Podmol back on track

Twelve riders from seven countries met this Friday in Turin for the first round of the 2012 FIM Freestyle MX World Championship. The audience in Palasport Olimpico witnessed a spectacular contest with the impressive return of former World Champion Libor Podmol and the equalling of the high jump world record by two Italian riders. The three azzurri, Bianconcini, Vanni Oddera and Ivan Zucconi did battle with the international FMX elite. They were wildly cheered on by their fellow Italians, but it was not enough to reach the final round. Bianconcini finished in eighth place as the best Italian Stallion. His annoyance at his lowly placing didn’t last long, however; Massimo was firstly able to win the Whip Contest and then dominate the Maxxis Highest Air contest together with team mate Ivan Zucconi. Jumping a massive 11:00 metres, both riders were cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd and matched the existing Step Up world record set in 2010. Six riders, David Rinaldo (FRA), Brice Izzo (FRA), Clinton Moore (AUS), Maikel Melero (ESP), Remi Bizouard (FRA) and Podmol (CZE) did battle in the final contest, since world champion Javier Villegas (CHL) crashed out on the Double Up jump and was taken to hospital. Clinton Moore missed the podium in the final stages, despite performing a 360 and a Volt. David Rinaldo was unable to defend a second place in qualifying, executing a Deadsailor Flip on the last jump. Brice Izzo is improving all the time, but is not yet able to break into the Top 3. Maikel Melero was rewarded instead with third place, jumping with his usual style. Victory in the Italian Grand Prix was fought over by the two former World Champions, Remi Bizouard and Podmol, who showed everything from Hart Attack and Ruler Flip to Cliffhanger Flip and Indy Underflip. In the event, it was Podmol who won finally secured another NIGHT of the JUMPS victory by the narrowest of margins – just two points. So in the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship, Podmol (20 points) leads from Bizouard (18 points) and Melero (16 points). That may change tomorrow, though, when the next world championship points will be awarded. Results – Final
1. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Suzuki 392 points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Yamaha 390
3. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 360
4. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 338
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 331
6. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 320

Qualification
1. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 358 points
2. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Suzuki 350
3. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 339
4. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 320
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 304
6. Maikel Melero ESP RFME Yamaha 297
7. Javier Villegas CHI FMC Yamaha 297
8. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL PZM KTM 288
9. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 261
10. Ivan Zucconi ITA PZM KTM 244
11. Vanni Oddera ITA PZM KTM 231
12. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 0

Whip Contest
1. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL PZM KTM
2. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda

Results MAXXIS Highest Air
1. Ivan Zucconi ITA 11,0 Meter
2. Massimo Bianconcini ITA 11,0 Meter
3. Maikel Melero ESP 10,0 Meter

FIM Freestyle MX World Championships
1. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Suzuki 20 points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 18
3. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 16
4. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 14
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 12
6. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 10
7. Javier Villegas CHI FMC Yamaha 9
8. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL PZM KTM 8
9. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 7
10. Ivan Zucconi ITA PZM KTM 6
11. Vanni Oddera ITA PZM KTM 5
12. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 4