2022 Red Bull Straight Rhythm and Ironman GNCC

Hey, race fans! October was a great month for racing. First, we headed to the motocross mecca of Southern California for Red Bull Straight Rhythm. Then, to Crawfordsville, Indiana, for the Ironman GNCC, an hour west of Midwest motorsports mecca Indianapolis. Both races featured large crowds, atypical weather and were literally packed with high-flying excitement, as always.

Hittin’ ‘er straight, rhythmically

Dubbed “Surf City USA,” Huntington Beach, California, is made up of 10 miles of uninterrupted beaches, typically littered with surfers trying to catch the perfect wave.

But the calming sound of waves was interrupted by the braaap of two-strokes for Red Bull Straight Rhythm. Launching into a half-mile straight rhythm course erected in a parking lot, riders went head-to-head entirely on two-strokes.

Uncharacteristically for Southern California, rain began to fall as the finals approached. Heading to the line for the final round, Ken Roczen squared off against Marvin Musquin. With the rain limiting the ability to go wide open, Roczen lost ground in the first rhythm section, allowing Musquin to add a fourth Straight Rhythm title to his resume. Justin Barcia edged out Cooper Webb and then Josh Hansen for third.

Making history

The annual finale for the GNCC Ironman takes place at the Shaver family farm in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Notorious for being a wet and rainy weekend, this year attendees were greeted with high winds and temperatures close to 80 F, with dirt flying continuously throughout the 13-mile track.

The near-perfect conditions brought out record numbers, both spectators and racers. We followed Team AMSOIL’s Chris Borich and Jarrod McClure throughout the race, including a pit stop and a trip up the infamous Ironman Hill on the course.

Records were smashed by the end of the weekend and this year’s event earned the title of “largest off-road motorcycle race in the world.” Those who know the tight-knit family aspect of the GNCC also recognized what the series’ director of operations dubbed as the “largest family reunion in GNCC history.”

In the staging area

The end of October signals another mainstay in the powersports world, the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where industry movers and shakers gather to share the latest and greatest automotive manufacturing technology. AMSOIL will have Scott Birdsall’s Pike’s Peak car onsite.

Also, word on the street is that the Scheuring Speed Sports Klim Compound will open to snowmobile drivers on November 12, providing a full month of practice before the start of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross season.

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We’ll see you at the races!