2011 Freestyle Motocross
On May 14, 2011, freestyle fans around the world will be avidly following events in Hamburg. After an absence of three years, NIGHT of the JUMPs returns to the North German metropolis with the most extreme of all freestyle motocross competitions.
FMX stars from eight nations will be locking horns in the ultimate freestyle motocross battle for the European title. o2 World is the perfect setting for the third and final round of the NIGHT of the JUMPs / UEM Freestyle MX European Championship.
This grand finale of the FMX European Championship is guaranteed to be full of thrills and spills. Topping the current championship standings after two wins in the first two contests is Brice Izzo (FRA), but because an injury has ruled him out for Hamburg, that would appear to have stymied his title challenge. Trailing by just four points is Remi Bizouard (FRA).
The two-time world champion has been in top form recently and is now favourite to take the title. And yet the Frenchman must steel himself for a tricky showdown with Jose Miralles (ESP). Last year’s championship runner-up from Spain is currently six points behind Bizouard and will be going all out for victory.
But for his strategy to work out, Miralles has to hope that several other competitors finish ahead of Bizouard – for example, reigning world champion Libor Podmol or one of the other high-calibre riders such as Sheehan (AUS) or Bianconcini (ITA). Because if Bizouard ends up at least three places behind Miralles, the Spaniard will be crowned European champion.
Red Bull rider Petr Pilat (CZE) has chosen NIGHT of the JUMPs to make his long-awaited comeback after injury. The two German contenders for the FMX title are Hannes Ackermann and Fabian Bauersachs. Ackermann from Thuringia in eastern Germany is currently lying seventh in the European Championship standings. Bauersachs has left it rather late to enter the European Championship fray but will be going all out to show that he is still top dog on the national scene.
David Rinaldo (FRA) and Brice Izzo’s brother Romain complete the line-up of prequalified riders. Contesting the other two starting positions at NIGHT of the JUMPs in the preliminary knock-out round are Kai Haase and Tom Ferber (both from Germany), Josh Head Ford (USA) and Martin Schenk (Austria).
The sideshows will be well worth watching in their own right. In the Maxxis Highest Air Contest, the riders will be aiming to set a new European record. The spectators at o2 World in Hamburg will also get their first taste of the newly introduced and highly popular Hein Gericke Race & Style Contest which pits the riders against each other in terms of speed and tricks. They will also marvel at the precocious talent of 13-year-old German FMX rider Luc Ackermann.
2011 Hamburg, Germany, Freestyle MX Field of Riders
Remi Bizouard (FRA)
Jose Miralles (ESP)
Libor Podmol (CZE)
Massimo Bianconcini (ITA)
Hannes Ackermann (GER/Niederdorla)
David Rinaldo (FRA)
Romain Izzo (FRA)
Petr Pilat (CZE)
Josh Sheehan (AUS)
Fabian Bauersachs (GER/Rödental)
Riders Pre-Qualifier:
Tom Ferber (GER)
Kai Haase (GER)
Martin Schenk (AUT)
Joshua Headford (USA)
UEM Freestyle MX European Championships
Ranking (after 2nd contest)
1. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 40 Points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Yamaha 36 Points
3. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 30 Points
4. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Suzuki 28 Points
5. Maikel Melero ESP RFME Yamaha 26 Points
6. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL ACCR KTM 20 Points
7. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 17 Points
8. Martin Schenk AUT OSK Yamaha 15 Points
9. Thomas Wirnsberger AUT OSK Yamaha 13 Points
10. Dennis Garhammer GER DMSB Suzuki 11 Points
11. Radek Bilek CZE ACCR KTM 9 Points
12. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Suzuki 9 Points