ESPN X Games 13

Last year's events and medal sweep by Travis Pastrana was still on the tongues of everyone in attendance of this year. Will he come back and continue to be the winningest X Games moto-athlete? Will he do the double back flip again? Will there be a new golden boy for 2007? Answers include yes, no and yeah, a few superstars emerged this year. One name stands
above the rest in my memories of the '07 Games, Scott Murray.

We internet fanatics can chalk up another pop-culture conquest in the annals of the Google database with the name Scott Murray. Last year's momentous double backflip in the Best Trick competition by Travis Pastrana was repeated, well, attempted by only one rider this year. He's a newbie to the scene as well as competitive freestyle riding. Straight out of the
northern woods of Helps, Michigan, and into his first freestyle competition, Scott Murray fought his way into the event, gaining entry to the comp barely a week beforehand and blasting to the top of everyone's watch list for 2008.

Murray went big on his first-ever X Games run at the launch ramp. Bringing his own launch carpet and approaching the jump from nearly a standstill, he wasn't able to stick the landing, but learned the hard way about tuning his bike for less humidity than in Michigan. But at least he landed the respect of his newfound peers. "Travis is a pillar," Murray tells me, "I'm just shadowed by his greatness." Check out Scott's credential application right here.

Otherwise, the Games went off with a bang, and much smoother than last year's event. Scheduling and venue shifts put most of the motor-centric events on one day for easier spectator enjoyment. Unfortunately, Pastrana wasn't atop any podium this year. His only medal was a Bronze in the Rally Car race, "But I'm still having a great time,"he said.

With the likes of Murray and the introduction of the G.O.A.T. into X Games rider rosters, The 2008 Summer X Games will undoubtedly be stronger and wilder.

Moto X Best Trick

High-flying excitement and anticipation filled the air in the Staples center. Everyone hoped to see something new and outrageous in the freestyle motocross event. Last year Pastrana performed the first ever double backflip in competition. This year he co-announced the event from the sidelines, opening the door for newcomers to shine. And shine they did, two of the three medalists were rookies. Still another (Scott Murray) attempted to land the double backflip on his first of two runs.

We spoke to Scott after his failed attempt and he's more pumped than ever to come back next year. He's "super stoked" to have met the other big names in the sport like Deegan and Twitch. "They're all great guys and very welcoming," he said. Scott has already been invited back to perform in the 2008 Summer X Games, and knowing him, the double backflip is just the beginning.

Our gold medalist and rookie-no-more Kyla Loza set the bar high early performing his body varial on his first run. Rotating counter-clockwise and vertically above the airborne motorcycle (see practice run), Loza shocked the crowd with unassuming movie-promo riding gear and an unfamiliar name. Kyle's name is here to stay.

The Summer X Games 2007 started off with a bang, rushing a rookie to golden glory in the Moto X Best Trick and put newbies in both first and third positions. Adam Jones - the only veteran on the podium - took Silver and Todd Potter landed a “Kiss of Death” backflip for the bronze.

Moto X Step Up

While the sun was still shining Friday, a host of practice and qualifying rounds in the Moto X leg took place.

Friday night brought more high-flying action, with height being the focus for the Moto X Step Up high jump. Though no records were broken Ronnie Renner took the gold medal aboard the only four-stroke motorcycle in the competition. Despite having more rotating mass in the flywheel, and the bike overall, Renner knows best how to whip his bike around. And that's why he won. "Don't be surprised if every bike in next year's show is a four-stroke," Renner boldly predicted.

Moto X Supermoto

On Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, a sellout crowd numbering near 30,000 had a full plate to enjoy, starting with the supermoto race. In the end, the X Games lent its karma to Mark Burkhart, who after watching supermoto veteran Jeff Ward lead the race for 32 of the 35 laps, snatched victory from Ward in the last laps. Mark, like a good grasshopper, learned of patience this year and took home the gold medal in the Moto X Supermoto event, swapping the 1-2 finishing position we'd seen at last year's event between Burkhart and Ward.

Moto X Racing

Structured much like a small version of an AMA supercross race, the semi-retired Ricky Carmichael was the favorite to win the inaugural Moto X Racing event. Naturally he didn't disappoint. Ricky passed through his qualifying rounds like a hot knife through butter. Still en fuego from the first rounds, Carmichael not only walked away with the gold, he made each lap with style and grace. He's surely got the X Games fever and hopes to race in next year's Supermoto and Step Up events as well as the Racing.

Rally Car Racing Super Special

Sunday was a "rest" day for the Fonz with no more two-wheeled freaks in game play. The four wheelers were in the spot light and our fellow MO-ron, Ole Holter of Team Paladin Rally was racing in the big show again this year in the Rally Car Racing Super Special. While the flying tomato, Shaun White was winning the Skateboard Vert Men’s competition , the rally car teams were warming up, rebuilding and topping off the four-wheeled vehicles.

Despite disqualifying himself by crossing into his opponents lane at the finish line in the semi-final, Travis took home the Bronze.

"While Shaun White was winning the Skateboard Vert Men’s competition , the rally car teams were warming up, rebuilding and topping off the four-wheeled vehicles."