2003 LA XGames

BUYTEN LAUNCHES TO VICTORY IN MOTO X STEP UP
Rookie knocks off three-time champ to snag X Games gold

"My bike was good and in tune so things worked out", said Buyten, a native of Carsen City, Nevada, The first step was at qualifiers, and I just had to stay consistent. Buyten qualified for X Games IX at the October 2002 WFA Reno Qualifier. Tommy Clowers had won first place at X Games Moto X Step Up for three consecutive years before being dethroned by Matt Buyten at STAPLES Center.

"I went out to win gold, but I got the silver", said Clowers, a native of Ramona, California, "I gave it my all. That's just the way it goes".

Ronnie Renner, who tied for third place at X Games VII in 2001, took away the bronze solo this year. Six other competitors were tied at 28'0 behind Renner, who registered a maximum height of 31'0 in six total attempts.

"I'm psyched to have X Games back in California", said Renner, "I live in Long Beach, so I get to bring my boys out". Ronnie's youngest son Racer (9 months old) wore his father's medal while in his arms on the podium, his older brother Rider just below him at his father's side.

At nineteen, Pastrana is no stranger to the winner's circle. After two years of not competing at X Games due to injury, Pastrana earned his fourth X Games Moto X Freestyle gold medal, his first since X Games VII in 2001. Pastrana was one of the very first riders on the course at practice, and was the very last to leave. The extra work paid off for him, as he landed a barrage of seemingly impossible aerials including a no-handed cliffhanger, a sidewinder Fred Flinstone, and two traditional backflips before he landed the 360 backflip. Pastrana put up a winning score of 94.67, beating out an elite field of Moto X athletes just one week before his scheduled surgery on his injured right knee.

When asked before the competition about his strengths and weaknesses, Pastrana said, "My strengths and weaknesses are the same: I've got the willingness and stupidity to try anything. If I think it's even remotely possible, I'll do it".

Nate Adams (Wittmann, Ariz.), who won silver at X Games Global Championship I in San Antonio (May, 2003), took second place once again with a score of 93.33. Adams had an excellent technical run, landing a lookback double grab, a McNasty backflip, a huge air lazy boy, and a backflip over a 75-foot gap.

"I'm ready to try the 360 backflip in competition now", said Adams. "I rode better today then ever in my life".

With a score of 93.00, Brian Deegan (Temecula, Calif.) took a close third, finishing a fraction of a point behind Adams. Deegan was the first rider of the night to attempt the 360 backflip. The crowd erupted when he landed it, becoming the first rider in X Games history to do so.

"I came up with it in my backyard", said Deegan. "I came out to LA to win medals. I wanted to hit my new trick, the Mulisha Twist, and I pulled it off."

Tonight, Deegan brought his ever-expanding bag of tricks to Big Air and landed the 360 backflip with precision on his first jump of the night, driving a trick that was once considered impossible straight into the record books and to the top of his growing list of X Games triumphs. Deegan has dubbed the trick the Mulisha Twist. He dedicated it from the podium to his fellow injured rider Chris Ackerman who was in attendance.

"I just hit it and the show was over", said Deegan. "I heard the guys were going to pull a 360 backflip and I was sick of being the second place man, so I just stepped it up a notch."

The Mulisha Twist earned Deegan a towering 97.67 score in his first run of the night, vaulting him to the top of the leaderboard where he would stay for good despite impressive efforts from the world-class field of high flying competition. Adams was the only rider within striking distance of Deegan, landing a heel clicker backflip no-hander lander for a score of 95.33 on his second run, but settling for silver once again after earning the same ranking in Freestyle. Adams also won the Freestyle silver at X Games Global Championship I (May 2003, San Antonio, Tex.).

The sport has gotten so gnarly, said Adams. It's at a new level now.

Moto X Freestyle proved Adams' observation correct and then some, serving as the backdrop for several historic moments in Moto X history including not only the sport's first-ever 360 invert (Deegan) but also the sport's first-ever 80 foot flip and first-ever off-axis 360, both executed by Travis Pastrana (Annapolis, MD) in the Freestyle competition held last night.

"Cowboy" Kenny Bartram took the bronze with a score of 92.00 on his second run. Before his third run and with at least a bronze medal under his belt, Bartram started the last run of X Games IX by first carving a signature lasso imprint into the dirt with his tires before launching off the ramp for huge air on his official run and then several additional jumps for the audience. The fans at STAPLES Center loudly showed their appreciation for Bartram's extra effort, a fitting finish to X Games IX. X Games IX was the largest multi-day event in STAPLES Center history.