Will longstanding number two rider Podmol be crowned FIM Freestyle MX World Champion?
The two penultimate rounds of the NIGHT of the JUMPs / FIM Freestyle MX World Championship 2010 are to be staged this Friday and Saturday at the Stadthalle in Vienna, when thirteen freestyle motocrossers will attempt to outdo each other in the most extreme display of trick riding that Austria has ever seen. It's been more than five years since the Viennese fans last had the chance to watch the ultimate Freestyle World Championship for the world's best FMX riders. But now, these top athletes are returning in the NIGHT of the JUMPs, and it really couldn’t be more exciting, because the world championship might be decided during the course of the two Austrian Grand Prix.
After his brace of wins in Ostrava last weekend in front of a home crowd, Libor Podmol has the best chance of success in the scramble for the world championship title. The Czech rider leads the overall ranking with 164 points. His main rival is Frenchman Brice Izzo, who is only six points adrift. Spanish rider Jose Miralles is also perfectly placed; he occupied the top spot before Ostrava and is currently in third position on 154 points.
So things are looking very tense in the title chase. The leading trio can’t afford even the slightest slip-up. The tricks too have to be at the maximum grade of difficulty, otherwise the riders put themselves out of contention.
Remi Bizouard (FRA) and Brody Wilson (USA) are placed fourth and fifth in the world championship standings with 104 points each. As only 60 points will be awarded at the final competition in Fortaleza (Brazil), it is almost impossible for either of them to be serious contenders for a podium spot. Both of them, though, will want to put on their best performance as the season draws to a close.
The same applies to Massimo Bianconcini (ITA), Alastair Sayer (BOT) and Fabian Bauersachs (GER), who all want to be well-placed for next season. Alastair should again be terrific in the Highest Air contest. The African rider set a new world record last Sunday with an 11-metre jump. Can he improve on that at the Vienna Stadthalle? And will NIGHT of the JUMPs rookie Josh Sheehan (AUS) go through to the final again as he did on his debut at Ostrava?
Hannes Ackermann from Germany, William van den Putte (BEL) and Austrian wild card riders Martin Schenk and Thomas Wirnsberger complete the field. By way of a showstopper, FMX youngster Luc Ackermann will attempt to set a new record as the youngest rider to backflip on Austrian soil.
ENTRY LIST: Libor Podmol (CZE)Remi Bizouard (FRA)Jose Miralles (ESP)Brice Izzo (FRA)Massimo Bianconcini (ITA)Fabian Bauersachs (GER)Alastair Sayer (BOT)Brody Wilson (USA)Josh Sheehan (AUS)Hannes Ackermann (GER)William van den Putte (BEL)Martin Schenk (AUT)Thomas Wirnsberger (AUT)+ Luc Ackermann with the youngest backflip attempt in Austria.