With jumps that extend up to 30 meters in distance and riders reaching heights of 15 meters to perform their tricks, the world’s best Freestyle Motocross have pushed to the limit this season.
Nate Adams, hobbled by knee injury, was forced to miss the Madrid event at mid-season. And now the American is in Sydney for the final nursing a broken shoulder after only recently undergoing an operation to repair it.
Spain’s Dany Torres missed the Brazilian event in 2011 due to injury. His foot was still broken weeks later at the next round in Rome but he nevertheless performed his daredevil tricks and ended up in fifth place.
Andre Villa, in fabulous form this season and long looking like a top favorite for the title, came crashing back hard to the ground in Poland – a backflip that went wrong left him in the hospital with a broken thigh.
Both Nate Adams and Dany Torres will be battling it out for the title in Sydney. Adams, who will be trying to defend his title for 2010, won three rounds this year in Brazil, Italy and Poland.
The Spanish FMX torero Torres was victorious in Dubai and Spain. Adams, who has at times dominated his rivals with his breathtaking tricks, will have a slight handicap going into the finale with a shoulder injury.
At the Red Bull X-Fighters an international jury is used to judge the performances of the heat-to-heat duels.
Every run through the course has a different time limit – with 90 seconds for the quarter finals, 75 seconds for the semifinals and 120 seconds in the finals.
The judging in five categories decides between the winners and the also-rans.
In 2011 there were Red Bull X-Fighters competitions in Dubai (UAE), Brasilia (BRA), Rome (ITA), Madrid (ESP) and Poznan (POL).
Where to Watch:
Did you miss out on tickets to watch the Red Bull X-Fighters live in Sydney on Cockatoo Island? Never fear, because it’ll be broadcast live around the nation. Here’s where you can tune in…
Live Sites – 3pm-5pm featuring a live broadcast from 7Mate
VIC, Village Cinemas: Doncaster, Southland, Karingal
QLD, Southbank Parklands
NSW, Westpoint Shopping Centre, The Mean Fiddler
Television – 3.30pm–5pm on 7Mate
Online – 3.15pm–4.45pm on www.redbullxfighters.com