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By Jason Bean
The third annual Nitro World Games were held in Tooele, Utah at The Utah Motorsports Park. This years event focused on motor sports events which included Flat track motorcycle racing, FMX best trick, FMX quarterpipe and Nitro Rallycross. All events being held on the same day at the same location.
Torqued Magazine had the opportunity not only to cover this event, but also participate in it. Our Founder’s Custom Harley Davidson was invited to be showcased at the Hot Wheels car show that ran in conjunction with the Nitro World games. Present were some of the sweetest rides you’ll find anywhere. There were beautifully done custom motorcycles and custom cars. All just adding to the Motor theme that surrounded this years games.
Honestly, the guys at Nitro Circus could not have picked a better location to host the games. Utah Motorsports Campus just feels like it was built specifically for this. On our drive in, from over 2 miles away we could see the giant quarterpipe jutting into the sky. Talk about a massive structure of beauty. Plus they had to raise the tower on it this year just to handle the extreme heights the FMX guys were achieving.
The Flat track races were held at the UMC karting track and it just meshed well. The FMX best trick ramps again just blow your mind at the pure size and construction that goes into this event. And you can’t forget to mention the Rallycross track. Amazingly constructed and thought out. With awesome berms and one massive jump to blow your mind. The Rallycross track is something to behold. Something, that you want to show up on a video game so that you can experience the thrill of driving it yourself.
As the schedule rolled, the first event right out of the gate was Flat track motorcycle racing. Honestly watching the bikes dive into the corners and hearing those screeching tires just makes you say, “Yep, This is Heaven.” Multiple qualifying heats were held in the morning with the final being held later on in the day. With Andy DiBrino walking away with the win.
Next event up, FMX Best trick. As the crowd scurried around the ramp area the riders started their warmups. Seeing their warm up routines had many mouths a gasp. Yet, we were in store for some never before seen and perfectly executed tricks. The line up included 10 riders. The competition saw Davi Johnson pull off a Worlds first trick. Being called a FMX Decade he was able to spin himself and the handlebars completely around the bike. This required a genius handle bar set up able to disengage from the forks and spin around while the wheel stayed straight. It was something to see that’s for sure.
Josh Sheehan threw up a no handed double back flip giving him the lead from Johnson. But final rider and 2018’s best trick Champ Pat Bowden, would not disappoint. Bowden threw down an amazingly executed Christ Air Front flip. With that trick he secured the win for the second year in a row.
Immediately following FMX best trick was the FMX quarter pipe. A towering 35 foot ramp, with a 50 foot measuring pole on top. Heck, the pole even had it’s own little weather station on top measuring wind speed. It was something for the eyes to behold.
The field began with six riders, and after multiple attempts only 2 remained. Last years champ Colby Raha and Corey Creed. Both riders one uping each other. It was amazing to watch these guys fly into orbit. When all was said and done, Corey Creed finished with a height of 45 feet 7 inches (above the ramp deck) to take home the win.
Nitro Rallycross followed and wowza was it awesome. The Rallycross final saw six drivers line up to compete.
Patrik Sandell, Kevin Hansen, Travis Pastrana, Timmy Hansen, Ken Block, and Tanner Foust. The drivers were thirtsy and when the lights went green they flew down the track and into the first turn with plenty of bumping and grinding. Some of the plastic barricade got an aerial flight compliments of Tim Hansens front bumper.
The rally cross was split up into a couple of different routes where each driver had to run each route a certain amount of times making for side by side racers y’ing off onto different jumps. The big daddy jump, a 120 foot behemoth laughed the cars into flight. Which was definitely a crowd pleaser.
The racers exchanged paint and body panels battling for position. Ken block completed the last half of the race missing a front right tire. It was something you have to see to believe. It was dirt in the air, drifting, and jumping. Pure poetry in motion.
The final lap saw Kevin Hansen take the win, followed closely by Patrik Sandell, and other Hansen brother and last years winner Timmy Hansen.
The Nitro world games had everything an action sports junkie could love. A great venue, great competition made for a winning combination. Nitro World Games is solidifying itself as the the premier Action sports competition around.
We loved every minute of it.
Very informative site! Love it!
Thank you very much. We love to hear it.