Image: Spencer Owens (Align Media).

A rare chance to rejoin Red Bull KTM in a factory seat for the 450MX season was enough to lure multiple AMA champion Ryan Dungey out of retirement, that opportunity finally the right one after years of consideration.

Now 32, Dungey retired at the conclusion of the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross Championship, in which he clinched a fourth 450SX crown, also winning three 450MX and a 250MX titles outdoors throughout his coveted career.

The number five makes a professional racing return after five years this weekend at Fox Raceway’s opening round of the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship – a move that he has attempted to put together previously – and this week outlined the key determining factors that made his comeback hopes a reality.

“I seeked it out a couple of times and this time it worked out really well,” Dungey reflected. “We were doing some testing [with KTM], things were coming together, the opportunity kind of came when a couple of guys on the team were going to sit out outdoors, Marvin [Musquin] not doing outdoors, as well as Cooper [Webb].

“It just opened up that opportunity and, you know, we were riding a good bit already, putting in a good amount of time. For me, this is a challenge I wanted to pursue for a while, so thankfully it worked out now and here we are going forward.

“There were a couple of different times I seeked it out and that I could look back at decisions made, but it is what it is now. I have also learned a lot through these last five years… I think at the end of the day, racing is something I have always been passionate about, always something I have enjoyed, not to mention it challenges you in so many different ways in multiple aspects.

“So, I wanted that challenge and I know outdoors is a pretty big one to step into, just with the motos, the heat and everything, but also having the courage to man up and do it as well. I think the thing that makes this possible too, like I said before, we have a family now, which is awesome, so being able to be in Minnesota, train there – we got good tracks, we got a good set-up and everything – so I don’t necessarily have to uproot the family.

“If this was something where I had to completely move states and uproot the family, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it. So, I am excited, like I said, it’s been five years and these guys have gotten more experience, their foundations are stronger, and I have a ton of respect for all of these guys.

“It’s a huge challenge and I think for me as a man, and personally just wanting to do that again. You’ve got two pathway – you can either choose the fear or faith, so I want to pursue it with open eyes and focus on the right thing and hope for the best and just apply myself every single weekend. Just excited to be out there again.”

Dungey was originally announced to compete in just the opening two rounds of the 450MX series, effectively on the same schedule as MXGP legend Tony Cairoli. The 450 SX-F rider later revealed that he was committed to competing in the full 12 round season, with his own personal expectations to compete at the front of the field, but a move to the Baker’s Factory isn’t scheduled at this point.