ALLEN
9th November 2004, 04:08 PM
Mike Metzger Wins Inaugural FMX RIOT!
Presented by RushHD – Produced by MXi
(On the Voom Hi Definition Network)
"
All Rider Judged!
First Ever Natural Terrain Backflips in Competition
Including Metz’ on a CRF 450!
Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg a Close Second
For Immediate Release – www.mediax.tv
(Malibu, CA, November 8, 2004) - Battling heat, dust, exhaustion and a field that included a determined Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg and European FMX Champion Busty Wolter, Mike "TheGodfather" Metzger added another chapter to his legacy by winning the inaugural FMX Riot (Rush International Off-road Terrain championship), presented by RushHD, the all high definition action sports channel of the Voom network (voom.com).
Between the dunes of Glamis, CA and the natural hits of Ocotillo Wells, CA, it was an epic showdown of extraordinary talent, guts, skill and determination taking place over four days of intense, virtually non-stop riding - with the riders doing all the judging! Other competitors included the natural terrain specialist Todd Potter, veteran Tyler "the dead" King, Derek Garland, "Bustin" Graham Gustin and X Games rookie riding natural terrain for the first time in his career, the youngster, Bryan Dowdy.
"This was an historic event – insane riding, rider judged, fiercely competitive along with true camaraderie making it very special," summed Paul Taublieb, Founder/CEO of Media X International, Inc. (MXi) the event and television producer. "Props certainly go to my co-producer and event director, MXi’s Tes Sewell who pulled it all together."
"How fitting is it that Metzger, the guy who helped start it all, taking the title at the sport’s birthplace, at legendary locales, out in natural terrain," added Sewell. "These guys were all a joy to watch, none more so than Metz, but big props to Twitch and Potter who really stepped up. and to Busty who came from Germany to compete at the first FMX Riot. Got to admire Dowdy who proved he’s much more than a ramp kid, and to Gustin who took a pretty hard crash but kept going and Derek who was impressive and steady throughout."
The short version of what down is this: In the first day in the sand at Glamis, the boys found some big hits, led by Metz on his CRF450, who tied for the lead with Potter, followed by Twitch. The second day, was travel and scouting and Ocotillo, but on the third after which the battle really heated up – off to Shell Reef for the first session, with Metz, Twitch and Potter finding insane hits along the way; the day ends ending with Twitch backflipping near camp, and then Metz following suite on his 450…but doing it virtually in the dark, putting him in the lead. On the final day, it was an intense 3-hr session, which found Busty in a battle with King, Potter pulling tricks, but at the forefront, a showdown between Metz and Twitch both simply tearing up Ocotillo. When it was over, it was a tour de force by Metz, the veteran using all his skills and experience emerging over the wildly talented Twitch.
Final Results:
The full results of the FMX Riot, presented by RushHD:
Mike Metzger (Menifee, CA)
Jeremy Stenberg (Temecula, CA)
Todd Potter (San Clemente, CA)
Busty Wolter (Berlin, Germany)
Tyler King (San Diego, CA)
Brian Dowdy (Oklahoma City, OK)
Derek Garland (Capistrano Beach, CA)
Graham Gustin (Costa Mesa, CA)
Here’s the long version of what went down:
The first day of competition at Glamis started with Metzger complaining about the sand that found its way into the bacon and egg catered meal Metzger. He had to pull out his four-stroke CRF 450 when his 250 had suspension problems, but it turned out to be a blessing. By end of day, after Metz led the charge up a big sand hill step up near the famed Osborne Overlook. Later by Twitch, Potter, Metz, Dowdy and Busty hitting an almost 200-foot double near camp. Gathered round the video monitor for the judging, the riders award a tie to Metz (for charging) and Potter (for biggest tricks), followed by Twitch for his sick, flat whips, with a surprising King next, then Busty, Dowdy (who was loving his first day on natural terrain), Gustin and Garland.
The second day was a travel and riding/scout day to Ocotillo as boys opted to move since the conditions weren’t quite perfect at Glamis due to recent rains. Metzger also finds himself dashing late at night back to Oceanside for a private demo, stepping up and filling in for Nate Adams, who injured himself in a recent crash in Europe. The third day at Ocotillo, Metz makes his way back and it’s all back on. Full on.
On the third day, with a helicopter chasing them and capturing insane hi def aerial views, the full crew of eight head to the legendary Shell Reef. En route, Metz, Twitch and Potter all stop to heavily session a big double – and keep each other in their sights lest he miss a chance at a big hit. Once at the giant famed playground at Shell Reef, Metz does his own shock and awe with incredible step-ups and Twitch closely follows suit. Busty and King find it fun, but Gustin, still-smarting from a snapping his handlebars with his sternum from a crash the day before, and Garland and Dowdy have their challenges hitting the double-doubles, though no one backs down.
