Steve Cox | October 6, 2019
The 2019 Red Bull Straight Rhythm—the second running of the event with a two-stroke-only format—featured a star-studded field running a myriad of throwback and replica outfits, including three Jeremy McGrath tributes. There were also three classes running this year, with a 125cc class, a 250cc class, and a 500cc class (although that one only featured two racers who were, let’s say, willing to ride a 500 on the Straight Rhythm track).
Team Honda’s Ken Roczen came outfitted in a throwback to Jeremy McGrath circa 1996 (when he was two years old), while Ryan Villopoto came outfitted as Jeremy McGrath circa 2000 or so on his Yamaha YZ250, and current 450cc Supercross Champ Cooper Webb came outfitted as Jeremy McGrath circa 2003 on his KTM 250 SX. Other throwbacks included two Ernesto Fonseca tributes, a Jessy Nelson tribute, a Travis Pastrana tribute, an Evel Knievel tribute, a Johnny O’Mara tribute, and more.
Roczen Takes Straight Rhythm
Ken Roczen (94) took the 2019 Red Bull Straight Rhythm 250cc title dressed as Jeremy McGrath circa 1996. Photos: Steve Cox
But in the 250cc bracket, most of the pre-race favorites went out early. Villopoto lost in two straight races to Parker Mashburn, who was later defeated by top qualifier Brandon Hartranft (“Evel Knievel”). Cooper Webb went out in round two, losing to Pierce Brown. And Cole Seely (“Johnny O’Mara” lost in round two to Josh Hansen, who was just Josh Hansen.
Hansen was fast all day and nearly took down his Honda racing buddy, Ken Roczen, in the semi-finals, but Roczen was just able to put him away and move into the final while Hansen had to race Brown for the third-place trophy, which Hansen won.
The final was Roczen vs. Hartranft, and Roczen—who qualified second—was able to defeat Hartranft to take the overall Straight Rhythm win for the first time on a two-stroke.
Crown crowned 125cc champ at Straight Rhythm
Joey Crown (89) won the 125cc title after defeating Michael Leib (24, dressed as Ernesto Fonseca from his Honda years).
In the 125cc class, Joey Crown owned the action all night, qualifying first, and then moving past Carlen Gardner and AJ Catanzaro (“Travis Pastrana” circa 2000) to move into the final, where he faced off against Michael Leib (“Ernesto Fonseca”) and won.
Young talent Max Vohland crashed out of the event in the semi-finals trying to beat Leib and walked off with what appeared to be a hurt shoulder. Catanzaro took third overall.
Bowers backs up smack talk to defeat Pastrana for 500cc title
Tyler Bowers (43) won the 500cc match race with Travis Pastrana (199, upside-down).
And Tyler Bowers, the multi-time Arenacross champ and one of the top 450cc privateers indoors and out in 2019, faced off against the real Travis Pastrana, both on 500cc machines, in three races to determine the 500cc champ. Pastrana backflipped his RM-Zilla during every run, and he actually won the first won against Bowers, but Bowers rode his 1991 Kawasaki KX500 (Bowers was born in 1991) to the win in the following to runs to take the 500cc title.
2019 Red Bull Straight Rhythm Results
2019 Red Bull Straight Rhythm Results
For more of the latest motocross and supercross news and information, click here.
