Motocrossers and fans everywhere await with bated breath the ninth round of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship, which is to be contested on 19th November 2011 at the CEZ Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Since 2009, the town nestling on the river Oder/Odra has regularly played host to spectacular showdowns between the FMX elite on their NIGHT of the JUMPs world tour. Javier Villegas (CHL) is tipped to win this year’s title, having secured a podium finish at almost every contest. And there’s no pressure on him either in the Czech Republic, because Villegas can still hang on to the lead, even if second-placed Remi Bizouard (FRA) comes home first.
But one thing is for sure: Javier’s rivals will again wow us with dazzling tricks and engines glowing red hot in an effort to whittle away his lead in the remaining contests. It shouldn’t be too difficult to knock the Chilean king of the standings off his perch, since both Bizouard, who is just 23 points adrift, and Spanish FMX torero Jose Miralles will once again be out to show what they can do this November. And let’s not forget Australian and six-time winner of NIGHT of the JUMPs Josh Sheehan, who is currently fourth-best rider, clinching two first places at the last battle in Riga, despite carrying a shoulder injury; he reaffirmed his present longstanding dominant position both in the whip contest and in qualifying, leaving other riders out in the cold with his amazing stunts. Nor will Spaniard Maikel Melero, who is currently on level pegging with Sheehan, be at all fazed as he lines up for the start.
Libor Podmol, currently sixth on 89 points, can look forward to an added bonus: he was born in Ostrava and will have the home advantage. Will the Czech rider manage to secure his second win of the season cheered on by the crowd or will he get bogged down in qualifying like last time?
In the world championship classification, though, ‘young gun’ David Ronaldo (FRA), is breathing down Podmol’s neck, and he will no doubt perform his Double Grab Backflip to make up the wafer-thin gap of four points on the Czech rider and move into the Top Six.
Red Bull rider Petr Pilat will also be flying the flag for the Czech Republic. And he too will send shivers down the spines of fellow Czechs when he performs One- hand Takeoffs and Tsunami Backflips to land a place in the finals, as he did last time out in Riga.
Germany is represented by Fabian Bauersachs, who will be firing up his KTM to defend and possibly improve his eighth place, if things go really well.
French rider Brice Izzo, who was put out of contention with a bad injury and was subsequently replaced by his brother Romain until round seven, has now been back on the scene since Riga. We can’t wait to see whether he can still pull some breathtaking stunts out of the bag.
The wildcards went to Lukas Weis from Germany and Belgian rider William van den Putte, who are super-keen to do well in the next NIGHT of the JUMPs, dazzling spectators with brilliant tricks.
NIGHT of the JUMPs / FIM Freestyle MX World Championship - Round 9
19th November 2011 - CEZ Arena - Ostrava / Czech Republic
Field of riders:
Javier Villegas (CHL)
Remi Bizouard (FRA)
Jose Miralles (ESP)
Maikel Melero (ESP)
Libor Podmol (CZE)
David Rinaldo (FRA)
Brice Izzo (FRA)
Josh Sheehan (AUS)
Petr Pilat (CZE)
Fabian Bauersachs (GER)
Wildcards:
Lukas Wies (GER)
William van den Putte (BEL)