2015 Linz NIGHT of the JUMPs Preview

Freestyle motocross riders will fly through the air, almost grazing the roof of the Tips Arena on their dirt bikes at the NIGHT of the JUMPs, January 16 and 17. Contestants will secure their first points towards the 2015 FMX championship in these two opening rounds of the Freestyle MX European championship.
German rider Hannes Ackermann is back in harness in Linz after a two-year break. The 24-year-old notched up his greatest triumph in 2013 with second place in the Tips Arena to claim his first podium in the world’s most extreme freestyle motocross series. He was narrowly beaten at the time by his buddy David Rinaldo.
Injury put Hannes out of action last year, but he is now keen to celebrate his return with a repeat of the success he achieved in Linz two years ago. He is definitely a podium contender with new tricks like the Rowedova Flip and Porti Air Flip first developed by him.
However, he will have to beat off stiff competition from younger brother Luc, who, last year at the NIGHT of the JUMPs in Frankfurt, just missed his maiden podium in the series by a whisker to take a sensational fourth place.
Freestyle motocross aces from three continents will appear in Linz in 2015. Reigning FMX world champion Maikel Melero from Spain is in the line-up. Three‑time world champion and reigning European champion Remi Bizouard will also be there. These two went head‑to‑head last year in a thrilling scrap, executing tricks like the Body Varial, the 540, Ruler Flip and Double Grab Flip at the world championship finale in Frankfurt, but what have they got in store for us at this European championship opener?
The 2013 European championship runner-up Brice Izzo from France has also confirmed his attendance. Izzo is joined by world championship runner-up Jose El Loco Miralles. Petr Pilat, who performed the first tandem back flip ever seen in the NIGHT of the JUMPs series in Linz will also be back again.
America is represented by James Carter. The winner of the X-Pilots in Mexico will also be intent on proving at the NIGHT of the JUMPs that he is one of the world’s best freestyle motocrossers.
These eight riders, the world’s top freestyle aces are guaranteed a place in the line-up. The remaining starters at the NIGHT of the JUMPs in Linz will be decided in the open qualifier to be held on January 15.
Filip Podmol, younger brother of 2010 world champion Libor Podmol has already signed up for the open qualifying session. Let’s see what he can pull out of the bag! Also hoping to grab their ticket to ride are the two Frenchmen Fred Wasner and Nicolas Texier, Australian Steve Sommerfeld, Leonardo Fini and Davide Rossi from Italy and Spanish tandem trick expert Marc Piniol.
Apart from the main action in the freestyle competition, the side contests will be just as spectacular. X Games medal winners will attempt to smash the record of 11.50 meters in Maxxis Highest Air, while motocrossers will take to the air in trains of riders in the Lifeproof Best Whip, as they seek to outdo one another by producing the evening’s best whip.
The 2015 year marks the start of the 15th NIGHT of the JUMPs season and the fifth time that spectators in Linz have had the opportunity to enjoy nail-biting freestyle motocross action of the highest calibre. To ensure that this anniversary year goes with a bang, competitors in the series endowed with prize money in excess of one million euros will aim to put everything else that has previously gone before it in the shade. So, motor racing fans and connoisseurs of extreme sports should be sure not to miss it!
NIGHT of the JUMPs Freestyle MX European championship (Rounds 1 + 2), Tips Arena Linz / Austria
Seeded riders:
Maikel Melero (ESP)
Remi Bizouard (FRA)
James Carter (USA)
Luc Ackermann (GER)
Hannes Ackermann (GER)
Jose Miralles (ESP)
Petr Pilat (CZE)
Brice Izzo (FRA)
Open qualifier riders:
Leonardo Fini (ITA)
Davide Rossi (ITA)
Steve Sommerfeld (AUS)
Filip Podmol (CZE)
Marc Piniol (ESP)
Fred Wasner (FRA)
Nicolas Texier (FRA)
