Yamaha rider Nate Adams' name was added to the list of X Games Gold Medalists after winning the 2004 Freestyle competition at Home Depot Center.

even medals, three of them gold! That’ll get your attention, and that’s exactly what THOR riders walked away with at the conclusion of this year’s Summer X-Games 10. The X-Games are the highest rated moto event of the year, broadcast live on ABC and ESPN, and THOR was all over it. All the winning riders wore the brand-new Core and AC gear.
     Moto events kicked off with the wild “best trick” competition. Leading up to the event there was plenty of talk about three riders in particular, the big question being would any of them be able to pull off tricks they’d been practicing into foam pits leading up to Summer X. The newest THOR rider and freestyle poster-boy Travis Pastrana was rumored to be pulling double back flips into his foam pit with ease. 2003 Gravity Games freestyle Gold Medalist and THOR factory Yamaha rider Nate Adams had been pulling the flattest 360 back flips ever. During practice all the players warmed up with their normal tricks, nothing big or new. When the contest started, though, everyone knew something special was going to happen, and everyone was right.
     Chuck Carothers was the first of the three to go, and he didn’t waste any time. Everyone knew what he was going to try, and the crowd held its breath, waiting to see if he would be able to pull it off. As he hit the ramp and floated into the air Carothers threw himself into a perfect 360 over his bike. The entire arena erupted into cheers as he grabbed his bike and landed the first-ever 360 body varial. The place went crazy again as that opening trick was played again on the JumboTron. Nate Adams was next up, faced with trying to top the maybe un-toppable.
Nate gave it his all. He went out and threw the flattest 360 back flip ever seen in a contest, but even that wasn’t enough to top the 360 body varial. The final competitor was Travis Pastrana, and everyone anticipated TP to go for the double back flip. As Travis hit the ramp he threw a 360 back flip one hander, good enough for 3rd. All three riders had one more run, but nothing was going to beat that opening 360 body varial—and nothing did. Nate Adams took silver and phenom Travis Pastrana earned bronze for two of the most solid tricks ever thrown.

Nobody throws a nac-nac back flip like Travis Pastrana!

After winning the gold medal in Step-Up, Supercross king Jeremy McGrath strapped on some slicks and claimed the bronze medal in SuperMoto.

Just one of the many fantastic elements in Nate’s gold medal-winning run.

     THOR’s gold medal count went up again when Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath made his X-Games debut. His 33’ 6” Step Up was not only memorable, it was a winner. Few riders can join the lineup of any motorcycle event and be an instant contender, but Jeremy McGrath is one of them. McGrath’s win didn’t come easy, either. For the Step Up competition only five riders were invited to compete, and four of them held at least one medal from a previous year.
     McGrath and defending champ and THOR rider Matt Buyten ended the night in a nine-jump, sudden-death face-off. The rest of the field bowed out before the bar hit 30 feet, and on his first attempt at that height, Buyten dislocated his shoulder on the landing. He had it popped back in place and nailed his second attempt. Buyten dislocated that shoulder again at 32 feet, and once again the medical staff put it back into place. When the bar went to 33 feet, however, it was all Jeremy McGrath. Tough-as-nails Matt Buyten got the silver.
     Not to be outdone, freestyle rider Nate Adams was pumped to finally taste the sweetness of gold. To get it Nate would have to de-throne the golden boy of freestyle, Travis Pastrana, and Travis came into X-Games having never lost a freestyle competition. These were the two best freestylers in the world, and in the prelims they were evenly matched with almost identical scores going into the final run, with Nate just a whisker ahead of Travis. Pastrana’s final run had the stadium on its feet; Travis had one more trick for the crowd…he was going for the 360 back flip. It didn’t happen. He under-rotated, slamming into the ground and knocking himself out cold. It was unknown at the time, but Travis actually broke a bone in his wrist and ankle in that crash. In the end it was Nate Adams winning gold for the first time, Travis Pastrana a close second.
     And all of these star riders—gold, silver and bronze medalists—chose THOR gear, the same gear that’s in the Parts Unlimited catalog. That should get your attention, too. Check with your rep to get this winning gear in your store.