Motocross Rider Jackson Strong has become the first Australian to win back-to-back gold medals for best trick at the X Games.

The 20-year-old from Lockhart, in NSW’s Riverina, edged out Japan’s Taka Higashino – who earlier won gold in the freestyle event – to finish in first place with a never-before-seen trick in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon (AEST).

Fellow Aussie Cameron Sinclair rounded out the top three with a bronze medal-winning double backflip.

A shirtless Strong landed the winning trick – called The Jack, a body varial variation – on his first run at the Staples Centre, posting a score of 91.00.

It took him more than six months of practice and workshops at a Queensland circus school to perfect the move.

Last year, he won the best trick gold for successfully performing the first motocross front-flip to dirt in X Games history.

But the lead-up to Saturday’s victory hasn’t been smooth sailing for Strong, having delayed his trip to the US after close friend Luke Stojanovic was seriously injured in a crash at his training compound in Lockhart.

Stojanovic suffered severe trauma to his head and neck and remains in a coma.

“My best friend Stono went down hard while riding at my house last week and is in (a) coma still. Time too (sic) wake up bro love you like a brother,” Strong tweeted on Wednesday.

Issues with his passport and the US Consulate further delayed his travel and planned preparations in the lead-up to the competition.

“Last week has been worst ever. $10,000 later I have a passport, flights and can leave Australia finally,” he said via Twitter.