The NIGHT of the JUMPs returned to the Frankfurt Festhalle on Friday after a nine-year absence. Eleven riders from five nations competed in the penultimate round of this year’s FIM Freestyle MX World Championship. Local fans were rooting for the three German contestants, Luc and Hannes Ackermann and Lukas Weis, but were also intrigued by the three-way battle at the top between current championship leader Maikel Melero (ESP), Libor Podmol (CZE) and Remi Bizouard (FRA).
Frankfurt turned out not to be such a happy hunting ground for the 2010 world champion from the Czech Republic. In the third round of free practice, Podmol tried to pull off a Flair over the Quarter but slipped on landing and had to retire injured. He was instantly out of contention for the title and headed home early.
The championship battle was now down to a two-horse race between Melero and Bizouard whose primary concern was to survive the qualifying round. Melero secured a preliminary second place with a Doublegrab Flip. Bizouard’s Tsunami Flip was enough to take him through in fifth place. However, the overall winner in qualification was reigning world champion David Rinaldo with a Doublegrab Flip and a new Stripper Flip variation.
Petr Pilat and Brice Izzo also progressed to the final, but the big sensation for the home crowd was the run by Luc Ackermann. The 16-year-old performed a 360, a Surfer Takeoff Tsunami Flip and a Flair to qualify in third position.
NOTJ returnee Jamie Squibb from England was unable to produce the goods on the night. Also going out at halftime in the freestyle competition were Jose Miralles, Hannes Ackermann and Lukas Weis. ‘Whipmaster’ Weis at least had the instant consolation of prevailing in the subsequent LifeProof Best Whip Contest.
The Maxxis Highest Air Contest was a face-off between Luc Ackermann, Jose Miralles and Lukas Weis. The trio saw the absence of regular winner Massimo Bianconcini as a great opportunity for glory, and so it was that Miralles claimed victory ahead of Luc Ackermann. But worse than the defeat in the side competition for Luc was the damage to the suspension of his bike sustained on his last jump which threatened to scupper his chances in the freestyle final. Fortunately, the official NIGHT of the JUMPs crew were able to swap the broken spring with one from his brother’s machine in a matter of minutes. Luc thus embarked on his maiden world championship final round, reprising his 360 and Surfer Takeoff Tsunami Flip.
However, his Flair wasn’t quite as smartly executed as in the preliminary heat, which bumped him down one place to fourth. Petr Pilat put in a spectacular run to deprive the young German of a potential podium. He took the third spot with a series of accomplished backflip triple combos.
Remi Bizouard went first in the championship showdown. His run included a Hart Attack, Ruler Flip and Cliffhanger Flip. This put him into the hot seat which he retained against the challenge of Melero. The diminutive Spaniard showed his determination to get the title decided on the night with a Double Seatgrab Flip and a new Cordova to Superflip combo. The plan was to force the issue with a Flair in the double-up, but in his eagerness, he crashed and fell back to sixth place. Which of course maintains the championship suspense until tomorrow. Going into the last world championship event of the season, Melero has 130 points, just eight more than Remi Bizouard on a score of 122.
Victory on Friday went to David Rinaldo. The Frenchman was the well-deserved winner with a Doublegrab Indy Flip and California Roll.
On Saturday, the Festhalle in Frankfurt hosts the tenth and last round of the 2014 World Championship. The deciding freestyle competition and crowning of the new champion can be seen live on www.Extreme.com. Coverage begins at 9pm local time (CET).
NIGHT of the JUMPs/FIM Freestyle MX World Championships
Frankfurt, 21st November 2014 – Round 9
Results: NIGHT of the JUMPs – Final
1. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 393 points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Kawasaki 381 points
3. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 364 points
4. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 352 points
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 351 points
6. Maikel Melero ESP RFME Yamaha 322 points
Results: Qualification
1. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 347 points
2. Maikel Melero ESP RFME Yamaha 343 points
3. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 336 points
4. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 332 points
5. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Kawasaki 331 points
6. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 328 points
7. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 278 points
8. Jamie Squibb GB DMSB Kawasaki 267 points
9. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Honda 227 points
10. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 211 points
Results: LifeProof Best Whip Contest
1. Lukas WeisGER DMSB Honda
2. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna
3. Jamie Squibb GB DMSB Kawasaki
Maxxis Highest Air
1. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 8.50 metres
2. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 8.20 metres
3. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Honda 7.50 metres
FIM Freestyle MX World Championships
Ranking (after 9th contest)
1. Maikel Melero ESP RFME Yamaha 130 points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Kawasaki 122 points
3. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 114 points
4. Rob Adelberg AUS MA Yamaha 112 points
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 85 points
6. Dany Torres ESP RFME KTM 80 points
7. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 78 points
8. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 74 points
9. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 72 points
10. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 65 points
11. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 51 points
12. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM 43 points
13. Mat Rebeaud SUI FMS KTM 20 points
14. Aleksey Koleshnikov RUS MFR Yamaha 13 points
15. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Honda 11 points