Red Bull Straight Rhythm Racing!
Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 4:47PM LA Daily News:
Motocross riders debut straight line racing at Fairplex
Marvin Musquin, left, and Ryan Dungey take part in a testing session on the Red Bull Straight Rhythm course at Thing Ranch in Alpine. Musquin says the unique course at Fairplex in Pomona should even the playing field. (Garth Milan/Red Bull) It’s nothing new for motocross riders to soar high into the air while traveling more than 70 feet over the course.
However, it’ll be a new experience for some of the most noted riders in the country this weekend at Fairplex in Pomona.
On the same drag strip made famous by NHRA, but in the opposite direction, the Red Bull Straight Rhythm will make its debut Saturday after a practice session Friday. The $100,000 purse has attracted the top riders, including Travis Pastrana, who will return to the motocross scene after a five-year layoff.
The concept is unique in that rather than going around a 1,500-foot course, the riders will go side-by-side for about 3,000 feet. And, according to track engineer Dane Herron, the times will be equal to one lap around the shorter courses.
Additionally, fans will get a close-up view as the temporary course has been built on the drag-racing return road.
Herron has overseen the construction of the course, built with 10,000 cubic yards of dirt, that will start at drag racing’s top end, weave around the scoring pylons and finish in front of the grandstands.
“Most people who know me know that it’s really tough for me to turn my back on a new challenge, and when I heard about the new head-to-head format, I instantly felt that tug on my heart to get into the mix,” Pastrana said. “A one-of-a-kind format demands a one-of-a-kind machine, and my team and I are bringing some seriously heavy artillery to the party in Pomona.”
To that end, Pastrana and his team have specifically built a 500-cc two-stroke bike for the competition. Traditional supercross and motocross rules limit motorcycles to 250cc and 450cc classes, but the Red Bull event will have a 250cc class and an open class, thus allowing Pastrana the mammoth bike.
“Although it doesn’t have the turns we are used to, it’s ultimately more terrain than a regular supercross track, and in some respects presents a tougher challenge with the number of obstacles,” Pastrana said. “It’s all about rhythm and not making an error, so I think a lot of us are excited to see whose style works best on this track. I’m really pumped up for the totally new format of Red Bull Straight Rhythm.”
In addition to Pastrana, the 16-rider Open field will include Grant Langston, James Stewart, Ryan Dungey, Josh Grant, Dean Wilson, Brett Metcalfe, Justin Brayton, Malcolm Stewart, Kyle Chisholm, Shane McElrath, Josh Hanson, Kyle Partridge, Josh Hill, Jake Canada and Ryan Morias.
Half of the 250 class has been announced and will include Marvin Musquin, Justin Hill, Zach Bell, Jessy Nelson, Nico Izzi, Darryn Durham, Jordan Smith and Ryan Surratt.
“The idea of a straight track, with just the whoops, doubles and table tops, is a format that we haven’t ridden before in competition, and is something that we’re all looking forward to,” Musquin said. “With essentially only one ‘lap,’ there’s no room for error, so I’m excited to see how this track evens out the playing field.”
Gates open to the public at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and racing begins at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20.
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