Bestwick, Kagy Battle Again For BMX Vert Title in SLC

Jamie Bestwick in pain after his final run. | cr. Wina Sturgeon

Three times this season Chad Kagy and Jamie Bestwick have battled at every AST Dew Tour stop this season and Friday’s BMX Vert finals at the Toyota Challenge in Salt Lake City was no different.  Kagy fought Bestwick trick for trick, and after their final runs the two were actually tied with a 93.00.  However, for the second time this season Bestwick earned the tie-breaker and the title, giving him a strong edge in the Dew Cup standings going into next month’s PlayStation Pro in Orlando.

Bestwick has a 30 point edge over Kagy in the standings, meaning not only does Kagy has to win, but Bestwick needs to finish no better than fifth (if he finishes fourth with a Kagy win, the two would be tied and Bestwick would take the tie-breaker).  Only once in his AST Dew Tour career has Bestwick finished that low when competing.

Adding to the drama is a lingering back injury Bestwick has, which reared its head at the end of the contest when the 37-year-old rider collapsed after starting to walk off the ramp.  He was attended to by medical personnel (see the pics below) and received treatment backstage before coming out to accept his award with an icepack on his back.  In addition to his back injury he told Lat34 he was riding with a meniscus tear in his knee.

Ryan Sheckler talks with Jamie as he waits for medical personnel. | cr. Wina Sturgeon

Check out the full results below.

BMX Vert Final Results – Toyota Challenge
September 12, 2008 – Salt Lake City, UT

1st – Bestwick, Jamie – 93.00
2nd – Kagy, Chad – 93.00
3rd – Tabron, Simon – 92.17
4th – Walker, Jimmy – 91.50
5th – McCann, Steven – 91.33
6th – Warden, Zack – 90.33
7th – McCoy, Dennis – 89.33
8th – Zurita, Francisco – 88.50
9th – Coleman, Austin – 88.33
10th – Eggleston, Jay – 86.83

AST Dew Tour: Dew Cup Current Standings
BMX Vert Points

1. Jamie Bestwick, 385
2. Chad Kagy, 355
3. Simon Tabron, 290
4. Steven McCann, 276
5. Dennis McCoy, 240
6. Jimmy Walker, 237
7. Zackery Warden, 203
8. Jay Eggleston, 196
9. John Parker, 183
10. Austin Coleman, 171

BMX Vert Prelim Results – Toyota Challenge
September 11, 2008 – Salt Lake City, UT

1st – Walker, Jimmy – 91.17
2nd – McCann, Steven – 90.17
3rd – McCoy, Dennis – 90.00
4th – Warden, Zack – 89.17
5th – Coleman, Austin – 89.00
6th – Eggleston, Jay – 88.33
7th – Zurita, Francisco – 87.67
8th – Parker, John – 87.00
9th – Mancuso, Mike – 86.83
10th – Byron, Vince – 86.00
11th – Robinson, Kevin – 85.83
12th – Kraft, Koji – 85.67
13th – Jovel, Jorge – 84.33
14th – Williams, Danny – 83.67
15th – Snowden, Ben – 82.00
16th – McElhinney, Keith – 75.67