Nate Adams defeats Mike Mason to clinch Moto X Speed & Style gold medal – X Games 17 Update
After a thrilling battle, Arizona’s Nate Adams managed to prevail over Nevada’s Mike Mason in the final of Moto X Speed & Style that went down at the STAPLES Centre in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, July 30.
California’s Ronnie Faisst collected bronze medal for the second year in a row after triumphing in his head-to-head battle against Nevada’s Carey Hart.
The success on Saturday earned the 27-year-old Adams his third X Games gold medal, his second gold at X Games 17 and first since 2004.
Adams remained consistent and stylish throughout the course, ousting Adam Jones in the quarter-finals and Faisst in semi-finals to make his way into the finals and compete against Mason for top honours. The 29-year-old Mason had made his way into the finals
after defeating Todd Potter in the quarter-finals and Carey Hart in the semi-finals.
As the final kicked off, Mason grabbed the hole-shot and held on to his lead, taking the speed advantage over his rival. However, Adams concentrated more on the style aspect of the contest, throwing down sensational tricks, which included his signature 360
flip, no-handed back-flip and La-Z-Boy back-flip, on all three judged hits to earn 90.00 style points against his rival’s 87.00.
As the battle came down to the final lap, Mason needed to win the race with a lead of three seconds. However, Adams managed to narrow the gap, depriving his rival of the required time-difference and sealing the fate of the final in his favour.
“I just found out I won,” a surprised and excited Adams said right after the final. “It hasn't really sunk in yet. I am speechless I don't even know what to say. I put in the work and I was doubtful of myself coming into this year honestly. I guess I need
to be more doubtful more often.”
Despite missing out on the top honours, Mason was still satisfied with the outcome of the contest as it was his best finish in X Games.
“I knew Nate had the tricks but I at least wanted to win the race,” Mason commented on the race. “I knew this was the last four laps I was doing, so I was laying it all out there. I was actually riding over my head out there because I knew Nate's tricks
were harder and I needed to make up the difference.”
The bronze medal match saw the 34-year-old Faisst collect his second consecutive bronze medal at the X Games by beating Hart despite staying out of action for most of the season due to a broken femur.
The latest edition of X Games has turned out to be a memorable campaign for Adams. He is turning out to be one of the most promising athletes in the sport and it seems to be only a matter of time before we find him stepping on to the supercross stage and
competing with the elite riders.
Tags: