Day 2 at X Games 16 was all about the freestyle motorcross and athletes from all over the world converged on the Staples Center for three of the most exciting X Games events of the weekend. By the end of the night, three riders would leave with gold medals, and one would leave on a stretcher.
 
Moto X Step Up

First up for the evening, and again in front of a live television audience was the Moto X Step Up competition, and the usual faces were joined by a slew of Rookies as the lineup would feature a couple of last minute alternates. New to the mix for 2010 were the Metal Mulisha’s own Jeff Kargola and Beau Bamburg, and despite a great morning’s worth of practice both went home before any other competitors could miss the bar at 28 feet.

With the bar going up to the 30-foot mark, both Todd Potter and Miles Richmond (the only rider on a 2-smoker) would fail to execute. Ronnie Renner and Mat Buyten, both of whom were past Step Up Gold Medal winners, cleared the bar and the height got raised to 32 feet. Both riders would make it through the 32.5-foot mark and the showdown would come down to an overtime jump at 33.5 feet.
 
Just when he thought that his day was over, Buyten watched as Renner missed both attempts at 33.5 feet. With adjustments to the nature of the program, each ride was given a final run at the height. Mat Buyton came through when Renner could not execute and Buyten left the floor with the first Gold Medal of the night.

Moto X Best Whip
 
In what was literally almost a repeat of X Games 15 just one year ago, the fans were given the chance to vote on who could throw down the best whip of the evening. A pair of five-minute motos ran back-to-back gave each of the six riders their fair shot at earning over the vote of the crowd. Despite the obvious possibility of a crowd favorite the voting was cast via text message and a gold medal was awarded.
 
With whips that were literally a full 180 degrees from the landing Todd Potter snapped it back and left the crowd gasping at each and every attempt. Mix in a few cameos by Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg and X Games Gold Medalist Josh Grant and the made-for-TV event was a hit to all who were in attendance.
 
In front of the largest crowd of the weekend Staples Center was full to capacity as Potter was awarded his third Gold Medal in a row. Pointing to the camera and announcing his “three-peat” Potter seemed exstatic as he left to prepare for his third and final event of the evening. With 52% of the votes, TP, as they were calling him, edged out Jarryd McNeil and Stenberg, who received 19% and 11%, respectively.
 
Moto X Best Trick

The final event of the evening brought with it the most drama as each of the six competitors attempted death-defying tricks in front of the live television audience. “It's hard to describe how this makes us feel. At a venue like X Games the energy of the thousands watching just makes it easier to try what we would otherwise just be scared of,” Robby Maddison described. With each of the riders landing, or somewhat landing, their first attempts all eyes were on Cam Sinclair as he would attempt the trick that left him out of the competition just a year before. For 2010 Sinclair was on his game and the Aussie nailed it on the first attempt, landing the double backflip with little effort. The score of 94 on his first run would be enough to put him into first with only one rider to go in the opening set.
 
As if they knew what was coming, which they obviously did, Paris Rosen was the last to hit the ramp. Opting out of physically attempting a jump during warm up and practice, Rosen was a surprise to the crowd when he hit the ramp and started his front flip. With an unfortunate under-rotation Rosen was on the ground before his eyes could locate the landing. Medical staff rushed to his aid and the crowd was reduced to silence. When all was said and done reports were in that he was able to move all of his extremities and the crowd cheered in happiness to know that such a horrible crash had a somewhat positive ending.
 
Run 2 would see a Double Grab Indian Air by Japan’s Taka Higashino that would secure him the Bronze medal in the competition. Maddison who had been injured in Freestyle just the day before came out strong with a Volt to Side-Saddle lander that had the crowd going crazy. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to overtake the 94 point score and Maddison went home with a Silver medal, his first ever medal in X Games Competition.
 
His first score was good enough for the win and Sinclair didn’t even know what to do. “I was very confident going into this event, knowing that I have landed it over 10 times now, but each setup is different and you never know how it is going to go until you do it. I was more worried about the trick I was going to try on Run 2! I guess that will have to wait until next year!”