Vince Byron walks away with BMX Vert gold: 2011 KIA X Games Asia
The BMX Vert Finals of the 2011 KIA X Games (KXG) Asia wrapped up on April 30 at the Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China. After a real nail-biter, it was Australia’s Vince Byron who walked away with the top honour. Australia’s Steven McCann clinched the silver while America’s Dennis McCoy rounded out the podium after finishing in third place.
The atmosphere at the Jiangwan Stadium was electrifying as the enthusiastic Chinese crowd gathered to watch some of the most talented and exciting BMX riders battle each other for the X Games gold. With the final’s field consisting of the BMX legend Chad Kagy, McCoy, Coco Zurita, McCann and Byron, the final four-run battle was expected to be truly epic.
Determined to make a strong impact, Byron kicked off his final with an impressive first run. His 540 tuck, reverse and double tail whips sent the crowd in a frenzy of cheers. The perfectly executed tricks and impressive combinations made him the strongest contender for the gold. His run remained unbeatable till the end and eventually sealed the fate of the contest.
“It's all worth it, it feels amazing to win here in Shanghai. I love it here in China, and I love the fans, and they're all amazing, and I'm so stoked”, said an ecstatic Byron while talking to the media.
However, the rest of the final’s line up had no intention of letting the Australian walk away with the gold with a fight. Their riding and tricks clearly showed their passion.
While all the riders remained impressive in the final, it was McCann who managed to get the closest to beating Byron to the throne. However he ended up just short and had to settle for the runner-up position.
Finishing in third place was the 44-year-old McCoy. The veteran American matched the youth in agility and enthusiasm. Even though he had not made it to the final in the most convincing form, he surely justified his place in the finals with two 900-degree spins and other spectacular tricks. He got to take home the bronze medal for his effort.
Talking to the media after the contest, McCoy said, “It's a part of my style- I always pull a scary trick. Even though everyone likes to talk about my age, the fact is I bring it every time.”
Even though Kagy failed to secure a place on the podium, the American’s effort was commendable. It had hardly been a week that he had gotten back on the bike after recovering from an injured left hand. Though the pain was still there, he still put up a fight and made his way to the final. He did not take it easy even in the final regardless of his hand. To his despair, he failed to score high enough to make it to the top three.
The 31-year-old Kagy admitted that there is a possibility for him to sit out the BMX Mini Mega that is scheduled to take place on Monday.
Byron managed to shine in the BMX Vert, but his job is far from over yet. A BMX Mini Mega champion in the 2010 X Games Asia, he will be facing an impressive line up of riders to defend his title on May 2.
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