Freestyle Motocross Returns to China – NIGHT of the JUMPs

Freestyle Motocross Shenzhen 2015 Preview

After a long summer break from the NIGHT of the JUMPs 2015 season, the World Championship will return October 16 and 17 in the Special Chinese economic hub of Shenzhen. Featuring 11 of the world’s best Freestyle Motocross athletes, a fierce battle will continue for precious championship points at the Shenzhen Sports Center.

The second half of the season will begin with rounds 9 and 10 of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championships, with four riders in hot contention of the title. Leading the charge is the Frenchman and 2013 former World Champion, David Rinaldo, who leads the championship standings with 134 points.

Close behind is the reigning 2014 World Champion from Spain, Maikel Melero on 128 points. In a close 3rd place position, Australian Rob Adelberg can catch up some points, and also the 2010 former World Champion, Czech Republic’s Libor Podmol is in 4th place with 108 points. With 40 championship points on offer over the two rounds in China, it is expected that the riders will throw everything they have to take an advantage coming into the final rounds of the year.

However, it is not going to be easy with the seven remaining riders ready to unleash their own style of tricks and possible innovations after a summer break of training. The newly crowned European Champion, Petr Pilat from the Czech Republic, wants to prove that he can go on with his current form to the World Championships.

Last year in Shenzhen he also made the final which can play havoc with the championship standings. The German battalion featuring brothers Hannes and Luc Ackermann will be looking to continue from their outstanding display at the most recent NIGHT of the JUMPs event in Hamburg where they made history by becoming the first brother’s to make it First and Second place on the podium.

For Dany Torres (ESP), he will be wanting to return to his previous form as the 2011 Spanish Red Bull X-Fighters Champion, however recent injuries have hampered his preparations and results. It will be interesting to have his presence back on the World Championship circuit and watch him return to his best.

For the USA rider James Carter who has won many LifeProof Best Whip contests, he will be wanting to make a bigger statement in his full run of tricks and to try impose himself on riders such as Brice Izzo (FRA) and Jose Miralles (ESP) who have more experience in the NIGHT of the JUMPs courses. Rounding out the rider field is the Maxxis Highest Air reigning champion, Italian stalwart Massimo Bianconcini.

2015 will mark the fourth year NIGHT of the JUMPs has visited China, and the second year at the Shenzhen Sports Centre which features the biggest FMX course of the year’s World Tour. Almost 200 truckloads of dirt will be required to build the three landings, with two placed in a Double-Double line.

Shenzhen is one of th

e fastest growing cities in the world. A mere 30,000 inhabitants lived there in 1979, and now through its status as a Special Economic Zone, it has become one of the most important cities for foreign investment and a metropolis of more than 10 million people who now call Shenzhen home. For the second time, the FMX riders from NIGHT of the JUMPs will conquer the city with the highest per capita income in China.

China NIGHT of the JUMPs / FIM Freestyle MX World Championship (9th + 10th Round)

Field of riders:

Maikel Melero (ESP)

David Rinaldo (FRA)

Libor Podmol (CZE)

Rob Adelberg (AUS)

Dany Torres (ESP)

Brice Izzo (FRA)

James Carter (USA)

Hannes Ackermann (GER)

Jose Miralles (ESP)

Petr Pilat (CZE)

Luc Ackermann (GER)

Massimo Bianconcini (ITA –Maxxis Highest Air)

2015 FIM Freestyle MX World Championship Ranking (after 8th contest)

1. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 134 Points

2. Maikel Melero ESP RFME Yamaha 128 Points

3. Rob Adelberg AUS AMA Yamaha 120 Points

4. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 108 Points

5. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Kawasaki 90 Points

6. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 71 Points

7. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 57 Points

8. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 52 Points

9. James Carter USA AMA Honda 52 Points

10. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 33 Points

11. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 24 Points

12. Filip Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 23 Points

13. Taka Higashino JAP Yamaha 16 Points

14. Dany Torres ESP RFME Yamaha 14 Points

15. Davide Rossi ITA PZM KTM 14 Points

16. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 12 Points