Motocross
Red Bull Moto Spy's Straight Rhythm Cheat Sheet
Now you can sound like an expert while watching Straight Rhythm.
The Whoops
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Since we care so much at Red Bull about you, the viewing public, enjoying our wonderful events, we have compiled a simple cheat sheet for this weekend’s Red Bull Straight Rhythm. It’s so simple, even the most basic of fans can now casually drop knowledge to impress his or her friends while watching the next evolution in Supercross. Let’s get started, shall we?
The Riders
Faves:
JS7 has more Supercross wins than anyone in the field, and won more races last year than anyone, as well. His style is built for Straight Rhythm -- he consistently hits gargantuan rhythm section lines that no one, including the best racers in the world, thinks are possible.
The Dunge is fresh off second place finishes in both SX and the outdoor MX nationals this year. He is a guy who is always there, and finishes up front at everything. He probably gets through the line at the grocery store faster than anyone. So at Straight Rhythm, he is a shoe-in for a top three spot.
Dean Wilson
Deano won a couple of 250 SX races this year, and is the only Open Class rider other than James and Dungey to have won an AMA championship in the past five years. He’s also a lanky SOB, which will benefit him in the massive whoops section at Straight Rhythm.
Josh Grant
JG won the opening moto of the outdoor series in a miracle ride, defeating both Ken Roczen and Ryan Dungey, which essentially put him back on the map after a dismal 2014 SX season. Now, he’s riding for Chad Reed’s team, and as usual when a guy steps up to a new program, Josh has something to prove. Cue the action movie music.
Travis Pastrana
© Flo Hagena / Red Bull Content Pool
Wild Cards:
The mega wild card. Travis has not raced moto professionally since the 2009 St. Louis Supercross, a track that he designed.. But he has amazing bike skill, and the innate ability to show up at an event and ride like he is still in his factory Suzuki days.
Josh Hansen
Hanny has twice come painfully close to winning a 250 SX championship, because, like a lot of the guys on this list, he has the bike skills to pay the bills. Endurance was always his issue, but that issue should not arise at Straight Rhythm.
Josh Hill
Hill is riding for Mitch Payton’s Pro Circuit Kawasaki team at Straight Rhythm. That means his bike is top-notch, and along with Stewart, Dungey, and Justin Brayton, Hill is the only other rider in the field to have podiumed a 450 supercross in the past year.
Track Features
Whoops
The most difficult and intricate and confusing features in Supercross. To win, racers must skim them, and must do it so fast that they appear to be on a straightaway.
Who will excel: James Stewart, Travis Pastrana, Justin Brayton, Dean Wilson
Rhythm Sections
Rhythm section jumps need to be timed perfectly, because they are almost always followed by another jump, one that is usually even bigger than the last.
Who will excel: James Stewart, Josh Hill, Dean Wilson
Speed Checks
The speed checks are designed to replace the turns of a normal Supercross track, so the riders are not going 150mph by the time they hit the finish line. They are small, very steep jumps that need to be negotiated delicately. Braking and scrubbing skills are a must.
Who will excel: James Stewart, Ryan Dungey, Josh Grant, Malcolm Stewart
James and Malcolm Stewart rip Straight Rhythm
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
The Variables
Bikes
The Open Class at Straight Rhythm is a new concept in America. Basically, ride whatever you want. Everyone is choosing a familiar 450 four-stroke machine, except Travis Pastrana, who will be on the 500cc two-stroke he has dubbed “RM-Zilla”.
Match-Ups
Riders will qualify into their spot on the bracket on Friday before the race, and the qualifying times will definitely be separated by the hundredths of a second. Literally the blink of an eye could be the difference between lining up with James Stewart in round one or lining up with a rider of less “holy sh!t” intimidation factor.
Jessy Nelson lays down a scrub at Straight Rhythm
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
The 250 Class
Watch and Learn
In Southern California
If you're lucky enough to live in or near Southern California, ride out to Auto Club Raceway at Fairplex and see it as it’s meant to be seen – live. Tickets are all general admission and are $20, so head to be sure to get yours now. The event is October 4, with gates opening at 2pm and racing starting at 3pm.
Everywhere Else
Can't make it to SoCal? No problem -- Red Bull Straight Rhythm will be webcast live at 2:30pm PST on Saturday, October 4th via the Red Bull TV player on Red Bull Straight Rhythm. In addition, we’ll have videos, photo galleries and reports here on RedBull.com, and all collected on the official Red Bull Straight Rhythm event page.
After the race, be sure to watch the full event highlights on NBC as part of the Red Bull Signature Series on Saturday, Dec. 20th at 4 pm ET / 1pm PT.
Want to see the spectacle in person? Grab some tickets while they're still available and check out the Red Bull Straight Rhythm event page for more info.