Pastrana is injured in big crash

By Baxter Holmes

July 29, 2011 12 AM PT

It’s a trick Travis Pastrana has been trying to land for years.

But Thursday at X Games 17 in downtown Los Angeles, the action sports star failed again and, worse, broke his right foot and ankle in the process, which puts into question his participation in other events this weekend.

The injury occurred during the Moto X best trick final when Pastrana crash-landed on a dirt ramp in Staples Center after trying to flip and spin his dirt bike 720 degrees in the air, a trick he calls a “toilet paper roll.”

He had to be helped off the course and X-rays later revealed the injury. It’s unclear if he will be able to participate in the Moto X freestyle on Friday night or in the rally car RallyCross event Sunday.

It’s also unclear if Pastrana will be able to race in a NASCAR Nationwide Series event in Indianapolis on Saturday.

“I spent the last week at his place and spending time with him and his trainer, I realized how much time and effort he’s put into that trick,” said Josh Sheehan, who was the bronze medalist in the Moto X best trick event. “I’m really bummed for him because he had it so close.”

Jackson Strong won a gold medal in the event with the first front flip in its history.

His score of 95.66 edged Cameron Sinclair (94.66) and Sheehan (93.33).

McCann wins BMX big air; Kagy crashes

Chad Kagy crash-landed from a height of about 45 feet into the quarter-pipe during his third run in the BMX freestyle big air final and had to be carried out on a stretcher with a broken leg.

Kagy has a broken right femur, an injury that will require surgery, an X Games spokeswoman said. In 2004, Kagy over-rotated on a double backflip and broke his neck.

Steve McCann landed a double front-flip followed by a double tail-whip on his final run and won the gold medal in the event. Vince Byron took silver and Kagy won bronze.

Buyten steps up, sets Moto X record

After he successfully jumped over a 37-foot-high bar with his dirt bike, Matt Buyten held his breath, much like the Staples Center crowd looking on.

The jump set a world record in the Moto X step up final, an event that essentially is the high jump on dirt bikes.

The previous record for the event was 35 feet, set by Tommy Clowers in the 2000 X Games in San Francisco.

“That was scary; that wasn’t safe” Buyten said after his jump, which won him his second straight gold medal in the event after he went head-to-head with Ronnie Renner.

Tershy skates to gold

Santa Cruz native Raven Tershy needed just two runs in the skateboard park final to win his first X Games gold medal.

His total of 82 points edged the 81 posted by defending gold medalist Pedro Barros.

“He deserved it,” Barros said. “He skated the whole contest amazing. ... It was a really good feeling to see my friend out there, killing it out there.”

Barros opened the final with runs of 40 and 41, respectively, but failed to overtake Tershy after Tershy posted runs of 38 and 44 to seal his win. Ben Hatchell won bronze with 75 points.

Street closures

The following streets in downtown Los Angeles are scheduled to be closed from 8 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday for the rally car racing and RallyCross events, which are to be held Saturday and Sunday:

* Gilbert Lindsay Plaza

* West Pico Boulevard 700 feet east of Cherry Street to South Figueroa Street.

* Figueroa from Pico to Chick Hearn Court with a soft closure at West Olympic Boulevard.

baxter.holmes@latimes.com

twitter.com/baxterholmes

Times staff writer Douglas Farmer contributed to this report.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Updated schedule

TODAY

noon-2 p.m.: Skateboard street men’s elimination, Event Deck at L.A. Live

2:30-3:30 p.m.: Skateboard street women’s final, Event Deck at L.A. Live

4-5 p.m.: Moto X freestyle Round 1, Staples Center