NIGHT of the JUMPs: Turin 2012

Top freestyle motocross riders gear up for most spectacular world championship of all time

The adrenaline will be pumping once again on the weekend of 2nd/3rd March at NIGHT of the JUMPs in Turin, when the curtain rises on a new FIM Freestyle MX World Championship season. Palasport Olimpico is once again the venue hosting the cream of the freestyle motocross crop. Accomplished riders from seven countries will whip the crowd up into a frenzy with the most outrageous tricks and backflip combinations yet devised on our planet.

This year, Turin is to stage not one but two rounds of the world championship, and right from the start, the freestyle MX professionals will be locked in a fierce battle with only one goal in mind – victory! After Javier Villegas (CHL) secured the 2011 world title in a thrilling finale against Remi Bizouard (FRA), the two rivals will be going head to head again in the Italian Grand Prix.

But the other contestants have also been working hard to refine their own repertoires during the winter break with the aim of muscling in on the act. None more so than Czech flip ace Petr Pilat; the Red Bull rider put in a frenetic sprint towards the end of the 2011 world championship, notching up a sequence of podium finishes, so he obviously has great ambitions for 2012. The same goes for last year’s two newcomers, Maikel Melero (ESP) and David Rinaldo (FRA), who will certainly be showcasing their own versions of the Doublegrab Backflip.

2010 champion Libor Podmol (CZE) is also in the line-up along with fans’ favourite Jose Miralles (ESP) who must fancy his chances of taking the ultimate prize after so many runner-up and third-place finishes. Brice Izzo (FRA), who was being touted as a strong contender for last year’s title before missing the second half of the season through injury, will be keen to take up where he left off. Also looking to make progress is German rider Hannes Ackermann; after making it through to his first NIGHT of the JUMPS final last month in Linz, his confidence is sky high.

And following the recent runs by Clinton Moore (AUS), the Turin crowd will already be drooling with anticipation. The Boy From Down Under is sure to perform his 360 and ‘Volt’ body varial. Flying the flag for Italy will be Massimo Bianconcini, Vanni Oddera and Ivan Zuchoni. And the three azzurri will be pulling out all the stops to get into the final and send the home crowd into raptures.

The freestyle competitions will be supplemented by the Maxxis Highest Air and Race & Styles contests plus backflips on snowmobiles performed by Jostein Stenberg (NOR) and newcomer Jason Cesco (ITA). It is a programme that has all the makings of two unforgettable evenings and a worthy prelude to the most gargantuan FIM Freestyle MX World Championship season to date.
 
Riders:
Javier Villegas (CHL)
Remi Bizoaurd (FRA)
Petr Pilat (CZE)
Libor Podmol (CZE)
Maikel Melero (ESP)
Jose Miralles (ESP)
Hannes Ackermann (GER)
Clinton Moore (AUS)
David Rinaldo (FRA)
Massimo Bianconcini (ITA)
Brice Izzo (FRA)

Wild Cards
Vanni Oddera (ITA)
Ivan Zuchoni (ITA)