2014 FMX NIGHT of the JUMPs Linz Review
“Another day, another dollar” was what riders contesting the second Freestyle MX European Championship competition were no doubt thinking. Unfortunately, after Friday’s NIGHT of the JUMPS opener, only nine FMX riders were left in Saturday’s line-up.
Martin Koren (CZE) and Luc Ackermann (GER) suffered injury yesterday, and Fred Wasner’s (FRA) luck ran out during the afternoon. As a result, the chances of the remaining motocrossers securing one of the coveted six finalist positions were much improved.
The same bunch of riders as on Friday – Podmol (CZE), Remi Bizouard (FRA), Maikel Melero (SP), Petr Pilat (CZE) and Brice Izzo (FRA) – made it through into the final round. Massimo Bianconcini (ITA) found himself very much on the back foot compared to young Australian Joel Brown (AUS), who had already won a place through to the final yesterday on his European NIGHT of the JUMPS debut.
Maxime Gregoire (FRA) was crowned King of the Whips in Linz despite failing to get further than qualifying on both days. The Frenchman produced the hardest whips on both days and thoroughly deserved to win the Rockwell Watch Best Whip.
Victory in Maxxis Highest Air was firmly in Italian hands. However, record holder Bianconcini had to share Saturday’s triumph with Maikel Melero, who also successfully jumped 9.10 metres.
Spectators at the finale of the second round of the Freestyle MX European Championship Tips Arena in Linz, which was sold-out, were treated to some high-octane action. The crowd’s favourite Petr Pilat secured a podium. The Red Bull rider won over the Linz fans with his Side Saddle Take Off Candybar Flip to Side Saddle Landing and with his really energetic performance, riding faultlessly in spite of his 1.90-metre stature.
And the Czech rider only narrowly missed his first NIGHT of the JUMPS victory, because judges placed fellow Czech Podmol just in front by a whisker. Once again, it was Podmol’s double-up trick, the Cliffhanger Flip to No Hand Landing that he displayed yesterday that put the shine on his round. Pilat on the other hand ‘only’ managed a Tsunami Flip on his last jump, putting the seal on a Czech double victory.
Brice Izzo finished in third place as best Frenchman, while Remi Bizouard came away empty handed in fourth position despite executing a Cliff Hanger, Ruler and Hart Attack Backflip.
The two Czech riders head the overall standings in the Freestyle MX European championship. Podmol leads on 40 points, closely followed by Pilat on 32 points. Melero and Bizouard are in joint third place with 30 points.
The freestyle motocrossers have no time at all to relax, though, since the next two European NIGHT of the JUMPS championships competitions will be staged this weekend in the Stadthalle, Graz (January 25th-26th 2014).
2014 Linz NIGHT of the JUMPs/Freestyle MX European Championships Night 2 Results:
1. Libor Podmol         CZE   ACCR      Yamaha   376 Points
2. Petr Pilat         CZE   ACCR      KTM      370 Points
3. Brice Izzo         FRA   FFM      Yamaha   363 Points
4. Remi Bizouard         FRA   FFM      Kawasaki   355 Points
5. Maikel Melero         ESP   RFME      Yamaha   353 Points
6. Joel Brown         AUS   MA      Yamaha   328 Points
Results Qualification:
1. Libor Podmol         CZE   ACCR      Yamaha   341 Points
2. Maikel Melero         ESP   RFME      Yamaha   339 Points
3. Petr Pilat         CZE   ACCR      KTM      333 Points
4. Brice Izzo         FRA   FFM      Yamaha   320 Points
5. Remi Bizouard         FRA   FFM      Kawasaki   315 Points
6. Joel Brown         AUS   MA      Yamaha   293 Points
7. Massimo Bianconcini      ITA   PZM      KTM      282 Points
8. Maxime Gregoire      FRA   FFM      Yamaha   264 Points
9. Leonardo Fini         ITA   PZM      KTM      262 Points
Results Rockwell Watch Whip Contest:
1. Maxime Gregoire      FRA   FFM      Yamaha
2. Massimo Bianconcini      ITA   PZM      KTM
Maxxis Highest-Air:
1. Massimo Bianconcini      ITA   PZM      KTM      9,10 Meter
Maikel Melero         ESP   RFME      KTM      9,10 Meter
Freestyle MX European Championships Ranking (after 2nd contest):
1. Libor Podmol         CZE   ACCR      Yamaha   40 Points
2. Petr Pilat         CZE   ACCR      KTM      32 Points
3. Maikel Melero         ESP   RFME      Yamaha   30 Points
Remi Bizouard         FRA   FFM      Kawasaki   30 Points
5. Brice Izzo         FRA   FFM      Yamaha   28 Points
6. Massimo Bianconcini      ITA   PZM      KTM      19 Points
Joel Brown         AUS   MA      Yamaha   19 Points
8. Maxime Gregoire      FRA   FFM      Yamaha   16 Points
9. Leonardo Fini         ITA   PZM      KTM      14 Points
10. Fred Wasner         FRA   FFM      Yamaha    6 Points
11. Martin Koren         CZE   ACCR      KTM       5 Points
12. Luc Ackermann      GER   DMSB      KTM       4 Points
