FMX Insider No.33: Levi’s “Egg Roll”

Transmoto’s weekly web-exclusive column, the FMX Insider, penned by Ben Heidrich.

It’s that time of year again when stadiums are filled to the brim with dirt and riders travel from around the globe to show a breathtaking display of human ability. The tenth annual Red Bull X-Fighters Championship is kicking off tonight with the first traditional round being in Mexico City. Twelve of the planet’s best freestyle motocross riders will be battling it out in front of 38,000 people for the chance to be the 2015 world champion.

It took only fourteen days to construct the tight but very fulfilling FMX course inside Mexico’s famous Monumental Plaza de Toros bullfighting arena. The course is made up of three ramps, two quarter pipes and 1.800m3 of dirt. There is also a mysterious third quarter pipe placed oddly on the course, leaving rumours that a new world first trick will be performed.

Note: New Zealand’s Levi Sherwood just unveiled the new world first trick, called the “Egg Roll”. See image below.

The riders list for Mexico City is nothing short of spectacular, including former world champions Mat Rebeaud (Switzerland), Levi Sherwood (New Zealand), Dany Torres (Spain) and Tom Pagès (France). Also fighting for the title will be Rémi Bizouard (France), Adam Jones (USA), Javier Villegas (Chile), Brody Wilson (USA), Erick Ruiz (Mexico) and Jeremy Rouanet (France). Australian riders, Harry Bink and Clinton Moore, will also be riding the first round and are sure to be strong competition.

Warming up for the event, Brody Wilson, Harry Bink and Mat Rebeuad put on a show just outside of Mexico City in front of the “Danza de los Voladores” ceremony as part of the 2015 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour opener. The ceremony consists of four airborne people spinning upside down around a 30-metre-high pole with their feet tied to the pole by ropes as they descend to the ground. The fantastic images released of the modern day FMX champions jumping in front of Mexico’s ancient heritage was a perfect way to kick off this incredible event.