Wednesday, June 11
In The Dirt -- 06.11.03
By Alex Thompson
EXPN.com
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| Alex is the Editor of FreestyleMTX.com and a commentator for ESPN's Moto X Championship Series. |
The action sports world is buzzing with news of "The X Games Xperience" at Disney's California Adventure July 1st - August 10th. The pros at ESPN and MXi booked the biggest names in Moto X, BMX, Skate and Inline for the ultimate summertime show. Look for names like Metzger, Adams, Bartram, McElroy and X Games medallists across Skate and BMX to perform as part of a rotating roster of superstars.
The news of Mike Metzger's temporary retirement from Moto X competition has left many wondering who will be the front-runner for X Games IX gold. Travis Pastrana was the next likely candidate, but has been sidelined by an accident. Carey Hart will also be attending, and with rumors of a 360 in the works, we may have a real Big Air battle on our hands. But don't count out the lesser-knowns just yet: With foam pits and mulch landings popping up at riding spots all over Southern California, it could be anybody's game.
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| Metz and little-paper friend blingin' gold at Winter X VII -- Who will take his place on the podium this summer? |
The Australian Freeride Pro Am makes its debut June 27-28 at the Bacchus Marsh Motorsport Centre located just outside Melbourne. With more than $15,000 in prize money, this unique event will feature the best Moto X athletes from Australia and New Zealand ripping around a full freestyle course with ramp and dirt hits. Proceeds from the event benefit Cystic Fibrosis Victoria. For more info, check out www.freerideproam.com.
Mike Metzger may be taking a break from competition, but that hasn't stopped the "Two Wheel Deal" from booking a busy summer. He just bought a super-pimped-out motor home and a high-tech landing-ramp system and Honda tossed in a factory ride for Super Moto. That just may be enough to earn him the crown that will make him the "King of the Two Wheel Deal." The real question is, can Mike really pass up riding at X Games IX?
Freestyle's favorite feline, Tommy "Tom Cat" Clowers, is on the road with Jeff Tilton staging demos across the U.S. with their portable ramp system. After a multi-year run at the forefront of freestyle, Tommy slid in points at the major 2003 competitions. Although Tommy, a veteran at clearing the bar, is still the reigning Step-Up champ, WFA points leader Matt Buyten has a strong shot at an X Games medal. At the final X qualifier July 18-19 at Randall's Island, NY, we'll see if the new kids rule, or if the Tom Cat sends them packing.
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| Look for 2002 X Games Step-Up champion Tommy Clowers this summer as he tours the U.S. demo-ing with Jeff Tilton. |
If you think all the attention given to the backflip was hype, think again. This summer, MXi will be releasing "Flipped Out", a documentary on the flip distributed by RHINO Transport, a division of Warner Bros. "Flipped Out" features in-depth interviews with Caleb Wyatt, Mike Metzger and Carey Hart, the guy who started it all. Backed by amazing footage, these athletes tell the story of how they tackled the most elusive trick in freestyle motocross and the wrecks and checks that marked their bumpy rides. The premiere is planned for Los Angeles around the same time as the X Games.
Experience pays, as Chuck Carothers learned after stopping by a freestyle demo put on by Team Patriot last weekend in Perris, CA. Chuck stopped by the ramp-to-ramp demo at West Coast Motorsports on his way out to practice. After rider Eric Hastens over-jumped, wrecking his bike and flattening his rim, the rest of the riders weren't feeling too confident and it looked like the show would be scrubbed. Not wanting to see that happen, Chuck threw on his gear, made a quick call to local freestyle buddy Myles Richmond and the pair timed the jump for new rider Trey Deane, the only other rider to brave the jump that day. The biggest surprise: unknown Trey threw out some of the sickest combos I've ever seen. Three shows later, the three called it a day. [Note: Trey's performance was so impressive that ESPN booked him to jump in the upcoming Disney X Games Xperience based on what they saw at the Perris demo.]
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| Arizona's Trey Deane nails a Hart Attack at the Team Patriot freestyle demo in Perris, CA. |
For more news from freestyle's biggest online community, visit www.freestylemtx.com.
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