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager, Ian Harrison: “Ryan is a standup guy both on and off the racetrack – a true professional in every sense of the word – and we are confident that he will be successful in anything he chooses to take on. He has done so much for the KTM brand and when he handed the torch off in 2017, we feel that the program has only gotten stronger as we continue to achieve milestones with our athletes and development of the motorcycle. We wish Ryan the best as he heads into the next chapter of his post-racing career in the industry.”