After emeging from the air ramp tunnel Ashely Fiolek had the lead and despite extreme pressure from Jessica Patterson, Fiolek took the win at X Games 16.
The Woman’s Super X is always one of the most exciting events of the X Games circuit. With 10 woman competing in front of a live national television audience for the only time all year, it is obvious that everyone is willing to hang it out. Add to that the rivalry that has developed between Ashley Fiolek and Jessica Patterson and you have the makings of a true daytime soap opera.
When the gate dropped, however, it was neither of the two out front as Sarah Price ran away with the holeshot. Leading for the entire length of the LA Coliseum, Price held off the charge of each of the factory riders and into the Big Air ramp tunnel.
When the riders emerged from the darkness, Fiolek had grabbed the lead and wouldn’t look back for the entire six-lap event. With Patterson chomping at the bit back in second, it was only a matter of time before the Yamaha rider made a charge for the lead. As the two riders entered the whoops at the end of Lap 3 , notoriously one of the more difficult sections for the WMA racers, Patterson began to make her move.
Charging into the whoops and then opting for the alternate line entering the stadium exit, the riders were side-by-side and out onto the outer-stadium straitaway. All the while, the battle for third was heating up between Tarah Geiger and Sarah Price.
Up front it was clear who the faster riders were, but for some of the past X Games medalists, the course wasn’t quite as easy. Both Tatum Sik and Sherri Cruse struggled to find a rhythm throughout the event and the former silver medalist was now finding herself in a lapped position watching the leaders go by. Sik did a little better finishing just out
Tarah Geiger took home her second silver medal at X Games 16 at the LA Coliseum.
of the top 5, but just couldn’t pull it together as she did in 2009.
With five of the 10 WMA racers running under factory supported rigs, the image of WMA at the X Games has really taken a drastic turn here at X Games 16. With the LA Sports Arena as the back drop, each of the WMA racers had spent the morning signing autographs and taking photos like their big brothers do at each of the Supercross rounds.
With only two laps remaining drama struck the course and Patterson was down. Falling victim to the glare of the sun, which was literally right in each of the riders eyes on the two biggest jumps of the course, Patterson crossed up on the take-off and missed the landing, going down hard in the middle of the course. With an easy route to victory, Fiolek cruised into the final two loops thinking that her competition was close behind. The white flag was thrown under caution, and Fiolek realized her lead.
With one lap remaining, Ashley hit each of the jumps pumping her fist in the air for victory. Post-race she explained that her disability meant nothing in regards to her heart and determination and the 19-year-old was happy to now be the owner of two X Games gold medals. Behind Fiolek, second and third became a battle as both Geiger and Price were in position to take home a silver. With a hard charge through the whoop section Geiger was able to put a gap that would stick and the Lucas Oil-sponsored rider took home her second X Games silver medal.
New to the X Games medal mix, Sarah Price, who had grabbed the early holeshot, was rewarded with a bronze of her own as a sign of her hard day’s work. Each of the three WMA racers will happily represent the elite group of woman who get to race on the Supercross course at the Thursday evening awards ceremony on live television at the Nokia Theater.
Another crowd favorite throughout the duration of the Super X Woman’s event was Nitro Circus’s own Jolene Van Vugt. Sidekick to Travis Pastrana, Jolene had a line longer than any of the girls all morning long in the pits. When it came down to racing she really put on an impressive performance. Hovering midpack for the entire race, the only non-WMA
Sara Price took the holeshot at the start of the Super X Women’s Final and finished third.
regular in the mix finished well enough to add her name to the short list of woman competitors at the X Games.
X Games 16 Women’s Super X Results:
1. Ashley Fiolek
2. Tarah Geiger
3. Sarah Price
4. Vicki Golden
5. Jacqueline Strong
6. Tatum Sik
7. Jolene Van Vugt
8. Sherri Cruse
9. Elizabeth Bash
10. Jessica Patterson
