Pastrana Lands Double Backflip at X Games to Snag Gold in Best Trick

August 5, 2006, 9:20am

LOS ANGELES – Travis Pastrana made jaws drop on Friday night, when he landed the first-ever X Games Moto X double back flip. The STAPLES Center crowd erupted as the multi-sport X Games superstar fluidly flipped his body and bike backwards two full times. Mat Rebeaud rode away with the silver, and Aussie Blake “Bilco” Williams toke home the bronze.

“There is not much in life that compares to this feeling I have now. I’m on cloud nine,” said Pastrana. “I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to make it, but was confident enough to get close. When I landed, I was riding away and said ‘Wow, I can’t believe that actually worked.’”

Pastrana’s trick was so impressive, that his competitors were left with nothing to do but praise the 22-year-old Moto X innovator.

“I’m just happy to finish number two behind him,” said Rebeaud. “Two years ago he didn’t know me, and I only knew him from TV and a picture in my room. So, now, to be competing with him in the X Games – it’s so cool. If I can’t win, it doesn’t matter.”

Added Williams, “It’s pretty much the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen. I’d heard rumors that he’d never do it again, but you can’t count Travis out. And then, sure enough, in practice I saw them pull the ramp back. At that point I knew everyone else would be fighting for silver and bronze.”

It was not only Pastrana’s show-stopping performance that wowed the crowd that included Hollywood star Sandra Bullock, Monster Garage host Jesse James and nearly 13,000 others. Rebeaud and Williams put on impressive displays as well. Rebeaud, landed a knack knack under flip twice (once one-handed), while Williams
landed a cliffhanger back flip and a heel-clicker 360.

Nate Adams narrowly missed the podium – his high score actually tying the 91.80 of Williams, but his combined score for both runs (the tie-breaker) falling just short, and landing him in fourth place.

Pastrana will also compete in Moto X Freestyle, SuperMoto Rally Car Racing and the Moto Madness exhibition at X Games 12.