Source
MTX: Mike Metzger Wins Inaugural FMX RIOT
Press Release
Malibu, CA—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.
The full results of the FMX Riot, presented by RushHD:
1. Mike Metzger (Menifee, CA)
2. Jeremy Stenberg (Temecula, CA)
3. Todd Potter (San Clemente, CA)
4. Busty Wolter (Berlin, Germany)
5. Tyler King (San Diego, CA)
6. Brian Dowdy (Oklahoma City, OK)
7. Derek Garland (Capistrano Beach, CA)
8. Graham Gustin (Costa Mesa, CA)
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.