Welcome to Racer X's live update feed, coming to you from Huntington Beach, California, for the 2022 Red Bull Straight Rhythm. From qualifying reports to the blow-by-blow from today's racing, you’ll find it all right here. Updates are posted in chronological order, so be sure to scroll down for the latest info. For even more updates be sure to follow us on Twitter, @Racerxonline.
To watch the racing today, viewing can be done via ESPN or Red Bull TV for international viewers.
- Straight Rhythm
Red Bull Straight Rhythm
Saturday, October 15
250cc Round of 16
Ken Roczen was up first against Deven Raper as the 250cc class fired off. Run 1 saw Roczen open out the early advantage as he worked his Yamaha YZ250 easily to the win. Raper would finish the run a few seconds back.
Austin Politelli and Chris Blose had their first run next and as it was the eight and nine seeds going against each other, the run started off very close. Blose then had a huge moment in the middle rhythm where he almost went over the bars and Politelli was able to pull away and win their first run.
Justin Barcia versus Nico Izzi came up next and it was Izzi who had the initial advantage but it seemed like his holeshot device got stuck for the first few sections. Barcia took the lead over the first wall jump then and never looked back as he cruised to the first run victory.
Our first look at "Stank Dog" Gared Steinke came next as he squared off against Cooper Webb. Webb got out to the early lead but Stank Dog remained close all the way through. Webb pulled slightly back ahead then in the whoops to win the first run.
Before moving to the second half of the bracket, the first four race group would re-rack again as Roczen and Raper loaded back into the box. Roczen could eliminate Raper with a win in the second run and the German launched out to the early lead before cruising to the win and moving on to the quarterfinals.
Blose and Politelli then hit the track for their second run and Politelli quickly opened a small advantage. Blose was able to reel him back in slightly but it wasn't enough and Politelli moved on to the quarterfinals.
Barcia and Izzi had their second run next and Izzi again seemed to have a holeshot device issue which gave a big early advantage to Barcia which he would not relinquish as he moved on to the quarterfinals.
Webb looked to be the fourth straight rider to knock their counterpart out in just the second run as he and Gared Steinke headed out again. Stank Dog kept it closer this time but Webb was just too much and held on to win the second run and eliminate Steinke.
Barcia actually ended up being DQ'd for going over the line in the second run so Izzi got the win in the second run but Barcia was able to come back and take the win in the third run to take the win and move on.
The bracket then flipped over as the two seed of Marvin Musquin then hit the track against the 15 seed of Josh Greco. Musquin was able to win the first run rather easily as he looked to move onto the quarterfinals.
Aaron Plessinger and Robbie Wageman were next up and it was AP7 who launched out to the early advantage. Wageman was close through the first rhythm section. but Plessinger slowly pulled away and took the win in the first run.
Justin Hill and Mike Alessi was the next showdown in the Round of 16 and it was actually Justin Hill getting the holeshot over Mike Alessi. Hill pulled out the advantage and even did a little seat grab on the building jump as he pulled out and won the first run.
The final showdown then in the Round of 16 was Josh Hansen versus Kevin Moranz. Hansen showed off his handy quad-quad line at the start to open a small advantage which he was able to keep all the way home to win the first run.
The second Musquin-Greco run was much of the same as the first one with Musquin pulling out a comfortable early advantage and rather easily moving on to the quarterfinals with a second run victory.
Plessinger versus Wageman launched out again and this time Wageman remained close through the mid-part of the run. Plessinger was able to inch away down the stretch though and move onto the quarterfinals with the victory.
Alessi was able to get out of the gate better for the second run with Justin Hill but Hill nailed the first two rhythm sections and took the lead. In the end, it was Hill winning the second run and advancing to the quarterfinals.
Moranz was also able to keep Hansen more honest in their second run as well but Hansen was just a bit too much in the end as he eliminated Moranz to complete the eight riders moving on to the quarterfinals.
So the quarterfinals will feature Roczen, Politelli, Barcia, Webb, Musquin, Plessinger, Hill, and Hansen.
