Gdansk Ergo Arena NIGHT of the JUMPS
NIGHT of the JUMPs finally returns to Poland after missing a year. Adrenaline and extreme action are guaranteed on March 23, when the world’s best FMX riders take to the air in Gdansk’s Ergo Arena for the fourth round of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship.
Two local riders, Artur Puzio and Jan Kaszuba will be lining up at the start, having qualified for the field with wildcards from the Polish Association. Puzio took part in the 2011 World Championship Grand Prix, but Kaszuba will be making his NIGHT of the JUMPs debut this weekend. Fellow Poles will cheer them on wildly in their bid to win through against the world’s freestyle elite and somehow reach the final.
They will be tangling with the likes of reigning World Champion Remi Bizouard (FRA), 2010 World Champion Podmol and David Rinaldo, currently placed third in the World Championship standings. R’Dav will probably be brimming with confidence after his first grand prix victory in Berlin. He hopes to again be a thorn in the side of fellow Frenchman Bizouard in the championship fight here in Poland.
World Championship newcomer Dany Torres, placed second at the World Championship opener in Kaunas, is back in the line-up. Maikel Melero, who missed the last NIGHT of the JUMPs in the German capital, also returns to the fray.
Jose Miralles (ESP) and Brice Izzo (FRA) started the season well and will try to break into the Top 3 in the standings. Hannes Ackermann would love to join them there – he struggled in Berlin suffering with his back and yet still managed to reach the final. He hopes to get a sniff of a podium or two at the World Championship.
Bianconcini aims to extend his lead in the overall standings in Maxxis Highest Air and will be out to prove that he is still a prime candidate for the final in the freestyle competition as well. Petr Pilat has looked hot plenty of times during this season, securing fourth place overall in the FMX World Championship standings. Petr caused a stir in Berlin with his tandem flips and intends to whip up the excitement even more in Poland when he takes to the air partnered by Iwona Guzowska, a former kickboxing world champion and Polish Member of Parliament.
The ROCKWELL Time Race & Style contest promises to be action packed once again, but for those of you unable to make it to Gdansk, don’t forget the NOTJ live stream at NIGHToftheJUMPs.com.
Gdansk / Poland NIGHT of the JUMPS Field of riders:
- Remi Bizouard (FRA)
- Libor Podmol (CZE)
- David Rinaldo (FRA)
- Petr Pilat (CZE)
- Brice Izzo (FRA)
- Jose Miralles (ESP)
- Hannes Ackermann (GER)
- Dany Torres (ESP)
- Massimo Bianconcini (ITA)
- Maikel Melero (ESP)
- Artur Puzio (POL)
- Jan Kaszuba (POL)
FIM Freestyle MX World Championships Ranking (after third round):
1. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Kawasaki 54 Points
2. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 52 Points
3. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 48 Points
4. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 42 Points
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 31 Points
6. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 27 Points
7. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 24 Points
8. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 18 Points
9. Dany Torres ESP RFME KTM 18 Points
10. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM 16 Points
11. Gabriel Villegas CHL FMC KTM 16 Points
12. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 12 Points
13. Rich Kearns USA AMA Kawasaki 10 Points
14. Martin Koren CZE ACCR KTM 7 Points
