Fiolek Claims X Games Gold

Sara Price was the first out of the gates at the women’s Super X Moto X, but Ashley Fiolek would be the first to pass the finish line, claiming her second X Games gold medal.

With a strong start, X Games novice Price held onto her lead until Fiolek passed her through the Big Air ramp tunnel. The Red Bull rider would lead the charge for the remainder of the six –lap race.

Top women’s moto racer, Jessica Patterson was projected to be a close contender in the Super X, but suffered a bad crash, hitting the side barrier, coming down from the biggest jump with two laps remaining. Patterson took home the silver in X Games 15, when after having lead the race, was passed by Fiolek in the last lap.

Fiolek’s excitement lit up the stadium as she crossed the finish line and headed into the pit for her post- race interview.

“It feels so awesome to me, Christmas is early this year!” she signed, “I’m really excited, you can’t even imagine. X Games is the best thing ever.”

As one of the most visible athletes in women’s motocross, Fiolek is widely known for both her amazing talent and her ability to succeed as a deaf athlete. Her skill, strength, and perseverance inspire sports fans worldwide, as the Twittersphere lit up with tweets congratulating the 19 year-old Super X rider.

OULudachris: RT @Pink: Watching the women tear it up in Supercross. Makes me proud to see this many women killing it at xgames!!!! @AshleyFiolek67 Rocks!

chrissiegle: X Games-I have such a crush on @AshleyFiolek67, I would totally learn sign language for her, seriously. She also just dominated her final.

Loocasguysler: Dear @AshleyFiolek67 … marry me.

“You know it [my disability] doesn’t bother me, it shouldn’t bother anybody.” Fiolek signed. “I’m deaf but you can go after whatever you want. It’s awesome that I get to come out here and compete and race, and I think other people should come out and try.”

Many of the riders were decorated at X Games in previous years, and were hungry for another podium. Sherri Cruse, from Bakersfield, CA came to the track this year with a silver medal at X Games 2008 and third overall in 2009 on the AMA/WMX tour. After crashing at Sacramento in May of this year, Cruse came to the X Games recovering from two broken vertebra and a broken right hand.

Tarah Gieger of Puerto Rico battled for third position and eventually moved up number two, taking the silver medal for the second time in her career. Gieger has a X Games gold medal from 2008 and was named AMA Female Rider of the Year in 2007.

Jolene Van Vugt, the sole Canadian and only non-WMA regular competing in X Games 16 couldn’t find her way out of the middle of the pack to make podium. Vugt is a women’s Canadian Motocross National Champion, and the first female to back-flip a full-sized dirt bike (you may know her form a little show called Nitro Circus.)

As the only live-televised moto event of the year for the women, X Games 16 wraps up with more fans and recognition for the riders than ever before. See you next year.

Women Super X Final Results:

1- Ashley Fiolek 6:37.142
2- Tarah Gieger 6:43.741
3- Sara Price 6:46.211
4- Vicki Golden 6:47.991
5- Jacqueline Strong 7:09.294
6- Tatum Sik 7:14.675
7- Jolene Van Vugt 7:27.378
8- Sherri Cruse 8:49.512
9- Elizabeth Bash 9:26.061
10- Jessica Patterson 8:43.322 (DNF)