| The Moto X calendar kicked off in Vegas a week after the X Games with the first qualifier for 2004. The winner of each discipline earned a gold pass to next year's X Games, and the explosive popularity of Moto X brought out the fans in Vegas to cheer on the usual suspects and many new faces. Ronnie Renner pulled off a nearly flawless Freestyle run, earning him a spot in next summer's X Games Freestyle comp. "The event was awesome, and I am stoked I won without the flip," Renner said. "Knowing I am in next year's X Games takes off the pressure to rush and learn the 360 and get the flip down over a gap." Another outcome of the Vegas event was the formation of a professional riders organization for freestyle motocross athletes. Still in the developing stages, the organization will reportedly set guidelines for all aspects of contests and demos involving professional Moto X athletes. I asked Ronnie how he feels about an athlete-driven organization. "I am all for it," he said. "Different riders have different opinions on how things should be done, but if our collective input results in basic and fair guidelines for putting on events and demos, it can only help the sport." You will also now see Renner on a blingin' new orange KTM bike, making the switch from Yamaha. Travis Pastrana, undefeated in Freestyle competition for six years, is unbeaten no longer. At the recent Gravity Games in Cleveland, Travis crashed at the end of his first run attempting a superman backflip. He was knocked out and suffered a severe concussion. After being helped to his feet, Travis hopped the fence into the stands and started hugging and high-fiving his fans before being wrangled and brought to the athlete area. During his interview with NBC, Travis admitted he couldn't remember his run or his escapade into the stands, and opted out of his second run. Nate Adams took the win with his second-run score of 91, becoming the first rider to beat Travis in a freestyle competition.While most of us see Kenny Bartram on ESPN commercials, you can catch him on CMT (Country Music Television) in the new Chris Cagle video "Chick's Dig It", along with BMX rider Kevin Robinson. Kenny not only jumped his bike for the video, he reportedly joined Chris on the mic for a few verses of the song. Great news for those following the progress of Chris Ackerman, who suffered severe injuries from a riding accident in 2002. Chris was healthy enough to make it to this summer's X Games and was escorted down on the floor where he was once on the Moto X production crew — just in time to see good friend Brian Deegan bust a sideways backflip, which earned him the gold medal in Big Air. While Chris started wiggling his toes, help towards his recovery is still needed. You can contribute to the Chris Ackerman trust by visiting www.chrisackerman.com. Nate Adams, who took home his first X Games medals this year, is keeping busy. He was pulling backflips at a 75-foot ramp-to-ramp over asphalt at the California State Fair. Nate said pulling flips over the big gap is easier than off a super-kicker at 45 feet because it gives you less chance to over-rotate. Nate then headed to Point-X Camp September 5th to judge the final round of the "Butterfinger Breakout". Amateur athletes jumped to impress Nate, and one rider was named the "Butterfinger Breakout Rookie of the Year." More info at www.butterfinger.com/breakout.asp. Mike Metzger is racing super-motard again. "The Godfather" took a nasty spill during the X Games Xperience at Disney's California Adventure, which unfortunately kept him from competing in the X Games. Metz is back and has his foam pit close to completion. Metz is also branching out and supporting athletes under the "Team Metzger" banner. He will have his own retail and online shop opening soon at www.mikemetzger.com, where you can shop for bike parts, graphics and lots of awesome gear designed with Mike's original and artistic flair. |
| In The Dirt -- 09.18.03 09.18.03 by: Alex Thompson EXPN.com |