Berlin’s Night of the Jumps

Night of the Jumps will be causing a mini-quake in Berlin next Saturday and Sunday as twelve freestyle motocross stars from six nations contest the second and third rounds of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship at the O2 World arena.

For the seventh time in the history of Night of the Jumps, the world’s top FMX riders will be going head to head in the German capital. Whereas Berlin has staged the World Championship curtain-raiser in recent years, this year the contestants will arrive with points already in the bag. So with the opening spectacle in Turin two weeks ago having been won by two-time FIM champion Remi Bizouard (FRA), reigning world champion Libor Podmol (CZE) is really feeling the heat. The Czech missed out on the final round in Italy and now needs an outright victory in the German Grand Prix if he is not to lose touch with the early leaders.

But if Remi Bizouard also pulls out all his tricks on the night, including the first 360 on German soil, it will be hard to displace him from the top. Young bucks David Rinaldo (FRA) and Maikel Melero (ESP), together with newcomer Javier Villegas and crowd pleaser Jose Miralles (ESP), will be unleashing the most competitive backflip contest ever witnessed in Germany in an attempt to finish on the podium. Most likely to cause an upset is Rinaldo with his Doublegrab Backflip.

And in the battle for the last six places, four Germans will be hoping for glory on their home turf: Fabian Bauersachs, Hannes Ackermann, Lukas Weis and Kai Haase. They will be pulling out all the stops to please their local supporters by making it through to the final. Planning to spoil the party are Massimo Bianconcini (ITA) and Romain Izzo (FRA). The Italian just missed out on a podium in Turin with his new Cliffhanger Flip. Izzo impressed last time with his repertoire that included a Shaolin and a Cordova Backflip. Unfortunately Red Bull Rider Petr Pilat had to postpone his comeback and will miss the German Grand Prix’.

The sideshows also promise high-octane excitement. In the Maxxis Highest Air and Race & Style Contests, local hero Stefan Bengs will be vying with the world’s FMX elite. Jostein Stenberg will be attempting various backflip combinations on a 300kg snowmobile, and 13-year-old FMX youngster Luc Ackermann will be debuting a routine of long jump tricks.

Field of riders:

Remi Bizouard (FRA)
Libor Podmol (CZE)
Jose Miralles (ESP)
Javier Villegas (CHI)
Massimo Bianconcini (ITA)
David Rinaldo (FRA)
Maikel Melero (ESP)
Romain Izzo (FRA)
Fabian Bauersachs (GER/Rödenthal)
Hannes Ackermann (GER/Niederdorla)
Lukas Weis (GER/Munich)
Kai Haase (GER/Berlin)