Courtesy of FIM NEWS
All hell broke loose on Saturday in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia as the freestyle motocross riders came together in the Armeec Arena for the final competition in this year’s NIGHT of the JUMPS / FIM Freestyle MX World Championship series. The FMX riders fought it out for the last time this year in front of more than 9,000 fans.
Twelve riders from seven nations went head to head in qualifying. Moore was back on the World Championship circuit for the first time in ages. Unbelievable but true, the Australian did not make it through to the finale (#7), despite producing 360 and Volt on the Run. Hannes Ackermann (Germany), Brice Izzo (France), Petr Pilat (Czech Republic) and Jose Miralles (Spain) suffered the same fate, even though they also achieved good runs in qualifying. Only Bianconcini (Italy) totally blotted his copy book, ruining his chances of a place in the final with a dead sailor.
Rankings were introduced for the first time ever in the NIGHT of the JUMPS this 2012 for Maxxis Highest Air contest. Bianconcini dominated the competition, securing 10 out of 12 victories on the day and a TAG Heuer winner’s watch. However, Maikel Melero beat him in Sofia by 20 centimetres. Luc Ackermann, who is only 14 years old, also beat Bianco this year, winning in Basel. His recompense, number two slot on Maxxis Highest Air podium at the close of the season.
The motocrossers once again dug deep into their repertoire of tricks in the final contest of the year. David Rinaldo executed a Double Seatgrab Flip, but even that was only enough for sixth place. Maikel Melero performed the same trick on his run, but with more style, to finish fifth. After his barrage of tricks, Javier ‘Psy’ Villegas did the Gangnam Style, which certainly impressed the fans but not the members of the jury, who placed him fourth.
Podmol (Czech Republic) took the top spot in qualifying, but could not repeat his form in the final, finishing third. Josh Sheehan and Remi Bizouard traded tricks for ultimate victory. The Frenchman pulled off Ruler Flip, Cliffhanger Flip and Hart Attack Flip. Australian rider Sheehan replied with Lazy Flip, Tsunami Flip Indy and 360 to finally triumph in the skies of Sofia with a three-point lead.
And so, a spectacular season dominated by the formidable Remi Bizouard came to an end. He certainly deserves this third world championship title. Libor Podmol took second place from David Rinaldo, who finished third overall. NIGHT of the JUMPS wishes fans everywhere a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Riders will be in Linz / Austria for the season opener of the 2013 NIGHT of the JUMPS in just four weeks time.
Results NIGHT of the JUMPs – Final
1. Josh Sheehan AUS MA Honda 406 Points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 403 Points
3. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 401 Points
4. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 394 Points
5. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 391 Points
6. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 375 Points
Results Qualification
1. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 335 Points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 332 Points
3. Josh Sheehan AUS MA Honda 323 Points
4. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 322 Points
5. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 320 Points
6. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 319 Points
7. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 311 Points
8. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 278 Points
9. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 300 Points
10. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 292 Points
11. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 292 Points
12. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM 209 Points
Results Whip Contest
1. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda
2. Josh Sheehan AUS MA Honda
3. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha
3. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM
Results MAXXIS Highest Air
1. Maikel Melero ESP 10,20 Meters
2. Massimo Bianconcini ITA 10,00 Meters
3. Luc Ackermann GER 8,00 Meters
FIM Freestyle MX World Championships
Overall Ranking (after 12th contest)
1. Remi Bizouard FRA RFME Honda 210 Points
2. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 188 Points
3. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 148 Points
4. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 139 Points
5. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 102 Points
6. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 100 Points
7. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL PZM KTM 82 Points
8. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 81 Points
9. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 61 Points
10. Josh Sheehan AUS MA Honda 56 Points
11. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 48 Points
12. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 43 Points
13. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Suzuki 38 Points
14. Ivan Zucconi ITA PZM KTM 37 Points
15. Martin Koren CZE ACCR KTM 29 Points
16. Aleksey Koleshnikov RUS MFR Yamaha 27 Points
Maxxis Highest Air
Overall Ranking (after 12th contest)
1. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM 54 Points
2. Luc Ackermann GER KTM 13 Points
Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 13 Points
4. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Suzuki 10 Points
5. Ivan Zucconi ITA PZM KTM 8 Points
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