X Games Moto X Best Trick discontinued after 2013
Thursday 14 March: We were there in 2012 and 2 of the first 4 riders were stretcher'd off
ESPN has announced that the Moto X Best Trick event at the X Games will be discontinued from 2013 onwards – in addition, the Snowmobile Best Trick event has also been removed for the event.
The decision to discontinue the Best Trick events follows, but is not
directly tied to, an investigation into the death of Snowmobile Best
Trick competitor Caleb Moore in January, according to an ESPN spokesman.
Moore died of head and heart injuries sustained during the Snowmobile
Freestyle competition at X Games Aspen 2013, where he under-rotated a
backflip attempt and crumpled under the weight of his tumbling
snowmobile.
ESPN spokesman said. "Moto X Best Trick and Snowmobile Best Trick were not dropped in
response to what happened in Aspen,” This
decision was under consideration before Aspen, and, in fact, our review
of Snowmobile Freestyle continues. This change reflects our decision to focus on motor sports
disciplines which feature athletes who also compete in multiple,
world-class competitions [e.g., professional events and tours]
reflecting the highest degree of athlete participation, competitive
development and the global nature of our X Games franchise. Over the past 18 years we have made more than 60 changes to our
competition lineups at X Games events to capture the evolution of the
sport and these continue that growth.”
The Moto X Best Trick competition at X Games has driven progression
in action sports since 2001, 11-time X Games gold medalist and freestyle
motocross innovator Travis Pastrana will be sad to see the event go.
"Best trick was my favorite event both as a competitor and a
spectator,” said Pastrana. "It was a staple of progression in FMX but
also the most risky part of it. A lot of athletes would cross from other
disciplines or learn a special skill specifically for best trick. Usually these athletes were capable of landing their trick in a foam
pit or on special set up but under pressure, they rarely did which
added to the dangerousness of it. Either way I was a fan of this event
and will be sad to see it go.”
Yet it's also been one of the most dangerous events from the
beginning. Carey Hart crashed a backflip attempt during the event at X
Games 7 in Philadelphia, also in 2001, breaking several bones.
X Games will continue to host freestyle motorsports competition, ESPN said. "Progression in these sports obviously comes with more risk," the
network said. "Nobody can eliminate risk in its entirety, but what we
can do is focus on providing world-class events that are as safe and
organized as possible."