By end of day, Metz and Twitch step it up another notch. There’s a steep kicker back near camp, and Twitch snaps a clean natural terrain backflip, the first ever in a competition – but Metz answers back by waiting to dark and then pulling and sticking his own on this 450. By end of a very memorable Day 3, the boys have it Metz and Twitch tied in first, Potter in 3rd, with Busty nudging out King for 4th.
The final day is all about showdowns. Busty wants to make his mark in the US and beat King (who is a mortgage broker when not riding – anyone need a refi?). And Potter is looking to complete his upset by sneaking into the top two, while Twitch and Metz both state that winning is what they came for and won’t settle for anything less.
It’s a taught, 3 hour session, with the riders dashing hit-to-hit at a furious pace, with the camera crew giving chase on their own dirt bikes and ATV’s, successfully capturing all the action. Over huge, insane gaps and step ups, Twitch and Metz go jump for jump, matching skill and willpower. This is an old school showdown, with the master and the student going no holds barred. It’s not about tricks – it’s about going big, pure and simple. Interestingly, the pure power of Metz’ 450 gives him an edge, as he busts some sweet alley-oop 180’s on vertical faces, and Twitch can’t seem to match the intensity despite demonstrating his powerful repertoire of mad skills.
Potter takes tact, searching the vast terrain for some big doubles to bust tricks, but comes up empty until the final 15 minutes of the session, when suddenly he’s silhouetted in the stark blue sky pulling Cliffhangers and Double Grabs. Tyler and Busty join him, and it’s Busty who finds his groove pulling big Double Cans and Recliners. None of this can combat the mesmerizing beauty of Metz and Twitch positively working over the Ocotillo contours. But Metz is riding at another level, both radical and smooth, and Twitch, while impressive certainly, just can’t match him.
At the final judging session among the riders, there is no dispute. Metz is clear leader and the winner. Twitch close but clearly next, in second. Potter locks in an impressive third, making a statement he’s a force to be reckoned with in the future of FMX. And Busty edges out King, demonstrating he brought his skills from across the Pond.
Epic, complex battles during the day, rider judging sessions around a bonfire at night, all adding up to the next step in FMX, a new niche between freeriding and the traditional world of competition.
Presented by RushHD – Produced by MXi
(On the Voom Hi Definition Network)
"
All Rider Judged!
First Ever Natural Terrain Backflips in Competition
Including Metz’ on a CRF 450!
Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg a Close Second
For Immediate Release – www.mediax.tv
(Malibu, CA, November 8, 2004) - Battling heat, dust, exhaustion and a field that included a determined Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg and European FMX Champion Busty Wolter, Mike "TheGodfather" Metzger added another chapter to his legacy by winning the inaugural FMX Riot (Rush International Off-road Terrain championship), presented by RushHD, the all high definition action sports channel of the Voom network (voom.com).
Between the dunes of Glamis, CA and the natural hits of Ocotillo Wells, CA, it was an epic showdown of extraordinary talent, guts, skill and determination taking place over four days of intense, virtually non-stop riding - with the riders doing all the judging! Other competitors included the natural terrain specialist Todd Potter, veteran Tyler "the dead" King, Derek Garland, "Bustin" Graham Gustin and X Games rookie riding natural terrain for the first time in his career, the youngster, Bryan Dowdy.
"This was an historic event – insane riding, rider judged, fiercely competitive along with true camaraderie making it very special," summed Paul Taublieb, Founder/CEO of Media X International, Inc. (MXi) the event and television producer. "Props certainly go to my co-producer and event director, MXi’s Tes Sewell who pulled it all together."
"How fitting is it that Metzger, the guy who helped start it all, taking the title at the sport’s birthplace, at legendary locales, out in natural terrain," added Sewell. "These guys were all a joy to watch, none more so than Metz, but big props to Twitch and Potter who really stepped up. and to Busty who came from Germany to compete at the first FMX Riot. Got to admire Dowdy who proved he’s much more than a ramp kid, and to Gustin who took a pretty hard crash but kept going and Derek who was impressive and steady throughout."
The short version of what down is this: In the first day in the sand at Glamis, the boys found some big hits, led by Metz on his CRF450, who tied for the lead with Potter, followed by Twitch. The second day, was travel and scouting and Ocotillo, but on the third after which the battle really heated up – off to Shell Reef for the first session, with Metz, Twitch and Potter finding insane hits along the way; the day ends ending with Twitch backflipping near camp, and then Metz following suite on his 450…but doing it virtually in the dark, putting him in the lead. On the final day, it was an intense 3-hr session, which found Busty in a battle with King, Potter pulling tricks, but at the forefront, a showdown between Metz and Twitch both simply tearing up Ocotillo. When it was over, it was a tour de force by Metz, the veteran using all his skills and experience emerging over the wildly talented Twitch.
