Villegas signals title intentions

The second half of a NIGHT of the JUMPS double bill was staged on Saturday at the Berlin O2 World arena. This fourth round of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship was, however, contested by a reduced field of eleven riders, with Spaniard Maikel Melero dropping out as a result of injuries sustained in a fall on Friday. In the qualifying stage, the 10,000 partisan fans at a sold-out O2 World wildly cheered on the German contingent. Local hero Kai Haase showed off a Saran Wrap Flip, Lukas Weis a 360-style underflip and Fabian Bauersachs his One-Hand Can Backflip. Sadly for the home crowd, it was not enough for any of the trio to progress. But hope lingered on in the shape of Hannes Ackermann who put in the best NIGHT of the JUMPS run of his career and had the immense satisfaction of reaching his first championship final with a score of 350 points. Joining him in the showdown were Brice Izzo (FRA), Libor Podmol (CZE), David Rinaldo (FRA), Javier Villegas (CHL) and Remi Bizouard (FRA). The arena erupted when Berliner Kai Haase claimed victory in the Whip contest. In the Maxxis Highest Air, Massimo Bianconcini cleared 8.4 metres to pick up the trophy. In third place with a jump of 6.5 metres was the 14-year-old prodigy Luc Ackermann. The Best Trick award once again went to Clinton Moore for his version of The Volt. In the Stadler Mountainbike Show, Russian rider Pavel Alkhin pulled off a Backflip Double Tailwhip. Hannes Ackermann was really up for the final but overreached himself, making a couple of errors that left him trailing in sixth. David Rinaldo had a clean run, but without his customary Double Seatgrab Flip, he ended up in fifth place. Fellow Frenchman Brice Izzo has now fully incorporated the Tsunami Flip and Heelclicker Underflip into his routine, and this was good enough to secure him fourth place. Former world champion (2010) Libor Podmol obviously found the Berlin air much to his liking, taking the third podium spot with various flip and underflip combos. But the battle for the top rung was a re-run of so many finals in the 2011 season. Javier Villegas showcased all his most daring tricks while Remi Bizouard also selected the best from his repertoire, including a 360. Ultimately, though, the Chilean was judged to have the edge, which takes him back into contention for the title. Despite having to settle for second on the evening, Bizouard (76 points) has extended his championship lead to ten points over his closest pursuer, Libor Podmol on 66. Villegas moves up to fifth in the championship rankings. Hannes Ackermann is the best-placed German in seventh following his debut qualification for a championship final. The FIM Freestyle MX World Championship continues on the weekend of 13th/14th April at the Sankt Jakobshalle arena in Basel (Switzerland). NIGHT of the JUMPs returns to Germany on 28th April for an international event at the Olympic Hall in Munich. Results NIGHT of the JUMPs – Final
1. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 447 points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 438
3. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 432
4. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 426
5. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 418
6. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 366

Qualification
1. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 379 Points
2. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 375
3. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 374
4. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 359
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 357
6. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 350
7. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL PZM KTM 315
8. Lukas Weis GER DSMB Suzuki 286
9. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 284
10. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 219
11. Fabian Bauersachs GER DMSB Suzuki 155

Whip Contest
1. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki
2. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL PZM KTM
3. Luc Ackermann GER KTM

Results MAXXIS Highest Air
1. Massimo Bianconcini ITA 8,40 Meter
2. Kai Haase GER 8,00
3. Luc Ackermann GER 6,50

Standings (after 4th contest)
1. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 76 Points
2. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 66
3. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 54
4. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 48
5. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 47
6. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 44
7. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 34
8. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 34
9. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL PZM KTM 32
10. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Suzuki 15
11. Ivan Zucconi ITA PZM KTM 15
12. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 12
13. Fabian Bauersachs GER DMSB Suzuki 11
11. Vanni Oddera ITA PZM KTM 10
15. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 10