Irvine, Calif. – Kawasaki’s Vicki Golden dominated the Women’s Motocross event at X Games 17, winning both her heat and taking home the gold in the main event. The Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. was filled with dirt and setup similar to an Arenacross track, but with some very unique features. Golden excelled around the tight track, navigating the myriad of obstacles with precision. In the middle of the track was a 65-foot ramp-to-dirt jump, which didn’t slow Golden for a second. She flew over the massive jump with style every lap, throwing her bike sideways with a fist in the air as she flew past the checkered flag. Kawasaki rider and French-national Livia Lancelot rode solid throughout the event to finish third, taking home the bronze medal. Sara Price qualified for the main event, but after getting tangled with another rider finished in fourth.

Good as Golden

The tight track setup inside the Staples Center couldn’t have worked out better for Golden. She has been working hard and putting in a lot of time racing the guys on Arenacross tracks over the past year. This year Golden became the first woman ever to qualify for a main event in the AMA Arenacross Lites class. When she got on the track at X Games 17 she really exuded confidence on every part of the track, from the whoops to the massive ramp jump. Golden easily won her heat and advanced to the final where she grabbed the holeshot and checked out. She was the fastest out of the gate, smoothest over the whoops, and most stylish off the huge jump aboard her Kawasaki KX™250F. Golden’s impressive riding resulted in her first ever medal at the X Games, with gold.

The French Connection

Lancelot came to America on loan from the Bud Racing Team in Europe a couple weeks ago and went immediately to work perfecting her supercross style. Fresh off the plane, she came to Kawasaki and began testing her on new KX250F. Lancelot arrived at the X Games feeling confident even though she had never raced anything like the unique track. She adapted to the foreign track quickly, successfully navigating the awkward wooden drop-in ramp and ramp-to-dirt jump. At the first indoor race of her life, Lancelot finished with a bronze medal amidst the world’s best athletes.

Solid Effort

Price finished second behind Golden the first heat, and was feeling good going into the main event. She had a crash in the first lap, after getting tangled with another rider, which prevented her from getting back into medal contention. Price dusted herself off and finished the race on the bubble.

KX Proof

The X Games 17 Women’s Moto X event was dominated by green bikes, from start to finish. By the main event, 75% of the bikes on the line were Kawasaki KX250Fs. After 16 whoop-filled laps, the KX250F came out on top, delivering both Golden and Lancelot medals.