Vicki Golden wins Women’s Moto X at X Games 17

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 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.

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. Golden’s impressive riding resulted in her first ever medal at the X Games, with gold.

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. 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.