It was exactly 2 weeks after the start of the new World Championship series in Berlin that the Freestyle MX pilots would meet again in NIGHT of the JUMPs in Krakow, Poland. The series would heat up with the return of Hannes Ackermann (GER) and James Carter (USA) from a bout of influenza at the previous round and intervene in the championship battle.
However in Krakow unfortunately David Rinaldo (FRA) and Petr Pilat (CZE) would not be able to contest the 3rd round. The Frenchman and 2013 World Champion was a victim of current airline pilot strikes and the Czech rider suffered a devastating crash in his final practise on Thursday at his home, requiring a flight to hospital. (We are wishing Petr all the very best and a speedy return).
With both riders unable to start, it gave our 2015 shooting star, Filip Podmol another starting position but he would dislocate his shoulder on a Tsunami Flip and he wouldn’t make a final spot.
Remi Bizouard would also begin his World Championship campaign, and Marcin Lukaszczyk would get his start as the local Polish rider to join the grid but he didn’t have enough in his repertoire to make the final, despite the frenzied cheers from his countrymen.
The current World Championship leader, Melero (ESP) wanted to set the direction for his third victory and in qualifying surprised everyone by unleashing his California Roll early and also including Double Grab Flip. It was this surprise that saw him lead qualifying, followed by Adelberg and Podmol. Remi Bizouard, Brice Izzo and Hannes Ackermann were also able to enjoy their first World Championship finals in 2015.
Izzo had reason to celebrate by winning the first LifeProof Race & Style Contest of 2015, with a thrilling head to head final where he narrowly took the win from Bianconcini. The Italian Step-up king continued to have a bad day at the office in the Maxxis Highest Air competition after burning out his clutch in the competition. Not being able to continue, left the victory open for Jose Miralles, just edging out Luc Ackermann.
In the final, it came to a showdown of body varials. Rob Adelberg finished his new variation of the California Roll to No Hand Lander and securing him a second place podium finish. Then, Libor Podmol unleashed his new body varial, the Volt, however he was unable to hold onto it and crashed, relegating him to 6th place.
Melero was pushed to show his hand, with his own version of the California Roll featuring a side-saddle take-off, a huge Double Grab Backflip but it was the Flair on the Quarter pipe that would secure his victory in the final. This marks Melero’s third win in the World Championships and the reigning World Champion is now clearly in the lead with 60 points.
Text and Pics NIGHT of the JUMPs
FACTS
NIGHT of the JUMPs/FIM Freestyle MX World Championship
Cracow, 20th March 2015 – Round 3
Results NIGHT of the JUMPs – Final
1. Maikel MeleroESPRFMEYamaha406 Points
2. Rob AdelbergAUSAMAYamaha400 Points
3. Remi BizouardFRAFFMHonda373 Points
4. Brice IzzoFRAFFMYamaha359 Points
5. Hannes AckermannGERDMSBKTM340 Points
6. Libor PodmolCZEACCRYamaha342 Points
Results Qualification
1. Maikel MeleroESPRFMEYamaha357 Points
2. Rob AdelbergAUSAMAYamaha350 Points
3. Libor PodmolCZEACCRYamaha342 Points
4. Remi BizouardFRAFFMHonda337 Points
5. Brice IzzoFRAFFMYamaha314 Points
6. Hannes AckermannGERDMSBKTM307 Points
7. Luc AckermannGERDMSBHusqvarna298 Points
8. James CarterUSAMAHonda291 Points
9. Jose MirallesESPRFMEKTM280 Points
10. Marcin LukaszczykPOLYamaha164 Points
11. Filip PodmolCZEACCRYamaha 63 Points
Lifeproof Race & Style Contest
1. Brice IzzoFRAFFMYamaha
2. Massimo BianconciniITAPZMKTM
Maxxis Highest-Air
1. Jose MirallesESPRFMEKTM7,50 Meter
2. Luc AckermannGERDMSBHusqvarna7,00 Meter
3. Massimo BianconciniITAPZMKTM6,50 Meter
FIM Freestyle MX World Championship
Ranking (after 3rd contest)
1. Maikel MeleroESPRFMEYamaha60 Points
2. Rob AdelbergAUSAMAYamaha50 Points
3. Libor PodmolCZEACCRYamaha38 Points
4. David RinaldoFRAFFMYamaha36 Points
5. Luc AckermannGERDMSBHusqvarna27 Points
6. Brice IzzoFRAFFMYamaha26 Points
7. Jose MirallesESPRFMEKTM25 Points
8. Petr PilatCZEACCRKTM24 Points
9. Filip PodmolCZEACCRYamaha23 Points
10. Remi BizouardFRAFFMHonda16 Points
11. James CarterUSAAMAHonda15 Points
12. Hannes AckermannGERDMSBKTM12 Points
13. Kai HaaseGERDMSBSuzuki12 Points
14. Marcin LukaszczykPOLPZM Yamaha 6 Points