X Games gold medallist Jeremy Lusk, an American freestyle motocross racer, has died of head injuries after crashing while trying to land a backflip in competition.
24-year-old Lusk, was injured at the weekend in Costa Rica, when he failed to complete a full rotation while attempting a Hart Attack backflip and slammed headfirst into the dirt.
Lusk crashed in almost identical fashion in the freestyle semifinals at the 2007 X Games but was not hurt.
He had a successful 2008 season, winning freestyle gold at the X Games and silver in best trick when he landed the first double-grab Hart Attack backflip.
