It was a suspenseful race as Yamaha Motor Canada ambassador Cody Matechuk crossed the finish line at this year’s X Games. For the second year in a row he’s stood atop the podium after winning Gold in the Snow BikeCross competition in Aspen, Colorado, on Saturday, January 26.
Matechuk and fellow Yamaha Motor Canada ambassador Brock Hoyer are no doubt top contenders again in 2019 on the circuit at Colorado’s Buttermilk ski area after winning Gold and Silver in 2018. Both riders won their heat races and had the top two grid selections going into the 14-lap final round.
Hoyer, the 2017 X Games Snow BikeCross Gold medalist, grabbed second place on the first lap of the finals and started hunting down race leader Jesse Kirchmeyer (USA). After a poor start, Matechuk eventually moved up to third and continued to make ground on Hoyer each lap. On Lap 6, a fall by Hoyer handed second place to a hungry Matechuk. Impressively enough Hoyer was able to remount the bike only dropping to third and able to maintain that for the remainder of the race.
Matechuk went in for the kill with three laps to go, slicing around Kirchmeyer with an outside pass that caught the American rider off-guard. With an open track ahead of him, Matechuk quickly distanced himself from the challengers, winning by 4.45 seconds.
“I’m super stoked to win Gold again this year,” said Matechuk, who earned Bronze in 2017 before last year’s breakout win. “It was a very tough race, but I was able to show just how much hard work went into the preparation for this race from every part of our team. It was a crazy weekend, and I’m stoked for more.”
It’s rewarding for Canadians watching to see our nation’s riders dominating the sport. The final standings were Cody Matechuk (CA) in first, Jess Kirchmeyer (USA) in second and Brock Hoyer (CA) in third. Well done boys!
