FMX Insider No.57: Aussie Champs

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

The 2015 Australian FMX and Speed & Style Titles, in its second year running, took place at the Murray Bridge Speedway in South Australia on December 12. The event organisers turned it up a notch this year by inviting some of the world’s best riders to compete. 20-time X Games medalist Nate Adams made the trip from America to show the Aussies why he’s known as The Destroyer. Also competing was the 2014 Australian champ, Cameron Sinclair, Aussie MX/FMX all-rounder, Robbie Marshall, and X Games Gold medallist Blake ‘Bilko’ Williams. Multiple World Record holder, Robbie Maddison, also came long to show his support for the ever-growing event.

The Speed & Style Qualifying left Adams in the lead, ahead of Bilko, Marshall, Sinclair and NSW rider, Luke McNeill. Lewis Woods sat in sixth place followed by Queensland-based MX racer, Jared Morrison, and Victoria’s Brodie Markham. The first Heats were tight with the racers showing their track skills and the FMX riders throwing down bangers. Marshall, Woods and Morrison tore around the SX track and threw down some style over the ramps, while Bilko and Adams were chucking 360s and huge Flip combos.

In the Speed & Style Finals, it was Adams against Marshall and McNeill against Bilko. McNeill jumped into an early lead before a determined Bilko made a firm move which led to McNeill’s front wheel colliding with Bilko’s rear wheel and McNeill went down. Bilko went on to take the win, claiming a Bronze medal for his efforts, and a very frustrated McNeill remounted and completed the run. Marshall went up hard against Adams in the Gold medal match-up but Adams scored higher in style and took the win for the Australian Speed & Style title over Marshall.

The talent was flowing in the FMX competition. Victorian-based FMX rider, Ryan Brown, threw down an insanely smooth run, which saw him qualify in first place. Tied for second was Adams and Bilko; behind them was Queensland-based Showtime FMX rider, Harry Bink, and NSW young gun, Jake Smith. Marshall, Markham and local South Australian rider, Adam Grope, rounded out the top eight.

In the first round of the head-to-head format, Brown went up against Grope, who rode strong, but Brown moved forward after displaying his amazing Backflip combos such as the Ruler and Switchblade. Adams went up against Markham, with Adams winning the battle, due to his experience in competition riding. The style kings, Marshall and Bilko, then went head-to-head, with Bilko taking the lead with his big up-right tricks and a One Handed 360 over the ramps. It was then a battle of the young guns – Bink and Smith – who both have a good bag of up-rights and Flip tricks. Smith rode strong in his run, but it wasn’t enough to beat Bink’s Double Grab Flips and routine Showtime ramp jumping skills.

The Semi saw Brown go up against Bink, with Brown laying down amazing tricks such as an Indie to Rock Solid and a huge Ruler Flip. Amongst Bink’s tricks was a big Indie Flip Side Saddle Lander and huge turndowns. Bink won the round moved forward. In the second Semi, Adams went up against Bilko but Bilko pushed through showing how bad he wanted to claim the Australian FMX Championship. The Bronze medal match-up was decided between Adams and Brown. Both riders put down solid runs but Brown finished up 5.2 points ahead of Adams to claim third place.

It was Gold medal time and Bilko and Bink were ready to battle with six jumps each. Bilko started out strong with a Rock Solid and a variety of Flip tricks and a perfect 360 Nac. Although it was an amazing run, it wasn’t enough for young ripper, Bink, who then unleashed his huge bag of stylish up-rights and Flip tricks including the Rock Solid Flip. Bink was crowned the 2015 Australian FMX champion.

“I thought it was a great event,” said FMX Bronze medallist, Brown. “We don’t have enough competitions here in Australia, so I was happy to be a part of it!”

Grope spoke about how it was great to be a part of the Australian FMX and Speed & Style Titles: “Shannon Reimann and the team did an amazing job with the event and everything leading up to it. I had a lot of fun riding in front of a home-state crowd and hanging with some of the guys like Nate and Maddo who I’ve looked up to throughout my whole riding career. I can’t wait for next year’s event!”

“It was a really good event,” Grope continued. “For something that had endurocross, FMX, Speed & Style, a Best Whip competition and an Amateur competition, as well as heaps of big-name riders and personalities of the sport there, it was really well run and professional. There definitely needs to be more events like it. ”