Bestwick Still the Best at X Games 14 in Vert
August 2, 2008 – 11:36 pm PT by GregTags: Chad Kagy, Jamie Bestwick, Steve McCann, X Games —
cr. Pete Demos/ESPN Images/Shazamm
Jamie Bestwick didn’t have much luck trying out the new Superpark course yesterday when he failed to make the finals. Saturday it looked like all was right with the world as returned to his true home, the vert ramp, and dominated the semifinals with a huge score on his way to the five-man final.The format of the final had each rider getting a 30-second run followed by a 10-minute session in which each athlete got 30 seconds or were out with a fall. Bestwick had a hard slam in his first session run and it didn’t look like he might be able to continue. But he did, and in the last 45 seconds of the session he dropped in needing a strong score to pass Chad Kagy for the gold. Was there ever any doubt?
Kagy, fresh off his Big Air victory on Friday, ended up with the silver medal while Steve McCann won his first Vert medal at the Games by coming in third with the bronze.
Bestwick wasn’t the only rider to have a big slam — Simon tabron was knocked out in his semi heat and had to leave the contest, though he was walking around by the end of the day.
Keep reading for more about the finals and for full results.
Bestwick Comes Back From a Fall to Win Gold Medal
LOS ANGELES – The jam-packed crowd at the X Games Vert ramp watched Bestwick come back to win the BMX Freestyle Vert final for the second consecutive year after taking a fall.I didn’t think I had done enough to win,” Bestwick said about his comeback. “I was relentless out there.”
Bestwick’s persistence created a crowd uproar. “I felt good and was able to string together some great tricks,” the Brit phenom stated. Some of Bestwick’s intense combinations included an alley-oop downside, huge flairs and whips, and a series of impressive 540s.
Chad Kagy proved that last night’s win in BMX Freestyle Big Air was no mistake as he brought his technical tricks to the Vert ramp today. Kagy executed a difficult flair double whip, the first he’s stuck all year, to help land him in the second place position.
“You know you gotta step it up every year at the X Games or else you get left behind,” Kagy said. X Games 14 is Kagy’s 10th X Games appearance.
Following close behind in third place was Australia’s pride and joy, Steve McCann. McCann didn’t start competing in Vert until 2007 but has quickly become a rising threat.
“It’s my first Vert medal ever. What could be better than doing it at the X Games?” McCann said. McCann landed an outstanding bar-spin tail whip as well as an alley-oop tail whip to secure the bronze.
BMX FREESTYLE VERT FINAL RESULTS
Results from ESPN X GAMES 14 at The Home Center in Carson, Calf. on Saturday, August 2, 2008. (Final Standings)
Name / Hometown / Score
1. Jamie Bestwick / Derbyshire, Great Britain / 111.00
2. Chad Kagy / Gilroy, Calif. / 105.00
3. Steve McCann / Melbourne, Australia / 103.00
4. Dennis McCoy / Kansas City, Mo. / 90.00
5. Jimmy Walker / Chicago, Ill. / 78.00
6. Kevin Robinson / East Providence, R.I. / 84.00
7. Coco Zurita / Santiago, Chile / 83.00
8. Zack Warden / St. Louis, Mo. / 82.00
9. Jay Eggleston / Denver, Colo. / 75.00
10. Simon Tabron / Newquay, Great Britain / 26.00
