29 April 2012 (Shanghai): Top BMX Vert rider Vince Byron successfully defended his 2011 BMX Vert gold medal, edging out fellow Australian Steve McCann and American Chad Kagy for his fourth KIA X Games Asia medal in Shanghai today.

Byron entered the final event as the top qualifier and showed his dominance throughout the entire jam session. His two best runs included a double tailwhip, barspin to lookback, flair whips, a 540 tailwhip and other tricks good enough to defend his gold.

Said Bryon, “I’m really stoked to be doing what I’m doing and I love all the guys that I ride with. It did the job and I came away with the gold. Hopefully BMX will get bigger and bigger in China.

Byron won gold with a score of 79.00, silver medallist McCann took second place with a 73.00 and in his first competition since breaking his leg last year, Kagy earned a bronze medal scoring 73.00.

“It feels good to be back on my bike. It’s a proud moment to be back and back on the podium,” said Kagy.

In the Aggressive In-line Street Finals, Thailand’s Worapoj Boonnim was the first Asian to win a medal at this year’s event, clinching the bronze. The gold medal was won by American Jeff Stockwell, who was thrilled after winning silver medals in his previous two KIA X Games Asia appearances. After qualifying in third place, Stockwell’s relaxed style gave him an advantage on the new street course.

“I feel great! This is the first time I have won a contest in a long time, but I have been skating every day and it really paid off today,” said Stockwell.

The American finished with a score of 88.00 for gold, while Japan’s Soichiro Kanashima won the silver with a score of 86.33, while Bonnim scored 84.67 for his bronze medal.

Fans can look forward to catching a stellar line up of the sport’s best athletes competing in the KIA X Games Asia 2012, such as seven-time X Games Skateboard gold medallist Pierre-Luc Gagnon attempting to win his third Mini-MegaRamp title in just as many years, as well as up-and-coming star 12-year-old skateboarder Tom Scharr, who’s been making waves in the USA for being the first skateboarder ever to land a 1080. In addition, Japan’s high-flying Takeshi Yasutoko will also aim to win his sixth-consecutive gold medal in the Aggressive Inline Vert tomorrow.

Catch the KIA X Games Asia LIVE and exclusive on ESPN from 1.00 to 3.00pm on 30 April - 1 May. Kindly see the broadcast schedule below.