X Games 17: Nate Adams Takes Gold in Speed & Style

Although he didn’t cross the finish line first, Nate Adams’ style points gave him the X Games gold in Moto X Speed & Style over the speedy Mike Mason.

“I just found out I won,” a surprised and excited Adams said.  “It hasn’t really sunk in yet.  I am speechless I don’t even know what to say.  I put in the work and I was doubtful of myself coming into this year honestly.  I guess I need to be more doubtful more often.” 

In last year’s event, Adams just missed the top spot and took silver, but 2011 is turning out to be his year as it is his second gold of X Games 17.  His first came in Friday night’s Moto X Freestyle event.

Even though he didn’t get the top spot, the silver represented Mason’s best finish in X Games.

“I am so stoked right now,” Mason said.  “The course was awesome, so much better than last year.  I am so pumped about my medal. I felt so good through the whoops and I am just happy I rode well.”

In the bronze medal match Ronnie Faisst, who just four months ago broke his femur, knocked off Moto legend Carey Hart for his second-consecutive bronze in the discipline.

“Because of my injury I am came in with no expectations, but stoked I was able to medal,” Faisst added. 

Speed & Style combines racing and the gravity-defying tricks of Freestyle.  Two riders will race head-to-head around a four-lap, short-track-motorcross-inspired course.  The twist is that both riders must hit a freestyle ramp and execute a trick on each lap.  Upon the conclusion of the race, the judges give each rider a “style” score based on overall impression of the tricks performed on each lap.  In addition, the first rider to cross the finish line receives bonus “speed” points for their margin of victory over the other rider.  The overall goal of the competition is to find a balance between speed (time) and style (execution of tricks).


X Games 17
In its ninth year in Los Angeles, X Games 17 will feature more than 200 athletes at competition venues and event spaces including STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE. The 17th annual action sports competition to be held in Los Angeles July 28 – 31 and will debut the new discipline of Enduro X, as well as the first-ever rally street circuit running through the downtown area. ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will combine to telecast 25 hours of live X Games 17 competition. In addition to the 25  original hours in high definition, the Worldwide Leader in Action Sports will also televise 21 hours of X Games action on ESPN 3D. More than 29 hours will also be distributed on ESPN3.com.