This is a press release from Red Bull X-Fighters…
Freestyle motocross riders will gather at Madrid’s Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas on June 24 for a spectacular show that will mark the 15th anniversary of the FMX event.
Launched in 2002, the Red Bull X-Fighters is the world’s most prestigious FMX competition. Riders perform tricks off their motorcycles, doing acrobatics mid-air and launching themselves off jumps up to 30 meters in distance and 15 meters in height.
On June 24, the Spanish capital will see the one and only Red Bull X-Fighters event in 2016. Australia’s Clinton Moore will defend his world title in the famous bullring against three-time Madrid winner Tom Pagès of France and a field packed with former champions and legends of the sport.
The Madrid stop has long been considered the world’s premier FMX event where enthusiastic crowds cheer the riders pulling off new tricks each year. The first-ever backflip, for example, was performed in Madrid. Las Ventas is also a formidable FMX track with riders shooting out of the bullfighting ring’s tunnels into the packed stadium.
Travis Pastrana (USA) has was crowned the winner three times in Madrid but not consecutively, unlike Pagès (FRA), while Dany Torres (ESP) has won it twice. Other winners in Madrid include Robbie Maddison (AUS), Levi Sherwood (NZL), Mat Rebeaud (SUI), Nate Adams (USA), Kenny Bartram (USA) and Edgar Torronteras (ESP).
Madrid’s new format will also give two “Novilleros”, a term usually applied to aspiring bullfighters in Spain, a chance to compete. The “Novilleros” can win a spot in the competition by sending in a video of their best FMX tricks. The public will select the first “Novillero” by popular vote and the Red Bull XFighters sport committee will select the second newcomer. Candidates can submit their tricks as of April 14 and voting starts immediately.
The competition kicks off on Thursday, June 23 with a Qualifying session where three groups of four riders will compete in a “Jam Session”. A new “Jam Session” feature, where riders perform their own series of tricks, will be a roulette round: each group will spin a roulette with names of established tricks, and all four riders on the ground will have to spontaneously perform the designated trick.
The two best riders of each “Jam Session” will move to the three Semi Final rounds, where the top six riders will battle it out head to head. Winners are then sent to the Final 3 to fight for the overall title.
The competitors: Clinton Moore (AUS), Tom Pagés (FRA), Danny Torres (ESP), Levi Sherwood (NZL), Maikel Melero (ESP), Rob Adelberg (AUS), Taka Higashino (JNP), David Rinaldo (FRA), Novillero 1, Novillero 2
