Monster Energy’s Nate Adams Captures Gold In Dew Tour FMX Finals

July 23, 2007, 10:36am

Adam Jones (5th) gives Monster Energy two of top five FMX spots; other Monster athletes shine in the prelims, but manage to sketch in the finals

CORONA, Calif., (July 23, 2007) – Monster Energy was led this past weekend at the second round of the 2007 Dew Tour in Cleveland by FMX star Nate Adams, who captured gold in the weather delayed & shortened marquee event.

Adams, who won the prelims by a point (92.67 to 91.67) over Japanese rider Takayuki Higashino, was awarded the victory when high winds forced race officials to cancel the finals. Adams’ top prelim run was highlighted by a soaring back flip over the 96-foot jump, a flip/nac- nac combination and flip Cliff Hanger combination.

“I’m bummed we weren’t able to get in the finals, but I feel the Dew Tour officials made the right call on that,” said Adams. “Out of all the sports here, FMX and high winds don’t mix too well. Taka was riding unreal and I’m looking forward to the next time we get to go at it.”

Adam Jones (5th) gave the Monster Army at the Dew Tour two of the top five spots in FMX – including the gold!

Had the other events been cancelled after the prelims as well, Monster Energy would have had a couple more gold medal-winning efforts from skater Greg Lutzka (Skate Park) and BMX Vert specialist Jamie Bestwick. Both athletes won their respective prelim events, but managed to get shut out of the medals in the final – both finishing 7th.

“I just sketched in the finals,” said Lutzka. “I’m bummed because I was ripping in the prelims.”

Added Bestwick: “Felt great after the prelims but, yeah, I just didn’t have it going in the finals. A couple mistakes really cost me.” Noteworthy: Bestwick had won five consecutive Dew Tour BMX Vert contests heading into Cleveland this past weekend.

Also tearing it up in the prelims for Monster was Ryan Guettler (BMX Dirt). Guettler was back to his ’05 form, throwing 360s off the drop- in, hucking a front flip off the first hit then winding things up with a double tail whip off the last jump. For his efforts Guettler made his second finals this summer, scoring 2nd in the prelims. But Guettler wasn’t able to keep the heat on during the finals and slipped to 11th.

In BMX Park Monster’s Dave Mirra was solid in the prelims, scoring a 4th to make the finals. Right on his tail was his Monster Energy/ Mirraco teammate Mike Spinner (5th in the prelims). Mirra kept the momentum heading into the finals and placed 5th – missing the podium by a half a point. Spinner didn’t fare as well, skidding to 11th place in the BMX Park finals.

Wrapping up the Skate Park competition scoring for Monster Energy was Jereme Rogers. The east coaster improved from 11th in the prelims to 8th overall in the finals. On the Skate Vert ramp Pierre Luc “PLG” Gagnon was the only Monster Energy-backed athlete to make the finals, placing 7th in the prelims and 9th in the finals.

Next up for the Monster Energy athletes on the Dew Tour is the Aug. 16-19 Vans Invitational in Portland, Ore.