On the 4th and 5th of February, 2017, the best Freestyle Motocross athletes from NIGHT of the JUMPs will storm the Mercedes Benz Arena. In 2017, the world’s longest running FMX sport series will celebrate a momentous start to the season with two rounds of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championships in the German capital of Berlin.
800 tonnes of dirt will be hauled into the Mercedes Benz Arena to build the largest indoor track in NIGHT of the JUMPs history. Three huge landings will sit in front of six take-off ramps, two quarter pipes and the Buggy ramp, all of which the FMX riders will unleash their wildest tricks. A completely new pyrotechnic show from the makers of Rammstein’s pyroshows will dazzle the crowd and promises to deliver a huge sporting spectacle.
13 of the world’s best FMX athletes will be competing for the World Championship points in Berlin. We welcome the return of the NIGHT of the JUMPs heroes, World Champion and former World Champions and new shooting stars of the sport.
The current title defender, Maikel Melero, will be part of the team. The Spaniard has dominated the World Championships for the last 3 years and will capture the Berlin crowd with his huge variety of tricks like the California Roll, Flair and Double Grab Flip.
Two former World Champions will return, David Rinaldo (FRA, 2013) and Libor Podmol (CZE, 2010), aiming to score their second world championship title. They will return from the winter break with crisp new tricks and want to dethrone Melero in the Mercedes Benz Arena.
Petr Pilat, the European Champion from 2015 and unfortunate fourth place getter in the World Championship of 2016, will want to return to the World Championship podium in the new season. He will battle in Berlin against the best with new tricks. While also seeing the return of the Spanish superstar, Dany Torres, who is a Red Bull X-Fighters Tour Champion.
The Berlin-based Kai Haase will be utilising the home town crowd to his advantage while trying to get to the Finals on his return to competition.
The Berliners will be especially looking forward to watching Marc Pinyol. He will be hoping to show his signature ‘Inside Roll’ body varial and make his return to the podium again.
Two of last year’s shooting stars will return from Australia. Pat Bowden and Ryan Brown will be bringing their best. Especially after Bowden won the XPilots event in Mexico and scoring a silver medal at the Nitro World Games with a Front Flip Ruler. Now, Bowden can be happy to say he has a World Championship round podium under his belt, but he will want to stay there this weekend. Brown won the Red Bull Farm Jam in New Zealand and also XPilots in Guadalajara. It will be the first time the Aussie has ridden in Germany and wants to show the world’s biggest Switchblade Flip.
Brice Izzo (FRA), the 2010 World Championship runner up, Leo Fini (ITA) and Filip Podmol (CZE) will complete the starting list in Berlin.
Not only are the FMX riders sailing through the arena, the Austrian buggy driver, Gerhard Mayr will try to land a backflip for the first time in Berlin in his 650kg buggy.
In the LifeProof Best Whip contest, up to 10 riders will fly simultaneously through the Mercedes Benz Arena. Pat Bowden was the “whipmaster” from 2016 and will be the favourite in Berlin. In the Maxxis Highest Air, X Games’ medal winner Massimo Bianconcini will try to set a new world record.
For those who can not experience NIGHT of the JUMPs Live in Berlin, the Live-Stream will start on Saturday from 9pm and Sunday from 6pm here:
nightofthejumps.com/live/
NIGHT of the JUMPs / FIM Freestyle MX World Championship
04th /05th February 2017
Mercedes Benz Arena
Berlin / Germany
Field of riders:
Maikel Melero (ESP)
David Rinaldo (FRA)
Libor Podmol (CZE)
Remi Bizouard (FRA)
Dany Torres (ESP)
Pat Bowden (AUS)
Marc Pinyol (ESP)
Petr Pilat (CZE)
Brice Izzo (FRA)
Leonardo Fini (ITA)
Ryan Brown (AUS)
Filip Podmol (CZE)
Kai Haase (Berlin/GER)
Videolink NIGHT of the JUMPs Berlin Trailer 2017:
youtu.be/k0bXibu8Prw
More information, pictures and videos at www.NIGHToftheJUMPs.com.
Oliver Franke
News
Berlin 2017: Double spectacle!
