Osiris Blog

Ronnie Faisst and Jeff “Ox” Kargola did battle at the Staples Center in front of a packed house in Speed and Style on Sunday. Speed and Style puts two competitors on a supercross style track with a FMX ramp jump in a race for the best race time and trick score. The two results are then given a numerical value and added together with the victory going to the rider with the lowest combined score.

Ox had a rough practice session, going down twice, but didn’t let that stop him from competing. Despite being bruised and battered, Ox gave it his all in the timed elimination, but came up just short of making it into the finals. It still was a great performance from Ox, especially considering he didn’t find out he was competing in Speed and Style till he arrive at X Games.

Faisst took down the 2008 Speed and Style Gold Medalist in the quarter finals to advance to the semi finals. Faisst faced Travis Pastrana in the semis where he was eliminated. This put Faisst head to head against his good friend, Twitch, for the Bronze medal in what was to be an instant classic. Faisst grabbed the early lead and pulled away after Twitch had crashed in a corner.
It looked as if Faisst had it in the bag when on lap 2 he stalled his bike, and had trouble getting it restarted. Twitch made the pass on Faisst and cruised to what he thought was the victory for Bronze. However, the race officials waved the checkered flag a lap too early, but Twitch did not know this and celebrated by launching his bike off a landing.

Then Faisst and Twitch realized the race wasn’t over and both scrambled for their bikes. Twitch’s bike was damaged from launching it in celebration, which allowed Faisst to get back on his bike first and cross the finish line. Since an officiating error hampered with the results, both Faisst and Twitch were awarded the Bronze Medal.

Congratulations Faisst and Taka for both bringing home Bronze Medals this year at Summer X Games.