The third round of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championships on Sunday delivered an exciting finish to the event in Berlin. Over 16,000 spectators over the weekend witnessed the world’s best FMX athletes with two nights of competition at the Mercedes Benz Arena.
For the twelfth time, the world’s longest running Freestyle MX series returned to the German capital. Riders included four FMX world champions, two European FMX Champions, various X Games medal winners, Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Champion and a Nitro Games Best Trick silver medal winner to deliver one of the best rider fields ever seen in Germany.
After his flair crash the previous day, Ryan Brown (AUS) unfortunately couldn’t compete on the second night. David Rinaldo (FRA) who was still suffering from the flu on Saturday returned to competition. The former World Champion from 2013 put together a safe run, but not enough to move past qualifying. Instead joining the commentary for the new NIGHT of the JUMPs Live Stream and delivering extra insight into the competition for the viewers.
Pinyol once again attempted his brand new trick which he landed the day before, the Surfer take off to Tsunami Flip from the quarter pipe. Unfortunately on the second night in Berlin, he was unable to land it. Kai Haase, the Berlin local hero once again impressed his home town crowd with the Egg Roll, a new trick for Kai. Filip Podmol also landed a new trick he’s never landed before to dirt, the California Roll. It seems impossible, but despite the tricks mentioned, none of these riders made it to the final. Leo Fini (ITA), Pat Bowden (AUS), Petr Pilat (CZE), Dany Torres (ESP), Libor Podmol (CZE) and Maikel Melero (ESP all secured a finals berth.
In the Maxxis Highest Air, Kai Haase faced the veteran and reigning world champion, Massimo Bianconcini. Both riders cleared the 9.00 metre height, but were unable to go higher. However, on the countback, the X-Games medal winner from Italy would eventually be crowned the night’s winner in Berlin.
The LifeProof Best Whip competition also ripped the audience from their seats. Pat Bowden and Marc Pinyol battled hard and after turning their bikes nearly 180 degrees in style, it would come down to the Australian who went a fraction further to secure his first LifeProof trophy of 2017.
The final would be a rematch between Dany Torres, Libor Podmol and Maikel Melero from the previous night’s podium results. First, the Red Bull rider, Torres, showed why he has been one of the best riders in Freestyle MX in the last 10 years, landing the Egg Roll, Paris Hilton Flip, Oxecutioner Flip, Double Grab Flip, Lazy Boy Flip and the Flair. The only rider to utilise the entire course in Berlin.
Then Podmol risked everything, landing the Egg Roll, Surfer Tsunami Flip, Cliffhanger Flip, California Roll and the Volt in the Double-Up. All the pressure was now on Maikel Melero and the Spaniard countered directly with tricks like his own California Roll, Surfer Tsunami, Seat Grab Indy Flip, Lazy Boy Flip and Ruler Flip. His run was impeccable, until the last jump when he baulked at the ramp for the Double up. This cost Melero valuable seconds in his Double Up to perform the Nac-Nac Flair. Instead, he ran out of time and his Flair was only counted as half points of the normal Double, thus relegating the World Champion back to third place. Podmol took the win over Torres and Libor Podmol also finished Maikel Melero’s hot streak of 12 victories in 12th months.
After three World Championship competitions in 2016, Maikel Melero is on top with 56 points. Libor Podmol has shortened the distance to the lead by only 8 points after his win in Berlin. In third place is the shooting star Pat Bowden with 42 points.
The next round of the FMX World Championships will be held on the 25th of March, 2017 at NIGHT of the JUMPs in Krakow, Poland.
Videolink Best Tricks NIGHT youtu.be/dvxhOYxnW8A
FACTS
NIGHT of the JUMPs/FIM Freestyle MX World Championship
Berlin, 05th February 2017 – Round 3
Results NIGHT of the JUMPs – Final
1. Libor PodmolCZEACCRYamaha433 Points
2. Dany TorresESPRFMEKTM418 Points
3. Maikel MeleroESPRFMEYamaha401 Points
4. Petr PilatCZEACCRKTM401 Points
5. Pat BowdenAUSMAYamaha370 Points
6. Leonardo FiniITAPZMKTM350 Points
Results Qualification
1. Maikel MeleroESPRFMEYamaha364 Points
2. Libor PodmolCZEACCRYamaha362 Points
3. Dany TorresESPRFMEKTM350 Points
4. Petr PilatCZEACCRKTM335 Points
5. Pat BowdenAUSMAYamaha329 Points
6. Leonardo FiniITAPZMKTM315 Points
7. Brice IzzoFRAFFMYamaha310 Points
8. Remi BizouardFRAFFMKawasaki293 Points
9. Kai HaaseGERDMSBSuzuki279 Points
10. Marc PinyolESPRFMEKawasaki238 Points
11. David RinaldoFRAFFMYamaha220 Points
12. Filip PodmolCZEACCRYamaha213 Points
Results LifeProof Best Whip Contest
1. Pat BowdenAUSMAYamaha
2. Marc PinyolESPRFMEKawasaki
Maxxis Highest-Air
1. Massimo BianconciniITAPZMKTM9,00 Meter
2. Kai HaaseGERDMSBSuzuki9,00 Meter
3. Brice IzzoFRAFFMYamaha8,00 Meter
FIM Freestyle MX World Championship 2017
Ranking (after 3rd contest)
1. Maikel MeleroESPRFMEYamaha56 Points
2. Libor PodmolCZEACCRYamaha48 Points
3. Pat BowdenAUSMAYamaha42 Points
4. Petr PilatCZEACCRKTM39 Points
5. Dany TorresESPRFMEKTM34 Points
6. Brice IzzoFRAFFMYamaha31 Points
7. Marc PinyolESPRFMEYamaha26 Points
8. Leonardo FiniITAPZMKTM26 Points
9. David RinaldoFRAFFMYamaha17 Points
10. Remi BizouardFRAFFMKawasaki14 Points
11. Filip PodmolCZEACCRYamaha14 Points
12. Kai HaaseGERDMSBSuzuki12 Points
13. Ryan BrownAUSMAKawasaki10 Points
14. Mat RebeaudSUIKTM 9 Points
Text and Pics by Night of the Jumps