Press Release | August 1, 2008
Best trick kicked off with a bang as the nine riders showed up to make history. The event, which usually features one or two never before seen tricks, marked the opening and first metal presentation of the 2008 X games. Scott Murray returned from Michigan to try and repeat his Navy Moto World Championship performance with the double backflip. Also in the mix was Rally Car Copilot Jim DeChamp who had been practicing at the Pastrana compound in hopes of landing the first ever Front Flip on a motorcycle. Both riders would suffer hard crashes and finish without a completed jump. Murray bounced right up after barely missing an off centered double backflip. DeChamp took a bigger hit and was helped up my the medical staff. “I think he would have made it if he had just stayed with the bike!” Pastrana described after the attempt. The bronze metal went to Todd Potter for his 75-foot Ruler Flip. Taking second in the evening was Jeremy Lusk who pulled off the 75-foot Double Grab Backflip, as he had done at the Moto X World Championships earlier this year. Taking gold on the night was 22-year-old, and returning gold medalist, Kyle Loza. The Trabuco Hills, California, resident pulled off what he called the Electic Doom which basically was a Bar Hop Backflip with his body. Todd Potter won the innaugural Whip constest. The crowd voted Potter the winner via text messages. Motocrossers Ricky Carmichael and Josh Grant competed and were impressive, but Potter got the votes. Carmichael did finish second.
