Motocross teen star Ashley Fiolek wins gold in delayed X Games debut

Motocross star Fiolek wins in late X Games debut

CARSON, Calif. — In her much-anticipated X Games debut, motocross teen sensation Ashley Fiolek didn’t disappoint.

Fiolek, who has been deaf since birth, captured first place in Women’s Moto X Super X on Saturday night.

“X Games are a big deal for women and anyone in action sports,” said Fiolek through her translator and father Jim. “So to come here and do this well, I’m very excited.”

The 18-year-old Fiolek’s debut was delayed after an injury forced her to withdraw from last year’s games. She made up for it with a strong performance in what was the highest billing a women’s X Games event has received on ESPN.

“Last year I was really bummed, I wanted to come here and do good,” Fiolek said. “This year I was really motivated. I came out here and had a great race.”

After not getting out of the gate particularly well, Fiolek worked her way into second place. She spent the remainder of the race locked in a matchup with Jessica Patterson for the top spot.

On the second turn of the final lap, she made her move, overtaking her competitor and not looking back. Fiolek crossed the finish line in 372.47 with her left fist pumping through the air.

“I knew it was white flag, I knew I had to hurry,” Fiolek said. “I got out front and just wanted to stay steady.”

Patterson came across in 375.83 and Elizabeth Bash finished third at 397.32.

On the men’s side, Josh Hansen used a crowd-pleasing tailwhip across the finish line on the way to an eight-second victory.

The race lacked a bit of luster as star rider James Stewart was previously scheduled to make his first appearance at the games but was unable to compete after suffering a shoulder injury while practicing for Moto X Super Moto on Thursday.

Hansen finished in a time of 16:49.871 with his nearest counterpart, Justin Brayton, coming in at 16:58.138, while Kevin Windham was third.

In freestyle motocross, on a day dedicated to a former rider, a new X Games champion was crowned when Blake Williams finished first in Moto X Freestyle.

“It’s pretty unpredictable,” said Williams of the event’s format. “Plus, I crashed and I could still make up for it.”

Jeremy Lusk, the defending Freestyle Moto X who died in February after sustaining head injuries during a contest in Costa Rica, was remembered earlier in the afternoon at Home Depot Center in a tribute that included words of remembrance from fellow riders, a helicopter fly over and a “moment of cheer” from the crowd.

“I think it needed to be brought to attention that Jeremy Lusk was a big part of the sport,” third-place finisher Nate Adams said. “He won the biggest contest on the face of planet and he passed away this year. It is hard, but we’ve all accepted his passing.”

When the action started, it featured the sport’s standard, high-flying maneuvers. Once the dust had settled, Blake Williams was alone in first place.

Jeremy Stenberg finished second with a score of 86 and Adams an 82.

Williams concluded a strong showing at the games after finishing second to Kyle Loza in Moto X Best Trick on Friday.