Kiwi Levi Sherwood won the Moscow X-Fighters round.

A sell-out crowd of 40,000 fans were on hand to witness the best twelve freestyle motocross riders in the world battle it out in front of the world-famous Kremlin on Moscow’s Red Square on Saturday night, where young gun Levi Sherwood (NZL) showed his class in the final against Nate Adams (USA) to take his second ever win on the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour.

No fewer than 250 lorry-loads of dirt transformed the historic cobblestones of Red Square in the heart of the Russian capital into an FMX course worthy of hosting the top riders on the planet as the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour hit Russia for the first time ever.

With temperatures touching 35 degrees Celsius, it was 18-year-old Levi “Rubberkid” Sherwood who jumped through the air and into the hearts of the Russian fans packed into the historic location.

“The tricky course here was just right for me,” Sherwood said. “This day will go down in history.”

Just metres from the eastern walls of the Kremlin, spectacular tricks, incredible flips and the whine of two-stroke motors brought the tens of thousands of fans in the stadium to boiling point. The legendary square in the heart of Moscow, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1990, was packed to the rafters as the best riders in the world came to town.

“The pressure was huge, the course was tough and the heat was a problem for everyone,” explained defeated finalist Adams. “It is an incredible feeling to jump here. The equivalent back home in the USA would be to perform in the garden of the White House!”

Andre Villa continues to lead the overall standings in the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 after finishing third in Moscow. Robbie Maddison (AUS), famous for his incredible long-distance jumps over London’s Tower Bridge and the Corinth Canal in Greece, failed to qualify for the semi-finals after missing a landing, eventually finishing fifth.

Japan’s Eigo Sato progressed into the semi-finals but has to settle for fourth place after losing his duel against Adams.

The comeback kids Dany Torres (ESP) and Mat Rebeaud (SUI) were unable to keep pace with the best riders in the world in Moscow as they returned to the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour after injuries, finishing sixth and tenth respectively.

Aussie Cam Sinclair took a solid eighth place result, three spots behind close friend and countryman Madison.

“I felt like I rode really good all weekend,” Sinclair said. “I landed all my tricks smoothly and didn’t miss any jumps, which is exactly what I set out to do. I have a big couple of months ahead, so I just have to remind myself to be smart and don’t do anything silly before X Games. This is only my second competition in a year, I can feel I’m steadily improving every time I get on the bike.”

Blake ‘Bilko’ Williams suffered a shoulder injury in a practice incident at the event, forcing him out and leaving his X Games assault in question at this point.

Following stops in Mexico City (MEX), Cairo (EGY) and Moscow (RUS), the biggest freestyle motocross tour on the planet now moves on to the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas bullfighting ring in Madrid for the next event of the season on 22-23 July before the final two showdowns of the season in London (GBR) and Rome (ITA).