The 10th anniversary of the world’s biggest FMX series in Switzerland will open the first round of the World Championships
On 29th / 30th January 2016, the NIGHT of the JUMPs will celebrate the 10th anniversary in Basel! For the 10th time, the NIGHT of the JUMPs freestyle motocross athletes will storm the St. Jakobshalle with two rounds of competition in the 2016 FIM Freestyle MX World Championships. And if that’s not enough, it will be the first time the World Championships will open in Basel.
Creating the biggest opening to the 2016 World Championship season, the best riders in the world including World Champions, European Champions, X Games Medallists and winners of Red Bull X-Fighters series will come together in the St Jakobshalle. Riders from almost every continent will be bring their newest and toughest tricks to score the first World Championship points of the year.
Former and reigning World Champions who will come to the party are, David Rinaldo (FRA) the World Champion of 2013 and runner up in 2015, will compete against the newly crowned 2014 and 2015 World Champion Maikel Melero from Spain. The third previous World Champion from Czech Republic is Libor Podmol (2010). Remi Bizouard completes the quartet of the FIM World Championship with three titles to his name (2008, 2009, 2012). Between the four riders, there have been seven World Championship titles. And each of them will lay the foundations for this year’s World Title at the opener in Basel ,which of course means there will be a real trick battle for the viewers in St. Jakobshalle.
Rob Adelberg from Australia will make his return as the reigning Bronze medallist from the 2015 season and will be a hot contender for the World Championship podium again in the new season. The veteran, Jose “El Loco” Miralles will make his return as a crowd favourite and coming with fellow Spanish rider Marc Pinyol who will likely present for the first time in front of a Swiss crowd, his unique Body Varial, the Inside Roll. Pat Bowden also hailing from Down Under will deliver a new experience for the Swiss as the newest rider on the World Championship roster.
The German flag will be flying high with the young 17 year old sensation and 2015 European Championship runner-up, Luc Ackermann making his 2016 World Championship start. Along with Brice Izzo (FRA) and Petr Pilat (CZE) who will complete the field of riders for the first two Swiss World Championship competitions.
Also the side competitions, which were contested so heavily in 2015, will return. The LifeProof Best Whip contest will bring up to 10 riders throwing their most inverted whips inside the hall. While the Maxxis Highest Air returns with the Record Holder Massimo Bianconcini going up against X Games medallist Libor Podmol, a new world record could be broken.
After around 300 NIGHT of the JUMPS events worldwide since its foundation in 2001, more than 2.5 million fans have witnessed the impossible become reality. The most important FMX series in 2016 has now become a multi-million-Euro Tour, which features on four continents in the world.
After 10 years, the biggest FMX series in the world will continue to feed the appetite of the Swiss adrenaline junkies and motorsport fans with two full days of extreme sports showcasing the best Freestyle MX riders in the world. Get ready for NIGHT of the JUMPs Basel, 2016!
NIGHT of the JUMPs / FIM Freestyle MX World Championship
29th/30th January 2016
St. Jakobshalle
Basel / Switzerland
Field of riders:
Maikel Melero (ESP)
David Rinaldo (FRA)
Rob Adelberg (AUS)
Remi Bizouard (FRA)
Libor Podmol (CZE)
Petr Pilat (CZE)
Brice Izzo (FRA)
Marc Pinyol (ESP)
Pat Bowden (AUS)
Jose Miralles (ESP)
Luc Ackermann (GER)
+ Massimo Bianconcini (ITA) at the Sidecontests
www.NIGHToftheJUMPs.com