SANTA MONICA, CA – The first eight riders have been confirmed to compete in Red Bull Straight Rhythm presented by Dodge Dart. The eight names are just the first of thirty-two riders that will compete in the innovative, head-to-head motocross competition on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. The prize purse has been set at $100,000.
Action sports icon Travis Pastrana, 2012 AMA Motocross champion Ryan Dungey, and one of the most accomplished motocross riders in the sport’s history, James Stewart, headline this initial list of eight confirmed participants which also includes Josh Hansen, Josh Hill, Brett Metcalfe, Cole Seely and Dean Wilson, all racing in the event’s Open Class. The inaugural event will feature 32-riders facing off in a bracketed single-elimination format, racing head-to-head on a 1/2 mile-long, “unwound” track. Tickets are available for $20 at www.redbull.com/straightrhythm.
The balance of participating riders will be announced in the weeks to come.
“I think I can safely speak for the entire group of riders in saying how excited I am about the opportunity to compete in this man-against-man, win-or-go-home situation,” said Stewart. “Straight Rhythm is a fresh take on the traditional format, and the fact that it’s bringing out guys like Travis (Pastrana) says what a truly unique opportunity it is.”
The innovative Red Bull Straight Rhythm format will pit a field of 32-riders against each other in a head-to-head, best-of-three bracket format. By removing the turns, riders must focus exclusively on reading the terrain and correctly judging their speed for precise distance and control.
Red Bull Straight Rhythm will also air on NBC on Saturday, December 20 at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT as part of the Red Bull Signature Series, a collection of the most progressive action sports events in the world. For more information, please visit www.redbullsignatureseries.com.
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona is the oldest and most well known venue on the NHRA drag racing series circuit. Built in 1951, it was opened as a way to encourage street racers to compete safely, and was built through the combined efforts of the Pomona Valley Timing Association, Pomona Police Chief Ralph Parker and the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. In 1992, Auto Club Raceway entered the final phases of a $4.5-million modernization project, which included the installation of permanent grandstand seats that can accommodate up to 40,000 fans.
