IN
THE
WIND
P32
STRAIGHT RHYTHM LINE UP SET
T
he first eight riders have been confirmed to
compete in Red Bull Straight Rhythm that will
be held on October 4 at Auto Club Raceway in Po-
mona, California, and one of those eight is Travis
Pastrana. The eight riders will compete for a purse
of $100,000.
Pastrana, Ryan Dungey and James Stewart head-
line this initial list of eight confirmed participants, a
list that also includes Josh Hansen, Josh Hill, Brett
Metcalf, Cole Seely and Dean Wilson – with all of
them racing in the event's Open Class. The inaugu-
ral event will feature 32-riders facing off in a bracket-
ed single-elimination format, racing head-to-head on
a half-mile long, "unwound" track. Tickets are avail-
able for $20 at www.redbull.com/straightrhythm.
The balance of participating riders will be an-
nounced 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 oppor-
tunity 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."
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.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
RED
BULL
CONTENT
POOL
Travis Pastrana
is one of the
original eight
riders scheduled
to square off
in the Red Bull
Straight Rhythm
at Auto Club
Speedway
in Pomona,
California, on
October 4.
PIRELLI GETS WORLD SUPERS DEAL AGAIN
P
irelli will continue as the spec tire
for the World Superbike Champi-
onship, the Italian tire company having
won a tender that was held from July
28 to August 25. The agreement is for
three years with the deal concluding at
the end of the 2018 season.
Pirelli is currently in its 11th year of
being the spec tire for the World Superbike Series
and, according to Dorna, that's makes them the
longest running spec tire of any motorsports series
in history.
"We are glad to continue with Pirelli for a further
three years," said Javier Alonso, the World Super-
bike executive director. "This renewal testifies our
excellent relationship with the Italian company, a
partnership for more than a decade that has always
been strong with both the International Motorcy-
cling Federation and the promoter and organizer
of the series, and is clear evidence of Pirelli's on-
going and constant ability to innovate and to offer
products at the forefront of technology."
Pirelli is also pleased to have won the tender.
Giorgio Barbier, Racing Activities Director of
Pirelli will be
back as the
spec tire for
the World
Superbike
Champion-
ship.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
continued on page 34
