FMX Insider No.22: Sheehan The Champ

Welcome to our brand new weekly web-exclusive column, Transmoto‘s FMX Insider. Penned each week by South Australian rider, Ben Heidrich, the FMX Insider will present the story-behind-the-stories of the Aussie and international freestyle motocross scenes. 

It was all thrills and spills in Pretoria, South Africa over the weekend for the final round of the 2014 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour. The scene was set for a showdown between Australia’s Josh Sheehan and New Zealand’s Levi Sherwood on the massive course of red dirt. In the heart of Pretoria with the Union Buildings as the backdrop, the site was nothing short of spectacular.

It was not only a historical event being the 50th Red Bull X-Fighters competition, but it was the final round and last chance to claim the Overall championship win. Riders put everything on the line, performing the world’s best tricks and throwing down breath-taking runs. Whilst getting a feel for the massive course in qualifying, riders showcased their style and tricks over the wide range of jumps and lines.

Sheehan took to the course and executed his 90-second runs perfectly, qualifying him in first place. Australian rider, Clinton Moore, launched his new Suicide Flat-spin trick and finished the day in third while French rider, Tom Pages, also performed his own tricks. He chucked the Volt and Special Flip, making them look effortless. The day did not go so well for the Tour leader, Levi Sherwood, crashing a Double-Grab Backflip in qualifying and slimming his chances against Sheehan at the championship win.

The 14th Red Bull X-Fighters season finale went off with an explosion of spectacular riding in front of 22,000 screaming fans. Sheehan came out swinging on Saturday, dominating the competition. He could have taken it easy, with series leader Sherwood unable to move beyond the first round of the final due to the ankle injury he sustained in qualifying. But Sheehan put everything on the line, defeating all his opponents in an amazing display.

With the scores tallied and riders emotional, it was Sheehan in first, Sherwood in second and Torres in third for the series standings. “I’ve been wanting this for years, and it’s a dream come true,” said Sheehan. “I’m on top of the world!”

The atmosphere was absolutely wild with most of the sold out stands of Pretoria seeing the sport for the first time.

All three of the 2014 series finalists now have won an X-Fighters World Title.

Red Bull X-Fighters Pretoria Final Results:
1. Josh Sheehan (AUS)
2. Dany Torres (ESP)
3. Adam Jones (USA)
4. Remi Bizouard (FRA)
5. Tom Pages (FRA)
6. Clinton Moore (AUS)
7. Taka Higashino (JPN)
8. Maikel Melero (ESP)
9. David Rinaldo (FRA)
10. Alastair Sayer (BOT)
11. Nick DeWit (RSA)
12. Levi Sherwood (NZL)

Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Final Standings:
1. Josh Sheehan, 360
2. Levi Sherwood, 270
3. Dany Torres, 265
4. Tom Pagè,s 235
5. Taka Higashino, 180
6. Remi Bizouard, 165
7. Adam Jones, 140
8. Rob Adelberg, 120
9 Clinton Moore, 90
10. Maikel Melero, 85