X-Fighters Mexico 2007 - The Good the Bad and the Crazy
Mar 21 2007 / Los Angeles, CA
The kick-off event in Mexico City on March 23 ushers in a new era for the Red Bull X-Fighters. It is the first time that four events are taking place in one year, and the first time that the world's greatest FMX riders will get to showcase their skills in entirely new locations. But which of the riders will dominate the competitions in 2007?Here are five possible outcomes:
One: Travis Pastrana remains untouchable.
The Red Bull X-Fighters gives the best FMX riders in the world a chance to pit themselves against one another - and Travis is always a crucial step ahead of the rest when it comes to the way he rides, jumps and pulls tricks. World champ aged 14, seven-time X Games winner and on the top step of the Red Bull X-Fighters podium twice already: when the 23-year-old is on top form, none of his rivals can hold a candle to him. Last year saw him set his personal benchmark when he pulled a double back flip, becoming the first rider to perform the trick in competition - an achievement which will be hard even for Pastrana to top. "The risk of injury is just too great, so I'm withdrawing from FMX competition to concentrate on rally driving," he announced at the end of last season - adding his title defence in the Rally America Championships to his to do list, directly under the note "Make breakthrough in World Rally Championships". But the Red Bull X-Fighters had too much of a hold over him. Is it really conceivable that a new era in the world's most exhilarating FMX event could be ushered in with a baptism of fire at entirely new venues without the sport's biggest hero? No way! Travis has committed to three out of the four events and will be there to impress the crowds at Slane Castle, in Moscow and Madrid - and there, of course, to win. Honestly - who is capable of stopping him?
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No other type of sport is developing as quickly as freestyle motocross: year on year, the Red Bull X-Fighters becomes more and more challenging for the athletes, the tricks become more and more difficult and it becomes harder and harder to win. As a consequence of this development, laid-back party animals are being pushed out by hard-working, serious athletes. Guys like last year's winner, Switzerland's Mat Rebeaud, or America's Nate Adams, the victor in Madrid in 2005: nerves of steel, well trained, technically brilliant. They have the ambition of born champions: for example, a serious crash and four operations put Nate out of action for nine months in 2004, and yet he celebrated his comeback with his greatest victory. But there's one thing that the new champions are not: showmen. The fact that the public's enthusiasm counts for 20% of the points is "just not fair", says Nate, who also berates the fact that "particularly difficult tricks are not given enough credit, while comparatively easy ones are, simply because they are new." But Rebeaud and Adams will nevertheless be celebrating one victory after another in 2007. While demonstrating phenomenal skill - and remaining just as cool and collected as usual.
Three: Coolness equals success.
Perfect technique may be important and meticulous preparation and precise execution may get the desired results - but it takes style to win the hearts of the fans of the Red Bull X-Fighters. Since the enthusiasm of the fans has been added to the equation with the "Voice of the Spectators", this is something which has been reflected in the way the points have been awarded - making showmen like Ronnie Renner twice as dangerous. Popular for his legendary dance sequences, the American already has one Red Bull X-Fighters win in the bag, Mexico City 2005. Last year, he finished second in Mexico, where he is also one of this year's hot favourites at the ripe old freestyle age of almost 30. But Robbie "Maddo" Maddison is also in with a good chance - his crazy lifestyle is also worth a few bonus points with the public. The craziest thing he's ever done: a front flip on a private FMX ramp - in his Toyota pick-up. Also good for a few points from the crowd are local Mexican hero Johan Nungaray as well as Californian "all or nothing" rider Brian Deegan, who thinks that most of his rivals are "bores" and who recently picked up an award for best biography with his documentary "Disposable Hero" at the X-Dance Film Festivals. To sum up: only those riders who push their skills to the very limit and put their heart and soul into it will stand any chance of victory in 2007.
Four: A new generation will see new riders at the top.
Spain's Dany Torres, at just 19 years old, is expected to make it into the big time this year. Despite his youth, he has already taken part in four Red Bull X-Fighters events - with increasing success. Seventh, fifth and fourth twice. First in 2007? It's not just the statistics that suggest he will take his first victory this year, but also his attitude: "There are no limits in FMX, the opportunities for development are endless," he says.
Five: Europe and the USA will have to make room for others.
The Red Bull X-Fighters has been won seven times by American riders and twice by Europeans, but 2007 could see a Japanese rider on the podium for the first time. Eigo Sato, who organises events in his homeland under the ironic name "MX-Vilus", is the first ever Japanese rider to have successfully performed a back flip. He is the first Japanese rider to have established himself with a ninth, eighth and sixth place at the Red Bull X-Fighters. And he will be the first Japanese rider to break the Euro-American stranglehold on the most prestigious FMX event in the world. But there's also competition from Australia: fifth in Madrid last year and sixth in Mexico City, Robbie Maddison could be up for his maiden win in 2007. And 25-year-old South African Nick De Wit might also be winning his first laurels. Participating for the first time, he represents another aspect of the new era for the Red Bull X-Fighters: for the first time in the competition's existence, riders from every continent will be taking part in 2007.
Mexico City line-up:
Nate Adams/ Yamaha/ USA
Nick De Wit/ KTM/ South Africa
Robbie Maddison/ Honda/ Australia
Johan Nungaray/ KTM 125/ Mexico
Mat Rebeaud/ KTM/ Switzerland
Ronnie Renner/ KTM/ USA
Eigo Sato/ Yamaha/ Japan
Dany Torres/ KTM/ Spain
Gabriel Villegas/ KTM/ Chile
Brian Deegan/ Honda/ USA
Winners of the Red Bull X-Fighters:
2001 Valencia (ESP) Mike JONES (USA)
2002 Madrid (ESP) Edgar TORRONTERAS (ESP)
2003 Madrid (ESP) Kenny BARTRAM (USA)
2003 Valencia (ESP) Kenny BARTRAM (USA)
2004 Madrid (ESP) Travis PASTRANA (USA)
2005 Mexico City (MEX) Ronnie RENNER (USA)
2005 Madrid (ESP) Nate ADAMS (USA)
2006 Mexico City (MEX) Mat REBEAUD (SUI)
2006 Madrid (ESP) Travis PASTRANA (USA)
