X Games preparation

Press work ahead of first track sessions.

The Rallycross track at the X Games is due to be ready for use on Saturday morning and ahead of the chance to get some action, competitors have been taking part in press events.

Starting as last year’s winner and favourite in the Rallycross section of the event, Tanner Foust recognised that he has rivals in the X Games.

“Racing in Europe this year might have given me an advantage but many of the best drivers in Europe are here too! Liam Doran is a young and promising driver who has run very well in recent seasons, and he will be hard. The hardest to beat will be Marcus Grönholm, who in my eyes may be the best rally driver who has walked on this earth!” said Foust who also did not rule out a strong challenge from Global Rallycross Championship rival Michael Jernberg. “We also have Jernberg in his Škoda, he is old – but very fast and, as Travis [Pastrana] said, everyone will give their best when they come to the X Games, and I think this will be the most awesome. X Games has done rally in an even more American style here: we jump and run on a track built in the city streets of downtown LA, this will be great fun!”

Having taken part in Rallycross at the end of last year as a member of the Subaru Rally Team USA, Pastrana has fixed his eyes on NASCAR this year, and had a busy weekend planned. Speaking before he crashed his motorcycle jump for the X Games, he acknowledged the plan to compete in the Freestyle Motocross (FMX), fly to Indianapolis to race at NASCAR and then return to LA for the Rallycross segment of X Games was ambitious.

“I like the aspect of car racing, and that the first who crosses the finish line is the winner; it’s not a question of style or judging how you perform, so it’s pretty much up to yourself. After doing all the bike things I was so injured that I had to begin with car racing while I injured. One of my first times in racing was Pikes Peak. I was driving against Tanner then and we booth rolled out in the same corner. I actually landed on top of Tanner’s car, but let’s hope that does not happen this weekend!

“X Games is about pushing the limits, here everyone wants to do their absolute best, and that gives the great show – and the extreme stunts and performances,” said Pastrana who was focused on a stunt in which he would flip his motocross bike, “It’s that or nothing. I have X Games medals; I don’t care about that. I just want to land this stupid trick. This is personal. I am, as usual, unprepared for these events, so I will probably just get in the car and push the pedal to the metal! Lets take the FMX first, if I crash there I am out of it all!” he said with an uncanny prediction.

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