125cc Quarterfinals
Our first look at the 125 riders was next as Joshua Varize squared off against Andy DiBrino. Varize was able to easily win the first run.
AJ Catanzaro versus Ryan Morais was next and it was a very close race. Catanzaro even threw a superman off the big bathroom jump but Morais was able to just sneak forward and cross the line first.
Derek Kelley then hit the track against Dominique Thury in another close fight. Kelley led early but Thury fought back and took advantage of Kelley not being able to clear the big tabletop. It was close at the flag but Thury just nabbed it at the end.
The final showdown then was Dylan Woodcock versus Carson Brown and it was Brown who jumped out to the early advantage. The 125s were struggling to hit lines consistently and this time with was Brown who just put a clean run together to beat Woodcock in the first run.
Varize and Dibrino then quickly launched out for their second runs as Varize launched out to the lead right away. Dibrino did well to hit all the jumps cleanly but Varize just inched away the whole way to advance to the semifinals.
Morais versus Catanzaro was extremely close again for their second run but this time Catanzaro held the advantage through most of it. It came down to the very end and Morais had a better run in the whoops to just nab The Cat at the line to win the second run and advance to the semifinals.
The second Thury and Kelley run was also a great one as this time Kelley got the early advantage and didn't make the mistake on the big tabletop. Thury remained close but Kelley was able to win this time forcing a third run.
Carson Brown once again held the early advantage on Dylan Woodcock off the line and Woodcock made a few early mistakes which allowed Brown to open the gap up. In the end, Brown would take the easy second run win to move onto the 125cc semifinals.
It was time then for the final Thury-Kelley showdown to decide the final spot in the semifinals and off the start it was Kelley with the slight early advantage. Thury made a small mistake right before the big table and had to roll it. That allowed Kelley to surge ahead and win to advance.
So moving onto the semifinals for the 125cc class are Joshua Varize, Ryan Morais, Carson Brown, and Derek Kelley.
250cc Quarterfinals
Ken Roczen versus Austin Politelli kicked off the quarterfinal runs and Politelli actually got out to the early advantage. Roczen started to pull back and eventually took the lead with a few big scrubs. Roczen then held on to claim the win in the first run.
Cooper Webb faced off against Justin Barcia next and it was very close through the first rhythm section. Barcia started to inch into the lead over the bathroom tabletop and Barcia would sneak away to win it but about five bike lengths.
Aaron Plessinger then would go up against Marvin Musquin in another marquee matchup for the quarterfinals. Both got off the line well but it was Musquin with a slight advantage. Plessinger held it close for the entire run but that early advantage was enough for Musquin to hang on for the first run win.
The final showdown then was between Justin Hill and Josh Hansen as it was Hansen who go the holeshot and busted out the quad-quad. Hill fought back int he middle of the track and it was side by side coming to the line. In the end, Hansen would take the win by a nose.
In the second run between Roczen and Politelli, it was Roczen again who had the early advantage. Politelli was again close through much of the run but Roczen uncorked a huge scrub in the middle that helped him pull away and knock Politelli out as Roczen advanced.
Webb versus Barcia in run two was another great one. They ran side by side all the way through to the very end again and it came down to the whoops with Barcia just barely nosing out to win the second run and advance over Webb.
Musquin again had the early lead on Plessinger in their second run bit Plessinger kept it just a bit closer. A few huge scrubs on the wall jumps though for Musquin was enough and Musquin defeated Plessinger to advance to the final four.
The second run between Hill and Hansen saw Hanny get to the first wall jump with the lead again but Hill busted the big quad alongside Hansen and did the single over table-triple option after which proved faster. Hanse fought back but Hill scrubbed the final double to win by half a bike length.
So it came down to the final run between Hill and Hansen as they launched off and Hansen again grabbed the holeshot. This time Hansen kept the advantage through the first rhythm as well but Hill came fighting back. It was side by side over the last jump and by a nose it was Hansen who claimed the win and advanced.
That means the semifinals will consist of Roczen, Barcia, Musquin, and Hansen.
