Red Bull Revives Catalina GP

A racing tradition has been brought back to life for the first time in 52 years this past weekend, as Red Bull has revamped the Catalina Grand Prix for 2010, inviting 800 riders to tackle a six-mile course which featured a variety of terrain. This included a motocross section and a “fire road that took racers up winding turns and around steep bluffs high above the port city of Avalon,” as Red Bull described. The rebirth of the race brought some of the riders who had competed in Catalina in the 1950s back to ride the island track once more. They included Homer Knapp, who took to the course on Saturday on the same 1920s Harley Davidson he rode in the Catalina race in the 1950s. Bob Sandgren, who won the race in 1957 and 1958, also returned to serve as Grand Marshal. Many notable “young” motocross racers showed up as well, including Travis Pastrana, Kurt Caselli, Ronnie Renner and Andy Bell. The event culminated in the final Pro Race, where Kendall Norman, four-time Baja 1000 winner and 2010 AMA National Hare & Hound champion, took first place, narrowly beating Caselli and young EnduroCross star Colton Haaker. “I’m just so excited to be back on a bike, and I couldn’t believe how many legends came back for this event,” Pastrana said. “I really enjoyed the whole experience - I couldn’t believe the enthusiasm of the fans here on Catalina. People were cheering all the way around the track! This really is an amazing place.”  RED BULL CATALINA GRAND PRIX RESULTS