Travis Pastrana named ‘Rider of the Decade’ by 2010 FMX Awards
The results of 2010 FMX Awards were announced on the 1st of April, declaring the motorsports competitor and stunt performer Travis Pastrana as the ‘FMX Rider of the Decade’ from 2000 to 2010. He has also been named as the ‘Best American FMX Rider’.
Pastrana has been making a huge impact in the world of motorsports ever since his first X Games medal in 1998. He had managed to amass successes and earn quite a reputation for himself, winning numerous medals and astonishing the world with mind boggling
stunts. His first-ever double backflip during the X Games in 2006 is something that is expected to stay in everyone’s mind for years to come. He capped off the decade with 2010 X Games gold in both Moto X Freestyle and Moto X Speed and Style, asserting his
dominance once again.
The 27-year-old American received another honour when his website was named the ‘Best FMX Riders Website’. The three awards going to him have indeed made him the most dominating athlete in this years’ voting.
“I really think this was Travis Pastrana's decade, 2000-2010, and it was great to see him back winning at X Games in 2010,” said Oliver Franke, spokesman for the Germany-based Berlinièros Sports Agency.
Franke further said that Pastrana has contributed a lot for the progression of the sport. From his double backflip to getting his Nitro Circus on worldwide TV, his impact on the sport has been the greatest out of anybody in FMX.
Berlinièros Sports Agency is the promoter behind the International Freestyle Motocross Federation (FIM) and the Night of the Jumps competition series. They presented the first Awards in 2006 to honour the Freestyle Motocross rider who had given a consistent
and spectacular performance throughout the season. Since then, new categories have been added to the Awards every year to acknowledge riders for their outstanding performances and achievements in the previous year. The ‘Rider of the Decade’ was one such category
that had made its’ debut this year.
2010 FMX Award also named Norwegian rider Andre Villa the ‘Best international FMX Rider’ and ‘Best European FMX Rider’ after the votes came in. Villa’s latest achievements include victory at the Mexico City stop of the 2010 Red Bull X-Fighters series. Indeed
he has become an intimidating name in the field of FMX.
“He's one of the top riders from the last five or six years and after recovering from a long-term injury he had a huge comeback last year,” Franke said. “He nearly won the Red Bull X-Fighters series, ending up second, and I think everyone sees him as one
of the best in the sport right now.”
‘Best Brazilian FMX Rider’ was another category making a debut this year and the award went to Gilmar Flores. Jackson Strong from Australia was voted Best International FMX Rookie whereas European Rookie of the Year award went to Maikel Melero.
The FMX Awards winners are chosen through voting. This voting process is comprised of two parts. A Selection Panel of FMX experts with the help of leading FMX journalists and broadcasters from several countries narrow down the list of deserving riders to
five nominations in each category through voting. The fans are then given the responsibility of voting to select the winners from the nominations.
The FMX Awards may be considered as a small online voter-based operation but they have been playing a significant role in getting performers of motorsports the recognition that they deserve. The operation that initially focused on Europe only, has already
expanded a lot in its five years to honour FMX riders worldwide – now focusing on USA, Australia, Asia, Africa and Brazil as well.
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