Everything you need to know about the huge FMX event held in the biggest bullring on the planet.
The traditional season opener in Mexico City was a staple of the Red Bull X-Fighters calendar between 2005 and 2010. After a two-year break, the Mexican capital made it back on the tour schedule to kick off the 2013 season. After the huge success last year, the 2014 edition will again start in Mexico.
Rightly so: the city offers a stunning backdrop and is the perfect venue for Red Bull X-Fighters. Each year, a capacity crowd of almost 42,000 packs the Plaza México to cheer on the FMX daredevils with huge drums and the traditional white handkerchiefs made famous at bullfights.
Indeed, this bullfighting element is an integral component of life in Mexico: its complicated rules and regulations contain a whole series of hidden symbols whose meanings go far beyond that of a battle between man and beast.
In 2005, the first international event saw Ronnie Renner continue US dominance at the Red Bull X-Fighters. In 2006 that domination was ended when Swiss star Mat Rebeaud beat Travis Pastrana in Mexico.
Rebeaud has been the most successful rider here, with wins in 2006 and 2008, fourth in 2007 and third place in 2009. Only one Rookie has ever won here – Levi Sherwood. The 2012 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour champion surprised everyone with his unique style on his first international contest.
Last year’s champion Tom Pagès underlined that winning a season opener is an essential ingredient to be on top at the end.
Sherwood and Dany Torres, who both won the first events in the previous years, were also able to carry the momentum through the season to be crowned champion at the end.
Digging deeper in history, you will find Rebeaud winning Mexico City and being crowned champion – even before the last event – in his most successful year.
The bullring in the Monumental Stadium is only 43m wide and, with a total area of just 1452sqm, it’s the smallest playground on the 2014 tour.
To date, no rider has competed in all seven rounds in Mexico City. Torres – who will ride his 33rd Red Bull X-Fighters event with his upcoming start in Mexico – has been in the plaza five times.
Norway’s André Villa won the last event before the break in 2010. The event was cancelled halfway through due to heavy rain, handing Villa his first and only Red Bull X-Fighters victory as the top qualifier.
The site of the bullring at Plaza México is actually 20m below street level as the area was originally used as a quarry for brick-making.
The site was developed in 1939 by the entrepreneur Neguib Simón, who wanted to build a centre for sporting excellence in the city. A complex was designed to incorporate boxing and wrestling rings, a bullring, tennis courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool, an artificial beach, a football stadium, restaurants and housing.
The idea was to built a comfortable and truly monumental area with huge statues of bullfighters dominating the plaza.
Neguib’s dream never came true as the project ran out of money and only the bullring and football stadium could be finished. The dream was to cost Simón his entire fortune.
The bullring was built by the engineer C Roland and opened in February 1946 to much success, attracting capacity crowds to watch the best bullfighters of the era perform.
Spanish venture capitalist D Moisés Cosio bought the complex in the opening year from the Simón brothers and his family owns it to this day.
Enough history!
Get ready for the future…