Linz NIGHT of the JUMPs Results
Spectators in the Tips Arena were treated to the greatest barrage of tricks ever seen in Linz this Friday. Twelve freestyle motocross aces from three continents battled it out at the NIGHT of the JUMPs for the first championship points.
Leonardo Fini, Davide Rossi (both Italy) and Steve Sommerfeld qualified on Thursday via the open qualifier for the remaining three places in the European championship opener.
Each year, organizers give young riders the chance to qualify for NIGHT of the JUMPs international contests at the open qualifier. The three seized this chance to prove their worth, but it was not enough to take them through into the final round.
Maikel Melero and Hannes Ackermann also missed the finale in surprising fashion. Incredibly, the Spanish world champion forgot a trick. Ackermann, who placed second here in Linz in 2013 to achieve his greatest success to date, messed up the Cliffhanger Flip and could only finish a lowly 12th.
By way of contrast, his brother Luc, who took a tumble here last year as he performed his first jump in his first contest, was bang on form. The 17‑year-old Red Bull rider almost did enough to take his brother’s place on the podium with his 360 and Surfer Tsunami Flip, but Czech rider Petr Pilat edged the young German out of the number three spot.
Two Frenchmen battled it out for the win in the end. Remi Bizouard executed his Ruler Flip, Cliffhanger Flip and Hart Attack Flip Indy. However, he did not produce the Body Varial that gave him victory at the season finale in Frankfurt.
Rinaldo, though, pulled off an incredible 1-Hand Hart Attack Flip to Double Grab Flip on his very first jump in the finale (video above). Until now, that trick has only ever been successfully performed by one MX rider anywhere in the world – Levi Sherwood. Rinaldo became the clear winner of the first European championship competition when, in addition, he produced his special variation of the 1-Hand 9-O-Clock and California Roll in the double-up.
This victory now also puts Rinaldo at the top of the Freestyle MX European championship standings, followed by fellow Frenchman Bizouard and Petr Pilat.
Linz NIGHT of the JUMPs/Freestyle MX European Championship Results, Round 1:
1. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 401 Points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Kawasaki 374 Points
3. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 372 Points
4. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 354 Points
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 352 Points
6. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 311 Points
Results Qualification
1. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 346 Points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Kawasaki 339 Points
3. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 325 Points
4. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 315 Points
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 307 Points
6. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 301 Points
7. Maikel Melero ESP RFME Yamaha 300 Points
8. James Carter USA AMA Honda 297 Points
9. Leonardo Fini ITA PZM KTM 278 Points
10. Davide Rossi ITA PZM KTM 277 Points
11. Steve Sommerfeld AUS PZM KTM 264 Points
12. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 262 Points
Results Lifeproof Best Whip Contest
1. James Carter USA AMA Honda
2. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM
Maxxis Highest-Air
1. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 7,70 Points
2. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM 7,50 Meter
3. Marc Puniol ESP RFME KTM 6,50 Meter
Freestyle MX European Championships Ranking (after 1st contest)
1. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 20 Points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Kawasaki 18 Points
3. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 16 Points
4. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 14 Points
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 12 Points
6. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 10 Points
7. Maikel Melero ESP RFME Yamaha 9 Points
8. James Carter USA AMA Honda 8 Points
9. Leonardo Fini ITA PZM KTM 7 Points
10. David Rossi ITA PZM KTM 6 Points
11. Steve Sommerfeld AUS PZM KTM 5 Points
12. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 4 Points
For additional information, visit www.NIGHToftheJUMPs.com.