Freestyle

Luc Ackermann Front and Double Flips to Victory in Berlin

Posted:

Sunday, February 24th, 2019

9:13 AM

Round one winner Luc Ackermann.

On Friday night, NIGHT of the JUMPs entered a new stage of Freestyle Motocross competition inside the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin, with 11 of the world‰Ûªs best Freestyle Motocross riders from three continents to kick off the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship.

Three World Champions were welcomed into the cauldron of Berlin with the reigning World Champion, Maikel Melero (ESP, 2014-2018), Libor Podmol (CZE, 2010) and Javier Villegas (CHL, 2011). The runner-up World Champion and European Champion from 2018, Luc Ackermann was also invited to the party. Two Australians, and champions in their own right, Pat Bowden and Rob Adelberg, current winners of the Nitro World Games and X Games (Winter) respectively, were ready to bring fireworks to the German capital.

While the 2011 Chilean World Champion failed to reach the final, even after crashing the first Egg Roll Superman in NIGHT of the JUMPs competition, the other two FIM World Champions, Libor Podmol and Maikel Melero battled in the finals. Their positions were secured alongside the Italian, Leonardo Fini, who scored a lot of points with his new Egg Roll Nac Nac and California Roll. Only just in front of the current Winter X Games winner Rob Adelberg, who didn‰Ûªt unleash his biggest tricks but found enough energy to make it into the Top 6. Rob‰Ûªs compatriot, Pat Bowden already secured his spot with the look-back Double Hart Attack backflip and One-Hand to Double Hart Backflip.

Runner up Maikel Melero.

However all of the riders in qualifying were battling for second position going into the final when the young German, Luc Ackermann unleashed one of the most devastating qualifying runs ever seen in the 19-year history of NIGHT of the JUMPs. Luc‰Ûªs variation of trickery included the 360, Egg Roll, Flair, Surfer Tsunami Flip, Front Flip and finished with the Double Backflip in the Double Up. The judges rewarded him with a huge 351 points and the leader going into the final.

Pat Bowden took the confidence of his new look back Hart Attack into the Best Whip finale against the local hero, Kai Haase, to throw a huge turn-down whip to defeat the Berliner. Kai wasn‰Ûªt finished for the night, by taking out the Synchro Competition, riding beside the Italian, Leo Fini.

Libor Podmol rounded out the podium.

With all the riders in the Top 6 wanting to stamp their authority on the new season, there were always going to be some nerves fraying. One rider who wasn‰Ûªt expected to crack under pressure was Rob Adelberg who wasn‰Ûªt able to land his new body varial in the Double Up, and then also the Italian, Leo Fini, who crashed his Egg Roll combo in the final which decimated his final run score. Pat Bowden also followed suit and made a mistake on his Cliffhanger Backflip where he ultimately missed out on a podium to Libor Podmol who put together a safe run which included his LP Roll, Surfer Tsunami Flip and California Roll for third place on the night.

Brice Izzo

It was then a showdown between the two opponents of last year‰Ûªs World Championship. Maikel Melero wasn‰Ûªt going to submit without giving the final his best crack, landing a Nac Flair, a brand new trick at NIGHT of the JUMPs, the No Hand Front Flip, the California Roll, Lazyflip and Super Flair to finish. All of the pressure was on the German, Luc Ackermann. However in 2019, Ackermann has learned the lessons of 2018 and held his composure when it mattered most, landing the Front Flip also for his first time at NIGHT of the JUMPs, the 360, Surfer Tsunami, Egg Roll and Flair off both quarter pipes. To round out the 9 standard tricks, Luc added a Double Backflip to his run. Luc didn‰Ûªt stop there, as he upped the ante in the Double-Up by landing his Double Backflip with a Nac-Nac which gave him the unbeatable score of 398 points.

Luc Ackermann took the win in the World Championship opener, and the lead in the overall standings. However, it can all change tomorrow with the second round of the World Championship at NIGHT of the JUMPs in Berlin.

Luc Ackermann, Maikel Melero and Libor Podmol on the podium

NIGHT of the JUMPs/FIM Freestyle MX World Championship
Berlin, 22nd Februar 2019 ‰ÛÒ Round 1

Results NIGHT of the JUMPs ‰ÛÒ Final
1. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 398 Points
2. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 384 Points
3. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Husqvarna 338 Points
4. Pat Bowden AUS MA Yamaha 317 Points
5. Rob Adelberg AUS MA Yamaha 231 Points
6. Leonardo Fini ITA PZM KTM 100 Points

Results Qualification
1. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 351 Points
2. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 337 Points
3. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Husqvarna 295 Points
4. Pat Bowden AUS MA Yamaha 288 Points
5. Leonardo Fini ITA PZM KTM 275 Points
6. Rob Adelberg AUS MA Yamaha 271 Points
7. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 249 Points
8. Javier Villegas CHL Suzuki 225 Points
9. Filip Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 221 Points
10. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 212 Points
11. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Husqvarna 207 Points

Synchro Contest
1. Kai Haase (GER) / Leonardo Fini (ITA)
2. Javier Villegas (CHL) /

Results Best Whip Contest
1. Pat Bowden AUS MA Yamaha
2. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki

FIM Freestyle MX World Championship 2019 - Ranking (after 1st contest)
1. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 20 Points
2. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 18 Points
3. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Husqvarna 16 Points
4. Pat Bowden AUS MA Yamaha 14 Points
5. Rob Adelberg AUS MA Yamaha 12 Points
6. Leonardo Fini ITA PZM KTM 10 Points
7. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 9 Points
8. Javier Villegas CHL Suzuki 8 Points
9. Filip Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 7 Points
10. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 6 Points
11. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Husqvarna 5 Points