Some of the top BMX trick riders in the world put on a spectacular display today at the BMX Freestyle Vert competition, part of ESPN X Games 13. Brit Jamie Bestwick's eye-popping first run scored a 93.66, and despite intense competition from Simon Tabron and others that number held throughout the second round and Bestwick walked with the gold. Bestwick's first run was a high-energy group of complex tricks, including an opposite flair and a one-footed opposite double flair. But the big moment came when he did a regular whip, then went straight into an opposite double tail whip - which has never been landed in competition before.
"I love being at the X Games. I get great treatment," Bestwick said afterwards. Finishing with this particular combo was something he's wanted to do for a while, he said, adding,
"Everybody was just riding so well - how could you not get inspired with all the great athletes out here?" Tabron, meanwhile, busted a precedent of his own: he hit two
back-to-back 900's, which has also never been landed in competition. (He also threw a no-handed bar spin 540° in for good measure.) In between, though, he did straight airs off the vert ramp during the rest of his second run, which Tabron acknowledged was probably the cause of him winning silver, not gold.
"It's been a dream of mine to do [the 900°] back-to-back since I learned it. When I landed it [today], the first thing I thought was, 'Did I win?' " Tabron said.
"But I can't take anything away from Jamie. He's been a lifelong friend of mine, and today he was magnificent."
BMX Freestyle Vert Final Results 1. Jamie Bestwick / Derbyshire, Great Britain / 93.66
2. Simon Tabron / Newquay, Great Britain / 92.66
3. Kevin Robinson / East Providence, RI / 88.33
4. Jimmy Walker / Gilberts, IL / 86.00
5. Dennis McCoy / Kansas City, MO / 84.66
6. Steve McCann / Melbourne, Australia / 84.66
7. Jay Eggleston / Denver, CO / 84.00
8. John Parker / State College, PA / 83.66
9. Zack Warden / Woodward, PA / 81.00
10. Francisco Zurita / Santiago, Chile / 76.00
WE ADDED SOME MOVIES!!!! Click the images below:
Jamie Bestwick movie:
Simon Tabron movie:
Kevin Robinson movie:
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.