A 720 Double Tailwhip propelled "Miracle Man" Dave Mirra's to a 94.40 in his first run of the X Games Bike Stunt Vert finals to take gold for the fifth time in the last six years tonight at the First Union Complex. Mat Hoffman came back from a one-year retirement to finish second with a 91.40 and England's Simon Tabron was third with a 90.80. "I'm psyched about the outcome," said the Greenville, N.C., resident Mirra. "My first run felt awesome. I just wanted to come out on top." With his victory, Mirra, who has never finished worse that second in an X Games Vert competition, built his X Games all-time gold medal count to 11. His 14 overall medals ties him with Skateboard competitor Tony Hawk, who claimed his 14th medal earlier in the day in the Vert Doubles event with Andy Macdonald. Unquestionably the greatest Vert rider in the history of the sport, Hoffman, who proclaimed on-air at the close of X Games VII last summer that he "would not compete any longer," made the most of his comeback, landing a No-Handed 900 that electrified the crowd. "I was riding like crazy," said the Oklahoma City, Okla., native. "I've had that (No-Handed 900) on my mind for weeks. I just couldn't get it out of my head. I'd like to thank ESPN for giving me a call to come and compete. It's been great." "There were highs and lows throughout the competition," said Tabron, who tied his best X Games Stunt Vert finish after placing third in 1998 and 1999. "Everyone was definitely scrappy under pressure, but I'm happy with my riding. The X Games showcases 300 of the world's best action sports athletes competing in a variety of sports events for medals and more than $1 million in total prize money. In its first year as X Games host, Philadelphia drew 235,000 spectators during X Games VII, August 17-22, 2001. ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports will combine to televise more than 20 original hours of X Games VIII coverage starting August 17, while ESPN International will distribute the Games worldwide. In addition, EXPN.com, the year-round home for action sports and culture, will offer extensive event coverage, including streaming video from the X Games.