Jeremy McGrath Takes it All in Stride Summer X Games
Los Angeles, CA - Competing in two of the most popular events at X Games 15, Step Up and Moto X Racing, seven-time Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath is quoted as saying "another great time at Summer X and leaving healthy - that's always good!"
Marking his sixth X Games appearance this past weekend, July 29th through August 2nd, McGrath delighted a packed downtown Los Angeles Staples Center crowd on Thursday night with his return to the Step Up event, the equivalent of high-jumping a dirt bike over a bar perched high above a dirt mound. Just missing a podium spot, McGrath, who had previously taken Gold in Step Up, settled for fourth smoothly clearing the 32 foot height but was unable to clear the 33 foot height.
Saturday, X Games competition moved to Home Depot Center in Carson, CA where McGrath raced the highly anticipated Super X Moto X event, a technical supercross race ran with less riders and in a quicker format, before a completely a sold-out crowd. Racing the first heat, McGrath rounded out the top four for a direct transfer to the Main event. On the line with a field of 12, McGrath blasted off the start, nearly grabbing the holeshot, and settled into the second place spot for the first several laps of the race. It subsequently took McGrath a few more laps to find his rhythm on the slick, technical track finishing the 20 lap race in seventh overall. Prior to the Saturday afternoon race, McGrath spent two hours in the ESPN broadcast booth providing TV commentary for the ABC coverage of the Supermoto race.
Post X-15 McGrath had this to say “I still love racing as much as ever but I don't come out here to win. It's really just about getting out there and having some fun and I did that so I'm happy. My goal isn't to really compete with (the full time riders). I just try to get a good start, which I did and go from there…unfortunately, I screwed that up (laughs). But I'm leaving healthy and that's always good.”
Special gratitude and thanks go out to McGrath's 2009 X Games 15 sponsors: Honda, Monster Energy Drink, Thor/Parts Unlimited, SPY Optics, Alpinestars, Troy Lee Designs, DC Shoes, MMI and Giant RV.
Less than a week after X Games 15, McGrath moves back to four wheels racing the sixth stop of THE OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (TORC) series, August 8th and 9th at Bark River International Raceway, Bark River, MI. In just his second pro season, McGrath currently sits in fifth overall in TORC championship points out of a field of 19. Race coverage will be broadcast on ESPN2, August 16th 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM.
