Moore secures 2015 X-Fighters title

Australia’s Clinton Moore was crowned the winner of the 2015 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour in Abu Dhabi on Friday after winning the finale, capping a sensational season in the world’s most prestigious freestyle motocross tour with three wins to finish just ahead of Tom Pagès. The Australian kept his nerves in check against 2013 World Tour champ, Pagès, beating the Frenchman in their head-to-head battle in the Quarter finals on a technical track set-up on Abu Dhabi’s famous Corniche waterfront just off the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf.

Hungry for the win even though he had already clinched the World Tour title, Moore then went on to defeat Maikel Melero of Spain in the Semi finals and Australia’s Rob Adelberg in the final with a dazzling assortment of tricks of up to 15 metres high and 30 metres in distance, including his big tricks like The Volt as well as a first-ever Bundy with a no-handed landing. Josh Sheehan completed an all-Australian sweep on the podium by taking third.

“This feels like all the hard work and determination has finally paid off,” said Moore. “This was always a dream and the dream has come true for me now.”

With his victory amid the bright lights of Abu Dhabi’s glittering skyline on a warm October evening, Moore finished the season with 380 points and wins in three stops – including triumphs in Mexico City and Athens. Pagès, who continues to push the sport to new heights with his innovations, took first place in Madrid and Pretoria and ended up second Overall with 305 points after taking eighth in Abu Dhabi while Adelberg climbed to third Overall, adding a new Cordova Transfer Flip to his arsenal.

Even though Pagès lost the title on the final stop of the season for the second time since 2012, Moore paid tribute to Pagès, saying: “Tom is the legend of this sport – he’s the biggest innovator and is always pushing us to new boundaries. He’s unlucky he went down.”

Abu Dhabi Results:
1. Clinton Moore (AUS)
2. Rob Adelberg (AUS)
3. Josh Sheehan (AUS)
4. Maikel Melero (ESP)
5. Rémi Bizouard (FRA)
6. Dany Torres (ESP)
7. Taka Higashino (JPN)
8. Tom Pagès (FRA)
9. Javier Villegas (CHI)
10. Luc Ackermann (GER)

2015 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Final Standings:
1. Clinton Moore (AUS)
2. Thomas Pagès (FRA)
3. Rob Adelberg (AUS)
4. Josh Sheehan (AUS)
5. Levi Sherwood (NZL)
6. David Rinaldo (FRA)
7. Dany Torres (ESP)
8. Rémi Bizouard (FRA)
9. Taka Higashino (JPN)
10. Maikel Melero (ESP)