CORONA, Calif., Sept. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Monster
Energy congratulates freestyle motocross team rider Josh Hill on earning X Games silver in this
year's X Games Real Moto contest. Competing against five of the
world's best freestyle motocross riders in an online video contest
judged by an expert jury, the 31-year-old from Portland, Oregon, claimed second place with an
explosive edit created with filmer and editor Mike Wood.
Hill already made history as the youngest rider to win a 450
Supercross Championship, but Real Moto holds a special place: "Ever
since the first time I saw Real Moto, I always hoped to one day get
invited. This is one of those personal things," said Hill about the
competition, adding: "This is my chance to showcase in 90 seconds
what my whole life's about. Why I ride dirt bikes, what I love,
just my style of it!"
Hill was joined on the podium by Monster Energy teammate
Jackson Strong from Lockhart,
Australia, who took X Games bronze
for the groundbreaking 'Dirt Rider' video filmed and edited by
Ben Heidrich. Strong's X Games Real
Moto 2020 video also won the fan-decided Fan Favorite award, ahead of gold medal winner
Colby Raha.
Real Moto 2020 was once again contested in two parts: X Games
medals judged by a panel of motocross professionals and industry
insiders, as well as the crowd-voted Fan
Favorite decided via online poll. Strong, secured 29.46% of
the vote with a stunning video part peppered with several moves
that had never-been-done (NBD) on dirt.
"The thing I like most about our edit is the energy and
enthusiasm it brings. We had planes in it and blew a fire cannon
off! We just had too much fun with it, I think," said Strong,
adding: "We really just wanted to show that FMX is still
alive."
Originally launched with the X Games Real Street competition in
2010, the main goal of the X Games Real series is to showcase the
essence of a rider's unique talent in a 90-second video, created
with a filmer of the rider's choosing. The 2020 edition also
featured Real BMX, Real Snow and Real Street (skateboarding)
competitions. Real Moto riders select their own tricks, spots, and
music – thereby providing a "real" experience of FMX via premium
video content outside of big stadium events.
A panel of industry experts decided the winning
athlete-and-filmer teams, announced on Sunday's World of X Games
episode aired on ABC, supplemented by behind-the-scenes footage
from this year's video shoots.
When all votes were counted, Hill clinched the silver medal with
a heavy-hitting video part. Filmed mostly on urban obstacles, dirt
tracks and backwoods trails – all locations scouted together with
filmer Wood – the edit shows Hill pushing his Yamaha YZ450 and Alta
to the limits. Highlights include massive transfer aerials at
concrete skateparks alongside technical nose wheelies, wall rides,
and a burly sand pit backflip that must be seen to be believed.
The medal is a special milestone for Hill, who retired from
professional AMA Supercross and Motocross in 2015 due to injuries,
and only recently made his return as a pro motocross rider. Josh's
Real Moto 2020 award joins silver from X Games Los Angeles 2013.
Make sure to watch the silver medal-winning Real Moto video from
Josh Hill on YouTube.
Download High Res Photos of Josh Hill for Editorial Use.
Hill's Monster Energy teammate, 28-year-old Australian Strong
even built a brand-new, custom dirt track in New South Wales as the backdrop for his
ambitious video part. Ambitious, because "Jacko" set out to land
several tricks previously never put down on dirt track before: A
world's first dirt-to-dirt front flip and double backflip are
supplemented by nighttime pyrotechnics and a double-decker airplane
in a highly re-watchable cinematic edit.
Download High Res Photos of Jackson
Strong for Editorial Use.
Caught in crisp high-definition video by filmer Heidrich of
Headstrong Films, the 'Dirt Rider' video brought home a medal and
the coveted Fan Favorite award. Find
out what the praise is about in the bronze medal Real Moto video
from Jackson Strong on YouTube. A
driving force of motocross freestyle progression for years, Strong
now owns 13 X Games medals (6 gold 45 silver 2 bronze).
Winners of the judge-awarded X Games gold, silver and bronze
medals were announced at the conclusion of the hour-long,
behind-the-scenes "World of X Games: Real Moto 2020" show that
aired on ESPN2 on Sunday, September
20. Fan Favorite winner
Strong was announced online on September
21.
Viewers can also watch the 'behind-the-scenes' edits, in which
the rider/filmer teams detail the making of their videos, online
now: Find Josh Hill and filmer
Mike Wood's video here and
Jackson Strong and Ben Heidrich here.
Congratulations to our winning team riders and filmers. Also
thanks to Jack Mitrani and the team
at ESPN for keeping the stoke alive with this video
competition.
For more on Josh Hill, Jackson
Strong and Monster Energy's motocross athletes visit
http://www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube,
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California,
Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and
alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional,
Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross,
off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or
the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that
believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes
and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life
lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more
about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at
http://www.monsterenergy.com.
SOURCE Monster Energy