Seven-time SX Champ Jeremy McGrath can now add an X Games Gold Medal to his trophy room, having defeated defending champ Matt Buyten in tonight’s X Games Moto X Step-Up Competition.
Mike Metzger and Brian Deegan were eliminated early, and Tommy Clowers was soon out as well, leaving McGrath and Buyten to battle it out for the gold. Both riders cleared 32 feet and looked set to keep going, but the contest stalled out at 33 feet. After both riders tried 5 times and failed to clear the 33 foot mark, McGrath finally pulled it off, and many thought the contest was over. Amazingly, despite having dislocated his right shoulder landing from an earlier attempt, Buyten followed McGrath up and over the 33 foot bar.
Both riders made several attempts to clear 33’6″, with Buyten dislocating his shoulder again and again continuing after his supporters popped it back in. McGrath finally floated the 33’6″ bar without touching, and in his last attempt Buyten was unable to match McGrath’s jump – thus adding another championship to McGrath’s long list.
