Shepparton-based teenager Jarryd McNeil has just received the chance of a lifetime after being selected to compete in this year’s summer X Games 16 held in Los Angeles, California, late next month.

This will be McNeil’s debut appearance in the prestigious X Games, an action sports event that showcases the world’s finest extreme sports athletes in Moto, BMX, and Skate.

McNeil will compete in the Moto X Best Whip competition, battling it out alongside some of the world’s biggest names in both racing and freestyle. Last year’s competitors including the likes of Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Todd Potter, Ronnie Renner, Josh Grant and Myles Richmond.

McNeil recently proved to the freestyle world that he belongs in this competition just as much as the next man, the 18-year-old earning huge respect from the crowd and also fellow riders on Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus Live tour of Australia.

“I am so happy to have received an invite to X,” McNeil said. “It has always been a dream of mine to compete on the big stage. I am also very grateful that Travis Pastrana put a good word into the organisers to help me gain an invite, and for having me on the Nitro tour.”

McNeil will have a huge couple of months coming up with the X Games finishing in early August, followed by preparation for Super X in which he will compete in the Pro Open class on a Yamaha YZ450F.

The ex-Australian Junior Motocross Champion is confident that he has the speed to run towards the front on the 450 at Super X.

“I am super excited to step up to the 450 class at Super X, especially to see where I fit in against some of the best riders in the world,” McNeil concluded.

Other Australians confirmed for FMX at X Games 16 include current Freestyle gold medalist Blake ‘Bilko’ Williams, Cam Sinclair and Robbie Maddison.