If you are a motor sports fan and weren’t at Kemper Arena in Kansas City tonight, you missed out. Big time. The night kicked off with “Vertical Mischief,” street bike riders (Ryan Suchamk, Joe Abeavis, and Andy Lancaster) coming out and tearing up the course executing a number of circle wheelies, combos and stoppies. Next, the FMX boys came out and kicked off the first round of the main event in the qualifying round. Keith Whineland, 5-time state champion trials rider then came out and performed a number of mind boggling tricks (his feet NEVER touched the ground—I mean this dude can just sit on his bike, balancing himself and then proceed to a ramp and actually hop the bike up the ramp—onto an RV!) one of which—in the second round--whereby he ran over me, jumped me and swung his bike over my head (AS I WAS LYING ON THE GROUND!) In the doubles competition, Jeremy Lusk and Grant Teel easily scored another victory. But the real drama came in the finals when the last rider, Chicago’s own, Jason Rowe, overtook the Hotseat to take home the plaque and finish the overall winner for the night. Let’s see if he has what it takes to remain on the Toyota Hot Seat tomorrow night!

Rod

Finals Results

 

SATURDAY 8:00PM:

It was a packed house in Kemper Arena here tonight in Kansas City as the Freestyle Motocross fans filled the house for the second night of FMX “Ramp-It-Up” competition.

Last night Jason Rowe ended up occupying the Hot Seat, walking away the overall winner. But that was all water under the bridge as the slate was wiped clean for tonight’s show and all the riders had the chance to come away victorious. The K.C. crowd also got a look at some XSBA street bikes as the three members of Vertical Mischief (Ryan Suchamk, Joe Abeavis, and Andy Lancaster) came out and performed a series of street bike tricks. Five-time Colorado State Champ Mototrials Rider Keith Whineland then came out and proved to the Kemper Arena fans that it really is possible to climb steps, ramps and even an RV on a bike without even riding it. Yeah, that’s right: he “hopped” his bike up the steps and ramps, without the wheels even rotating. His grand finale in the second half of the show he jumped three people. WITHOUT USING A RAMP. And yes, I was one of the poor saps lying on the floor he jumped. After the intermission, the head to head competition provided some drama as good pals Grant Teel and Jeremy Lusk matched tricks in the championship round with Lusk coming out on top completing a near perfect Kiss of Death. SICK extension. I’ll tell you that’s one talented guy. Some of the combinations he pulls of are seemingly inhuman (and stuff I’ve NEVER seen before!). Just like last night the Hot Seat was occupied at the end of the night by the final rider of the evening in the championship round. Last night’s winner, Jason Rowe was sitting pretty on the throne with a fairly safe score of a 92.3. That’s when Eric Farr stepped up to the plate with a series of combinations, working all sides of the bike, and snatching the evenings title right out from under Rowe tallying a 93.5. Another great night of FMX Freestyle Motocross. If you were here you know exactly what I’m talking about. See you next time.

 

Rod