Final Results:
The full results of the FMX Riot, presented by RushHD:
Mike Metzger (Menifee, CA)
Jeremy Stenberg (Temecula, CA)
Todd Potter (San Clemente, CA)
Busty Wolter (Berlin, Germany)
Tyler King (San Diego, CA)
Brian Dowdy (Oklahoma City, OK)
Derek Garland (Capistrano Beach, CA)
Graham Gustin (Costa Mesa, CA)
Here’s the long version of what went down:
The first day of competition at Glamis started with Metzger complaining about the sand that found its way into the bacon and egg catered meal Metzger. He had to pull out his four-stroke CRF 450 when his 250 had suspension problems, but it turned out to be a blessing. By end of day, after Metz led the charge up a big sand hill step up near the famed Osborne Overlook. Later by Twitch, Potter, Metz, Dowdy and Busty hitting an almost 200-foot double near camp. Gathered round the video monitor for the judging, the riders award a tie to Metz (for charging) and Potter (for biggest tricks), followed by Twitch for his sick, flat whips, with a surprising King next, then Busty, Dowdy (who was loving his first day on natural terrain), Gustin and Garland.
The second day was a travel and riding/scout day to Ocotillo as boys opted to move since the conditions weren’t quite perfect at Glamis due to recent rains. Metzger also finds himself dashing late at night back to Oceanside for a private demo, stepping up and filling in for Nate Adams, who injured himself in a recent crash in Europe. The third day at Ocotillo, Metz makes his way back and it’s all back on. Full on.
On the third day, with a helicopter chasing them and capturing insane hi def aerial views, the full crew of eight head to the legendary Shell Reef. En route, Metz, Twitch and Potter all stop to heavily session a big double – and keep each other in their sights lest he miss a chance at a big hit. Once at the giant famed playground at Shell Reef, Metz does his own shock and awe with incredible step-ups and Twitch closely follows suit. Busty and King find it fun, but Gustin, still-smarting from a snapping his handlebars with his sternum from a crash the day before, and Garland and Dowdy have their challenges hitting the double-doubles, though no one backs down.
By end of day, Metz and Twitch step it up another notch. There’s a steep kicker back near camp, and Twitch snaps a clean natural terrain backflip, the first ever in a competition – but Metz answers back by waiting to dark and then pulling and sticking his own on this 450. By end of a very memorable Day 3, the boys have it Metz and Twitch tied in first, Potter in 3rd, with Busty nudging out King for 4th.
The final day is all about showdowns. Busty wants to make his mark in the US and beat King (who is a mortgage broker when not riding – anyone need a refi?). And Potter is looking to complete his upset by sneaking into the top two, while Twitch and Metz both state that winning is what they came for and won’t settle for anything less.
It’s a taught, 3 hour session, with the riders dashing hit-to-hit at a furious pace, with the camera crew giving chase on their own dirt bikes and ATV’s, successfully capturing all the action. Over huge, insane gaps and step ups, Twitch and Metz go jump for jump, matching skill and willpower. This is an old school showdown, with the master and the student going no holds barred. It’s not about tricks – it’s about going big, pure and simple. Interestingly, the pure power of Metz’ 450 gives him an edge, as he busts some sweet alley-oop 180’s on vertical faces, and Twitch can’t seem to match the intensity despite demonstrating his powerful repertoire of mad skills.
Potter takes tact, searching the vast terrain for some big doubles to bust tricks, but comes up empty until the final 15 minutes of the session, when suddenly he’s silhouetted in the stark blue sky pulling Cliffhangers and Double Grabs. Tyler and Busty join him, and it’s Busty who finds his groove pulling big Double Cans and Recliners. None of this can combat the mesmerizing beauty of Metz and Twitch positively working over the Ocotillo contours. But Metz is riding at another level, both radical and smooth, and Twitch, while impressive certainly, just can’t match him.
At the final judging session among the riders, there is no dispute. Metz is clear leader and the winner. Twitch close but clearly next, in second. Potter locks in an impressive third, making a statement he’s a force to be reckoned with in the future of FMX. And Busty edges out King, demonstrating he brought his skills from across the Pond.
Epic, complex battles during the day, rider judging sessions around a bonfire at night, all adding up to the next step in FMX, a new niche between freeriding and the traditional world of competition.