Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey has taken the 2011 AMA Supercross season as a learning experience, as the 2010 champ plans on applying these lessons when he mounts his charge on next season’s title chase.

Dungey finished up third, only ten points behind eventual winner Ryan Villopoto, in a season that saw all top five riders in the series have their fair share of highs and lows.

The final round in Las Vegas saw him finish second, pushing race winner Chad Reed all the way to the line.

“It was a good weekend,” said Dungey. “We got off to a good start with solid practices and I was able to get a second in my heat race, which gave me a good gate pick.

“I didn’t get such a great start in the main, which is something I need to work on, but I was able to get up into second and got close to Chad Reed, right up to his wheel, but I wasn’t able to get around him.”

Now moving his focus to defending his number one plate in the upcoming AMA Motocross championship, Dungey feels confident that what he has learned this year will benefit him when he remounts in he 2012 SX season.

“It was a long, tough season and I think we can learn a lot from it and apply it to the future and move forward and leave the past behind,” stated Dungey. “The outdoor series is right around the corner and these next few weeks will be crucial to get ready and be in the best position to start the season.”