Red Bull Global Rallycross begins X Games weekend in Austin

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Tomorrow’s the big day for Red Bull Global Rallycross at X Games Austin, but it never hurts to have a good start. Today, the Circuit of the Americas saw the first round of heat races for the GRC contingent.

In Supercars, Andretti Autosport claimed two of the four heats with wins from Tanner Foust (Heat 1c) and Scott Speed (1D), while fellow Volkswagen squad Marklund Motorsport picked up one with Anton Marklund (1A) and Travis Pastrana grabbed one for Subaru (1B).

Based on today’s results, here’s how they’ll line up for the second heat tomorrow:

Heat 2A

  • Scott Speed (1st, Heat 1D)
  • Patrik Sandell (2nd, Heat 1C)
  • Austin Dyne (3rd, Heat 1A)
  • Ricky Johnson (4th, Heat 1B)
  • Pat Moro (5th, Heat 1D)

Heat 2B

  • Tanner Foust (1st, Heat 1C)
  • Ken Block (2nd, Heat 1B)
  • Bucky Lasek (3rd, Heat 1D)
  • Joni Wiman (4th, Heat 1A)
  • Steve Arpin (5th, Heat 1C)

Heat 2C

  • Anton Marklund (1st, Heat 1A)
  • Sverre Isachsen (2nd, Heat 1D)
  • Toomas Heikkinen (3rd, Heat 1B)
  • Liam Doran (4th, Heat 1C)

Heat 2D

  • Travis Pastrana (1st, Heat 1B)
  • Nelson Piquet Jr. (2nd, Heat 1A)
  • Rhys Millen (3rd, Heat 1C)
  • Brian Deegan (4th, Heat 1D)
  • Emma Gilmour (5th, Heat 1B)

This weekend’s format differs a bit from what normally occurs in a GRC weekend. Instead of a typical third heat and last chance qualifier, there is now a quarterfinal round, which will send the Top 3 finishers from each heat into two, six-car semifinals. Each of the semis will send the Top 3 into the six-car final round.

Tomorrow will begin with the aforementioned second heats in the morning, followed by the elimination rounds at 1:30 p.m. ET.

As for the Lites category, they too had a round of heats this afternoon in Austin. Atila Abreu, Mitchell DeJong, and Kevin Eriksson – all from Olsbergs MSE – were victorious.

The Lites semifinals are set for a 12:30 p.m. ET start. The Lites final (six cars) will take place afterwards with the Top 3 finishers from each semifinal heat:

Semifinal A

  • Mitchell DeJong (1st, Heat 1B)
  • Nelson Piquet Jr. (2nd, Heat 1A)
  • Austin Cindric (2nd, Heat 1C)
  • Colton Herta (3rd, Heat 1C)
  • Mark McKenzie (4th, Heat 1A)

Semifinal B

  • Kevin Eriksson (1st, Heat 1C)
  • Atila Abreu (1st, Heat 1A)
  • Geoff Sykes (2nd, Heat 1B)
  • Alejandro Fernandez (3rd, Heat 1B)
  • Tyler Benson (3rd, Heat 1A)

Red Bull GRC returns to the NBC airwaves with Volkswagen Rallycross DC, LIVE from RFK Stadium on June 22 at 2 p.m. ET.

SuperMotocross set to introduce Leader Lights beginning with the World Championship finals

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In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.