125cc Semifinals
Joshua Varize and Ryan Morais opened up the action in the semifinals as Varize launched out to the early lead. Morais slowly crept back up to him towards the end but Varize held on to win the first run.
Carson Brown versus Derek Kelley was up next and Brown pulled out the early advantage as well. Kelley fought back down the stretch but Brown pulled it back out in the whoops to win the first run.
The second run between Varize and Morais was up next then and Varize had the advantage early again. But a huge mistake just before the big tabletop caused Varize to almost go down and he crossed over the center line which gave Morais the win as he cruised it in.
Kelley and Brown then launched out to their second run and this time Kelley remained closer in the first half. A big mistake through right before the tabletop just like Varize pushed Brown further out front and he would not give it up from there as Brown took the win to advance to the finals.
It was then down to the final run between Morais and Varize to decide who would go on to the finals. Morais was a bit closer off the line this time but Varize did have the advantage. He would slowly pull away down the stretch to take the win and stamp his ticket to the finals.
250cc Semifinals
Roczen versus Barcia kicked off the semifinals for the main class and it was going to be a good one. Roczen nabbed the early lead though and just matched Barcia the rest of the way through to take the run one victory by a few bike lengths.
So then Josh Hansen squared off against Marvin Musquin and this time it was Musquin with the early advantage. Hansen busted out his quad-quad line but Musquin was better at staying low for the whole run to hang on and win their first run together,
The second Roczen and Barcia run was another classic as they fought side by side nearly the whole way down. Roczen edged ahead by a few bike lengths though with some incredible scrubs and was able to sneak ahead and win the second run to advance to the finals.
Hansen versus Musquin was another intense fight between the two with Hansen getting the early advantage this time. Musquin though had a near perfect run after losing time on the start to pull back up to Hansen and eventually go into the lead just beyond the halfway mark of the track. Musquin would then win the second run and advance to the finals to face Ken Roczen.
Third Place Runs
Derek Kelley versus Ryan Morais was the bronze medal match in the 125cc class and Kelley held the early lead in the first run but Morais once again caught him down the stretch to take the first run victory.
They racked them back up again for the second run and this time it was Morais who had the early advantage. Kelley slowly reeled him back in at the halfway mark and it was on down the final stretch. Morais made a few small mistakes and it was Kelley who would hang on to win the second run forcing a third run showdown.
The final run got underway and it was Morais again who had the early advantage but Kelley immediately reeled him in and took the lead. Morais was strong down the stretch but it wasn't enough this time as Kelley won to claim third place for the 125cc class.
Justin Barcia versus Josh Hansen was then the bronze medal matchup in the 250cc class and Barcia snagged the early lead off the top in their first run. Hansel slowly caught back up with his quad-quad line but Barcia was a bit too much in the second half and took the run one victory by a couple of bike lengths.
With the rain starting to come down heavier, the grate off the start was starting to get quite slippery and both riders spun off the gate for their second run. Hansen got off better though and inched ahead. Barcia fought back late but Hansen had enough to win and force a third run for the bronze medal.
Barcia almost crashed off the grates in the final run but then Hansen almost crashed on his quad line as well which gave the advantage back to Barcia. Barcia would cruise from there to the win in the third place match for the 250cc class.
FINAL ROUND
The 125cc class final round started as the rain continued to fall and it was Carson Brown with the early advantage. Despite a few sketchy moments for both riders, they kept it clean all the way and it was Brown who took the first run victory.
Varize slipped off the gate in the second run as well and it was all she wrote after that as Brown put another smooth run together to claim the victory in the 125cc class at Red Bull Straight Rhythm.
The 250cc class finals began next and it was Marvin Musquin launching out to the early lead after Roczen found himself slipping off the gate. The rain was making it very tricky but it was Musquin who would hold on for the rest of the run all the way home to take the first run victory.
Musquin had a shot to win it all int he second run and they launched out near evenly off the gate. Roczen remained close but it was just not enough as Marvin Musquin remains perfect to win the Red Bull Straight Rhythm again.