VOLUME 56 ISSUE 40 OCTOBER 8, 2019 P77
STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVE COX
T
he 2019 Red Bull Straight
Rhythm—the second run-
ning of the event with a
two-stroke-only format—featured
a star-studded field running a
myriad of throwback and replica
machines and 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 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 Roczen himself was two
years old), while Ryan Villopoto
came outfitted as Jeremy Mc-
Grath circa 2000 on his Ya-
maha YZ250, and current 450cc
Supercross Champion Cooper
Webb came outfitted as Jeremy
McGrath circa 2003 on his
KTM 250 SX. Other throwbacks
included an early-2000s Suzuki
Kevin Windham setup (Adam
Enticknap, early 2000s Wind-
ham from his Suzuki days), two
Ernesto Fonseca tributes (Hon-
da-era Michael Leib and Yamaha
of Troy-era Robbie Wageman),
a Jessy Nelson tribute (Carlen
Gardner), a Travis Pastrana early-
2000s tribute (AJ Catanzaro),
an Evel Knievel tribute (Brandon
Hartranft), a Johnny O'Mara/
Mugen tribute (Cole Seely),
a Nathan Ramsey KTM team
tribute (Parker Mashburn), early
2000s Ryan Hughes (Simon
Langenfelder), a sort of "in the
style of" '90s moto tribute (Ryan
Sipes), Larry Ward circa 1999
WATTS UP
During the day at the Red Bull
Straight Rhythm, KTM officially
introduced its SX-E 5 line of mo-
torcycles designed for riders aged
3-10 years old. It's based on the
ergonomics of the company's 50cc
line, but runs on battery power.
It has six power modes, allowing
the machine to be adapted for a
complete beginner all the way up
to a capable junior racer. And KTM
claims that without the worries of an
internal-combustion engine, it not
only opens the world up for many
more potential riding areas (such
as your literal own back yard) but
drastically reduces maintenance
as well, which most parents will
appreciate. A couple of youngsters,
including Krue Morais (son of KTM's
Ryan Morais and his wife, Hannah),
demonstrated the machines at
regular intervals throughout the day.
In terms of performance, we were
told that the internal combustion
50cc machines are still a little faster
outright in a straight line, but that on
the track, the E machines deliver
much faster lap times due to their
incredibly smooth power delivery.
JASON ANDERSON
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Jason
Anderson rode on Friday at the
Straight Rhythm on a gray Husqvarna
made to resemble the race machines
from about a half-century ago, but he
didn't show up to race on Saturday.
But he was in the audience wearing
street clothes, blending in like he
was at the mall. He said he felt really
uncomfortable dealing with even very
minor bogs and hesitation on the
two-stroke that he wasn't used to ever
having to deal with on his fuel-injected
Briefly...
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