Source: Supplied.

Ryan Dungey has left a lasting mark on the KTM brand as he moves into retirement following an impressive six years with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing squad.

Capturing the Austrian manufacturer’s first-ever premier class supercross victory and championship in 2012, the 27-year-old went on to continued success before capping off his career with the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship victory in Las Vegas.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team manager Roger De Coster was honoured to work alongside Dungey for his entire professional career after bringing him out of the amateur ranks in 2006.

“It has been an honor to work with Ryan for over 10 years together,” said De Coster. “In that time he never failed to end a championship on the podium and I can say that I have never worked with a rider who took his job so seriously.”

Although yet to confirm his future, De Coster confirmed Dungey will remain within the KTM family and is already working alongside Marvin Musquin to improve his form ahead of this year’s Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

“This is the end of an era but we know Ryan will stay involved with our team although it is not completely defined yet,” he explained. “He has already begun helping Marvin prepare for the nationals and we are excited to continue our relationship with him.”

KTM motorsports director Pit Beirer appreciates Dungey’s commitment to the KTM brand and also looks forward to a continued relationship beyond racing.

“It’s nice for our company to work with an athlete like Ryan who brings always 100 percent for the brand,” Beirer said. “Ryan made history for KTM – he won the first supercross race for us and the first supercross title, and together with the US team they’ve been the game changers.

“I’m looking forward to working with Ryan in the future to keep our first-class team on the same position and look for young riders, which I’m sure he will give us the right hand.”

KTM group CEO Stefan Pierer reflected on the importance of Dungey’s performances in KTM’s history as he helped steer the manufacturer to the highest levels of the sport.

“Ryan has written a very important part of our history and together with Roger they brought KTM to the pinnacle of the sport worldwide,” Pierer explained. “Ryan is outstanding, his performance and his personality brought KTM to the next level and we thank him for that. We are wishing him all the best for the next step and we are very happy to look for his next ambitious goals in the KTM family.”

Dungey retired from professional racing with three premier class Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship victories to his name and four Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship number one plates.