Buyten puts on a show in Fallon

FALLON - After winning the step up gold medal at last week's X Games in Los Angeles, Matt Buyten is happy to be back in Nevada.

The Carson City motocross freestyle artist returned to the Silver State Friday night for Big Valley Honda's Triple Crown Finale at the Churchill County Fairgrounds in Fallon. Buyten participated in the extreme freestyle jump show.

"It's great. It feels like I'm at home," Buyten said after his freestyle show. "I've been everywhere and this is the best place. I love it."

Buyten's win last week at the X Games was his second gold medal of his career. He won it in the summer of 2003.

"It was a dream come true," Buyten said of his 2003 win. "The whole world was watching. You can be free. It's not based on team, it's individual."

In the 2004 contest, Buyten took second and also placed second in the X Games 11.

Buyten, who's been competing in the X Games since 2001, said his second gold medal was more significant because of trying to nurse a bad right shoulder.

"This one is even better. There was more emotions," Buyten said. "It (the injury) took me out a lot because I had to flip out three years ago. I just got it all back together and I don't want to give up. I still want to win."

Buyten prefers the Nevada atmosphere of motocross in comparison to the national spotlight.

"I kind of wanted to get out of the big light and hang out with my friends and buddies," Buyten said. "It (Northern Nevada) is a beautiful place and there are cool people around here."

Fellow Carson City rider Mike Mason will be the main attraction for tonight's motocross show. Mason took home the bronze medal at last week's X Games in the Moto X Freestyle.

"It's rad," Buyten said about having Mason at the show. "There's three of us at the X Games and all three of us got medals."

Buyten was also referring to Carson City's Adam Jones, who won silver in the freestyle.

Opening ceremonies are at 7 p.m. followed by racing and the freestyle show. General admission is $12 at the gate and free for kids ages 6 and under.

"We've never had this level of talent come out to Fallon," promotions director Ty Erquiaga said. "We haven't had this level of talent come to Reno in a few years."