THE PERFECT RETURN INJURIES AN AID AS PASTRANA CAPTURES MOTO X GOLD.Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer CARSON - For once, Travis Pastrana Travis Alan Pastrana (born October 8, 1983, in Annapolis, Maryland) is a motorsports competitor who has won championships and X Games gold medals in several events, including supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross, and rally racing. was happy to have been injured. The oft-injured freestyle motocross Freestyle Motocross (also known as FMX) is a variation on the sport of motocross in which motorcycle riders attempt to impress judges with jumps and stunts. The two main types of freestyle events are: Pastrana, 21, a five-time X Games X Games Sports medicine The official Olympics of 'extreme sports' sponsored by ESPN, held annually during the summer. See Extreme sports. gold medalist from Annapolis, Md., has spent most of 2005 recovering from motocross motocross Form of motorcycle racing in which cyclists compete on a closed course marked out over natural or simulated rough terrain. Courses vary widely but must be 1.5–5 km (1–3 mi) in length, with steep inclines, hairpin turns, and mud. and freestyle injuries, notably a separated shoulder. The absence of competition turned into a blessing in disguise for Pastrana, who was injury-free Saturday. ``Usually, I come into the X Games and try out something that is kind of nuts,'' he said. ``Something that does not have great odds. But I have been injured a lot, so I didn't have time to practice for one.'' The most difficult move he did, he said, was a Saran-wrap backflip back·flip intr.v. back·flipped, back·flip·ping, back·flips To perform a backward somersault, especially in the air. n. A backward somersault. . ``That trick scares the bejeebers out of me,'' he said. ``I've done it about 10 times, but it's a bit sketchy for me, even though it's not that hard.'' Pastrana tried no 360 flat spins nor any crazy moves en route to a first run worth 92.80 points, enough for gold. ``Usually, when I come to an event, I practice only one special move,'' he said. ``This year, I knew I didn't have time, so I was a better overall rider.'' His first run was good enough. He threw together no-handed, one-footed, no-handed and one-footed backflips, a cliffhanger cliff·hang·er n. 1. A melodramatic serial in which each episode ends in suspense. 2. A suspenseful situation occurring at the end of a chapter, scene, or episode. 3. and a tsunami. After his 90 seconds were over, he drove up the backside of a dirt jump, did a backflip off the motorcycle and let go of his Suzuki. It was about as crazy as he would get; he did six straight backflips, with no variations, on his second run. ``I was relying on my first run,'' he said. ``I really went for it. I was feeling great, and I just wanted to make sure I got everything and went for it. The top five was so amazing. It was so important to get a good first run in and a good first score. I was pretty stoked stoked adj. Slang 1. Exhilarated or excited. 2. Being or feeling high or intoxicated, especially from a drug. about that.'' Bartram, from Stillwater, Okla., was the first of five finalists to make a run. He did a 360 flat spin, the first of two on the night. He improved his second run, with a score of 92.00, to finish second. Adams, who broke his big toe big toe n. The largest and innermost toe of the human foot. in the preliminary round, also did a 360 flat-spin backflip en route to a 90.80 and a third-place finish. Stenberg (90.30) was fourth and Adam Jones (89.20) fifth. Bartram needed nearly a year and a half off to recover from a leg injury. He won X Games gold in 2002 and silver in 2003. He was back on the podium at the Dew Tour with a first and a third. Saturday's finish showed his leg is fully healed. ``I don't like doing backflips, but I knew I had to do at least four for the judges,'' he said. ``I did three and the 360. I was satisfied with my first run, but I figured I better do better. I'm glad I did, or Nate would have had second.'' Bartram put his stock in rock solids, nac-nacs, no-handed landings and the ``kiss of death kiss of death gangsters’ farewell ritual before murdering victim. [Am. Cult.: Misc.] See : Farewell .'' ``I can handle the bike better than most everyone,'' he said. ``I can handle the front and back, going sideways. I can be more technical.'' Adams, last year's gold medalist, said his broken toe did not affect his performance. He has made only sporadic appearances since breaking his left femur femur (fē`mər): see leg. last October in Italy; doctors put an ill-sized steel rod in his leg, and it has taken him longer to recover than expected. ``I definitely think I had it won,'' he said. ``I don't agree with the judges.'' Adams, from Murrieta, suggested that Pastrana's showiness show·y adj. show·i·er, show·i·est 1. Making an imposing or aesthetically pleasing display; striking: showy flowers. 2. helps him with the judges. ``That could be to his advantage,'' he said. Pastrana said the X Games is about show. ``This is the time of year people wait to see,'' he said. ``We want to put out all the stops.'' Keith Lair, (626) 962-8811 keith.lair(at)sgvn.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Crowd-pleaser Travis Pastrana shows off during his gold-medal run in the Moto X Freestyle competition at Home Depot Center. (2 -- color) Despite some spectacular moves, Adam Jones finished fifth in the Moto X Freestyle competition. Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer Box: EVENT SCHEDULE |
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