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  KONA CLUMP RIDERS TAKE 3 OF THE TOP 10 PLACES AT ROUND 1 QUASHQAI URBAN CHALLENGE - NEWCASTLE, UK 25 Riders and 10,000 spectators alike were absolutely blown away by the elevated level of riding in the finals of Newcastle’s Qashqai Urban Challenge. THE FINALS Finalists were given two rounds to put down their best riding in front of the judges and an extremely crowded Centre Of Life in Newcastle. The first runs of the finals were exciting, but the second round was out of control. PAUL BASAGOITIA – STUCK THE FLIP WHIP Tension was high as Bearclaw’s closest competitor, Paul Basagoitia, stepped onto the starting platform to attempt to dethrone The Claw. The riders on course were stacking hay bales in some odd places, which intrigued the crowd and the judges. Basagoitia began his run with a perfect tailwhip, into an amazing 360 onto a platform that was no more than four feet wide. Basagoitia over-rotated the 360 a little bit, but somehow was able to save it and bunnyhop transfer over to a landing and continue his run as if it was totally planned out that way. Basagoitia found a new step-up line and also a new landing, a transfer which he no-foot canned, and finished his run with a perfect flip-whip! The 10,000 specators in the Newcastle Centre of Life were going absolutely insane after Basagoitia’s run, and the judges were shaking their heads over the nearly impossible task of sorting out the riders’ results. Even Paul Basagoitia and Bearclaw admitted that they had no idea who would take the first title of the five-stop Qashqai Urban Challenge series. Riders and spectators milled around while the judges deliberated the results. Everyone slapped high-fives and shook their heads at what was undoubtedly one of the craziest final rounds in the history of freeride mountain biking. At the end of the day, it was Darren Berrecloth who would take the first win of the tour and a nice payout of 8,000 euros! Paul Basagoitia took second place and Kyle Strait held on to the podium in third place. Champagne was uncorked and the riders celebrate their victories thru the night. The next stop for the Qashqai Urban Challenge is Milan, Italy, where riders will be tested on their dirt jumping aptitude. Qashqai Challenge Final Results - Newcastle |
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