Jackson Strong’s AUS-X Open Best Trick

Australian FMX rider, Jackson “Jacko” Strong, capped off his 2015 season by winning the two FMX Best Trick contests at the inaugural AUS-X Open, staged at Sydney’s Allphones Arena on November 28-29, taking home a cool $40,000 for his efforts. While the supercross racing might have been the main attraction, Jacko went up against a handful of the world’s best freestyle motocross riders who all performed world-class tricks.

Fellow Aussie rider, Ryan Brown, was up first on the Saturday night, throwing down a huge Ruler Backflip, then Japan’s Taka Higashino followed that up with a flawless Rock Solid Backflip. Australia’s Rob Adelberg then mixed things up a little, laying down a smooth Cali Roll Body Varial. Next up was Frenchman, Tom Pagés, who is known for his innovation and is always a top contender at FMX events. Pagés took to the quarter pipe with his signature trick, the Alley Oop Flair, which scored him a well-earned second place. With the take-off ramp pushed back a few extra metres, Jacko came out of the tunnel hot, sending a huge Frontflip One Hander, clean to dirt. He won $20,000 that night, and a further $20,000 for winning on Sunday night, stomping a clean Frontflip.

Jacko was thrilled to claim wins on both nights, stating how awesome it was that all the riders really sent it and gave it their all. He said going up against Pagés was hard, because he’s at the top of the Best Trick game at the moment. “To go up against him was great but it really just comes down to how we all went on the night, because anything can happen,” Jacko said. “I had a different trick planned for the second night of the AUS-X open but I was having trouble rotating the Frontflip indoors. I gave it everything I had on the first night with the One Handed Frontflip and only just got it around to dirt, so I played it safe the second night. I’ve still been practicing my new trick so it’s all ready to go for the next event.”

The AUS-X Open FMX Best Trick contest has been the only competition of its kind in a few years and is paving the way to bringing FMX Best Trick contests back to life. Jacko was pleased by how well the event was run. “It’s so hard to run a Best Trick competition in such a short time bracket, because you need to put a lot of effort into getting the ramps perfect,” Jacko continued. “We were fortunate enough to have Trevor Brooks on the scene and he ensured all the ramps were set up just right. It was a well put together event with some great racing and big name riders. Not only supercross, but the whole entire industry in Australia had been crying for something like this for years, so well done AME Management!”