“Cologne is to host the FMX World Championship!” The news spread like wildfire amongst motocross fans in Germany. After the event in Barcelona was cancelled by the local promoter “for technical reasons”, the NIGHT of the JUMPS backroom team and the FIM quickly came up with Plan B. A few short phone calls later, the international NIGHT of the JUMPS event scheduled to take place on 6th October at the LANXESS arena in Cologne was upgraded to the status of Round 10 in this year’s FIM Freestyle Motocross World Championship. The Rhinelanders can now look forward to extreme sport at its very best, featuring the world’s top riders.
The motorcycle industry will also be delighted, as NIGHT of the JUMPS in Cologne coincides with Europe’s largest motorbike show, INTERMOT, scheduled for the same week (3rd - 7th October) at Köln Messe.
The big question going into the Cologne weekend is whether table-topping Remi Bizouard (FRA) can wrap up the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship title ahead of time. After his two victories in the Chinese Grand Prix, he heads the standings on 172 points. Eighteen points behind is Libor Podmol (CZE) who claimed the crown in the 2010 season; he will certainly be pulling out all the tricks in an attempt to close the gap.
Also in the line-up are Brice Izzo (FRA) and Jose Miralles (ESP), each of whom has a NIGHT of the JUMPS win to his credit. And the dark horse on the evening could be David Rinaldo – the third Frenchman on the starting list has performed two Double Seatgrab Backflips in training during the past fortnight, so if he can do it in the double-up, he is virtually guaranteed a podium spot. Also aiming for a Top Three finish is Red Bull man Petr Pilat – the Czech rider made it through to the final in China on his comeback after a seven-month lay-off due to injury. Petr will be showing off all his flip combinations with an eye to the podium.
But Germany too has its hopes in the shape of national favourite Hannes Ackermann who will be looking forward to impressing the home crowd with his Hartattack Backflip and hopefully making it through to the last six. X Games high jump specialist and current NIGHT of the JUMPS Maxxis Highest Air record holder Massimo Bianconcini (ITA) will be aiming to prove that he still has enough freestyle tricks up his sleeve to qualify for the final. But he will have to get past the likes of Martin Koren (CZE) and Kai Haase from Berlin. Both are making a return to the world championship fray after a brief absence and will be keen to get themselves noticed for next year’s line-up by putting in some decent runs. Maxime Gregoire is on the same strategy – the young Frenchman made his debut at the NIGHT of the JUMPs at Linz in January of this year, and the fans in Cologne have reason to be particularly excited, because he will be attempting The Volt, a trick that has never been seen in Cologne before.
There will not be a dry eye in the house when Fabian Bauersachs makes his last run. The NIGHT of the JUMPS legend and co-founder of the FMX scene in Germany will be retiring after his final contest at the LANXESS arena, so we have one more chance to experience his incredible style as he performs signature tricks such as the Tsunami or 1-Hand Nac Flip.
Luc Ackermann, Germany’s youngest FMX rider, will be competing in the Maxxis Highest Air as well as the Whip Contest. And the youngster still has fond memories of the LANXESS arena – it was here that he set a world record in 2010 by becoming the youngest rider (12 years old) to perform a motorcycle backflip.
NIGHT of the JUMPs Cologne 2012
FIM Freestyle MX World Championship Round 10
06th October 2012
Cologne / Germany
LANXESS arena
Riders
Remi Bizouard (FRA)
Libor Podmol (CZE)
Brice Izzo (FRA)
David Rinaldo (FRA)
Hannes Ackermann (GER)
Massimo Bianconcini (ITA)
Jose Miralles (ESP)
Petr Pilat (CZE)
Fabian Bauersachs (GER)
Martin Koren (CZE)
Kai Haase (GER)
Maxime Gregoire (FRA)
(+ Luc Ackermann in Maxxis Highest Air and Whip Contest) FIM Freestyle MX World Championships
Ranking (after 9th contest)
1. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 172 Points
2. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 154 Points
3. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 121 Points
4. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 116 Points
5. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 80 Points
6. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 78 Points
7. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL PZM KTM 71 Points
8. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 47 Points
9. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 39 Points
10. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Suzuki 38 Points
11. Ivan Zucconi ITA PZM KTM 37 Points
12. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 34 Points
13. Aleksey Koleshnikov RUS MFR Yamaha 27 Points
14. Josh Sheehan AUS MA Honda 26 Points
15. Martin Koren CZE ACCR KTM 21 Points
16. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 19 Points
News
FMX jumps on Cologne
