Pages takes pivotal Pretoria Red Bull X-Fighters victory
Moore now tied in standings with one round remaining.
Source: Supplied.
France’s Tom Pages shook up the 2015 World Tour standings as well with an electrifying triumph in the Red Bull X-Fighters return to Pretoria, South Africa.
Pages faced the man who has clung to the top of the overall leaderboard all season, Clinton Moore of Australia, in a flawless Final where both riders served up tricks that were unimaginable in seasons past.
Moore drew roars from the 17,000 spectators, delivering his signature Bundy and the first dirt-to-dirt Volt ever landed in competition on the unique track’s double line.
But Pages has the biggest bag of tricks in the sport and, going last, he rode like a man possessed. The Frenchman threw down his signature Alley-Oop Flair, Bike Flip and Special Flip, as well as the Transfer Flip he just added to his trick list, to claim the unanimous votes of all five judges.
The result ties Pages and Moore in the points at the top of the overall standings in the world’s most prestigious freestyle motocross series, setting up what’s sure to be an epic showdown at the season finale in Abu Dhabi on 30 October.
“This weekend has been insane,” said Pages. “Now I’ve got time to go back and really practice hard ahead of Abu Dhabi. I want to add a new trick to my list there and to ride even better in the finale for sure.”
Taka Higashino of Japan earned third on the red dirt in front of the historic Union Buildings with a strong run that included the exceptionally difficult Rock-Solid Backflip as well as a superb Flair he’s recently mastered.
The defending Word Tour champion, Australia’s Josh Sheehan, made his rarely seen Double Backflip look easy in earning fourth, one position ahead of countryman Rob Adelberg.
2015 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour
Round four – Pretoria, South Africa
Round results:
1. Thomas Pages
2. Clinton Moore (AUS)
3. Taka Higashino
4. Josh Sheehan (AUS)
5. Rob Adelberg (AUS)
6. David Rinaldo
7. Maikel Melero
8. Remi Bizouard
9. Adam Jones
10. Javier Villegas
World Tour standings:
1. Thomas Pages 280
2. Clinton Moore (AUS) 280
3. Levi Sherwood 185
4. David Rinaldo 145
5. Josh Sheehan (AUS) 145
6. Rob Adelberg (AUS) 135
7. Dany Torres 100
8. Adam Jones 100
9. Taka Higashino 95
10. Remi Bizouard 90
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