This weekend all eyes will be on Basel as the world‰Ûªs best freestyle motocross riders gather for NIGHT of the JUMPs in the Sankt Jakobshalle.
This will be the ninth time that Basel has hosted the freestyle motocross artists as they contest NIGHT of the JUMPs. In 2015 as in previous seasons, the Swiss venue will be staging a double bill of the world‰Ûªs most extreme FMX riding, with two back-to-back rounds of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship.
In 2014, the fans were ecstatic as Mat Rebeaud performed his 540 flair trick on both days to book himself a place in the finals. Unfortunately, the Swiss superstar has to miss out on the occasion this time after crashing badly in Mexico six weeks ago. Nevertheless, the local crowd can look forward to the most spectacular FMX competition ever staged in their country.
The line-up contains the current championship Top Four, with one reigning world champion and two former holders of the title: Maikel Melero (ESP), David Rinaldo (FRA), Rob Adelberg (AUS) and Libor Podmol (CZE). All of them have the California Roll and/or the Volt in their repertoires, which makes this the first time that the field of riders has included four exponents of the Body Varial.
The presence of Brice Izzo (FRA) and Hannes Ackermann (GER) means that the fans are likely to be treated to the Open Loop ‰ÛÒ a backflip over the quarter ramp. This trick has never jumped on Swiss territory.
US pin-up James Carter, Spain‰Ûªs Jose ‰Û÷El Loco‰Ûª Miralles, Davide Rossi (ITA), Leonardo Fini (ITA) and Fred Wasner (FRA) complete the line-up for NIGHT of the JUMPs in Basel.
But the focus of the two Swiss Grand Prix contests will be the battle for championship ascendancy between Maikel Melero, David Rinaldo, Rob Adelberg and Libor Podmol. Will Rinaldo be including both the Rock Solid Flip and the Volt? Can Melero add another trick to his Doublegrab Flip, Melero Roll and Flair to keep Rinaldo at bay? And what about Adelberg and Podmol? Has the Australian been practising a new trick to clinch the victory or will Podmol‰Ûªs Volt persuade the judges of his claim to the trophy?
The two days this weekend will supply the answers.
