On Sunday the second Freestyle of Nations competition for 2022 took hold in front of more than 8,000 spectators in Cologne’s LANXESS arena with the teams from Italy, Spain and Germany going head to head. Two of the world’s best riders, Luc Ackermann and David Rinaldo, both world champions and X Games gold medallists were in the German team which was complimented by the return of Kai Haase after his supercross training accident in the USA.

Team Italy rounded up an incredibly strong team with the Highest Air record holder, 5-time World Champion and X Games medalist Massimo Bianconcini with the stylish duo of Leonardo Fini and Davide Rossi. Team Spain, on the other hand, was led by the young gun Marc Pinyol who recently recovered from a huge crash only 10 days prior to competition and joined by the tandem duo of Rocky Florensa and Antonio Navas as well as the young Czech Matej Cesak who completed the “Selección”. Rinaldo was added as a wild card to Team Germany and Cesak to Team Spain.

Germany started the event as the event favourites going into the first round.  Berlin’s Kai Haase (GER) surprised everyone after 6 months off the bike from injury to return with his Lazyboy Flip and finishing with the unexpected Front Flip. In doing so, he relegated Marc Pinyol (ESP) and Massimo Bianconcini (ITA) to second and third places respectively. The Italian freestyle legend tried to counter this in the Best Whip Contest. ‘Bianco’ made it to the semifinals against Matej Cesak and Kai Haase but had to say goodbye as Matej and Kai went head to head in an epic Whip final with Kai Haase narrowly beating the young Cesak with crowd decision and scored 100 bonus points for Team Germany.

The Frenchman David Rinaldo, who filled in for his good friend Hannes Ackermann who was unable to ride for Germany, dominated the second Freestyle Round. With electricity inside the arena at a high, Rinaldo turned it on with extremely difficult tricks with the California roll and finished his Double-Up with a dead sailor, but returned with a Double Hart Flip just for the crowd.  It was still just enough to be at the top of the round, despite the mistake. The Italian, Davide Rossi moved into second place with a Cliffhanger Backflip and Ruler Flip, which relegated the Spanish Tandem duo of Navas & Rocky to third place after impressing the crowd with their unique tricks like the Superman and Ruler at the same time.

In the synchro contest, Team Germany and Team Spain fought a spectacular battle. With two perfectly synchronized Indy Flips, and a mistake from Team Germany, Marc Pinyol and Matej Cesak managed to secure the most important 100 points for the Iberians to keep them in the race.

In the third freestyle round, Matej performed spectacularly with a Tsunami Flip and a Seatgrab Flip. But Leonardo Fini countered with tricks like the Hart Attack Flip and technical Rowedova Flip. Then it was time for the German FMX Terminator Luc Ackermann. Having flown in from Prague with only two hours of sleep, the German World Champion was still unstoppable and ignited a veritable fireworks display of tricks. With the biggest Tsunami Flip of the evening, Flatspin 360, Holygrab and finishing with a clean Double Flip as the crowning finale, he received the highest score of the evening with 96 points as the crowd inside the LANXESS arena roared.

Team Germany put the icing on the cake after winning the Best Trick with a Rock Solid Backflip by David Rinaldo and another Double Backflip by Luc Ackermann and secured overall victory with 547 points. Spain came in second with 449 points ahead of Italy in third with 408 points.

The next NIGHT of the JUMPs will be in the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin on February 24th and 25th, 2023. Tickets for the entire 2023 tour are already on sale at Eventim and Ticketmaster.

VIDEO LINK NIGHT of the JUMPs Cologne 2022:

Don’t be as confused about the Teams in the first major FMX competition of 2021, as the French rider, Maxime Gregoire was here!

Tune in to find out who’s riding for Team France, Germany and Spain at the Freestyle of Nations in Basel, Switzerland on September 25th inside the St. Jakobshalle!

Maybe even Maxime can meet the new Skateboarding X Games gold medallist Luc Ackermann and Juventus star, Edgar Torronteras at Night of the Jumps 

Team France
David RINALDO
Maxime Gregoire
Rémi Bizouard

Team Germany
Luc Ackermann
Hannes Ackermann
Kai Haase

Team Spain
Maikel MeleroFernandez
Edgar Torronteras
Marc Pinyol

The post Freestyle of Nations Rider Invites – read by World Champion, David Rinaldo 😂😂😂 first appeared on Riders Lounge Podcast.

Maxime Gregoire is back!

Who’s Max you might be asking?

Well, he’s 1/3rd of the French team coming to the Freestyle of Nations competition on September 25th in Basel, Switzerland.

But, he’s a rider with a completely different set of tricks which will compliment his two World Champion team mates, David Rinaldo and Remi Bizouard!

David who’s the Body Varial specialist, and Remi Bizouard also an innovator as the first guy to attempt the Hart Attack flip about 15 years ago at X Games, will be benefitted by having Maxime who’s all about the Quarter Pipe to throw a completely different run of tricks.

Variety is the spice of life, and France has it in buckets full!

The post The Flair Master is coming to Freestyle of Nations in Switzerland! first appeared on Riders Lounge Podcast.

The world’s longest running Freestyle Motocross competition series is back!  After a year and a half without Freestyle Motocross contests all over Europe, September 25^th 2021 marks the day of FMX returning.  After it was recently announced that Switzerland will again allow events with over 10,000 visitors, NIGHT of the JUMPs planned return is in full swing for the St. Jakobshalle in Basel.

With the first freestyle MX event in Europe since lockdowns began, the NIGHT of the JUMPs creators wanted to bring something special for the first event.  The Freestyle of Nations is coming to Switzerland for the first time ever.

• Premiere of the Teams World Championship in Switzerland

For the Swiss premiere of the team-based World Championship, the riders will be flying at low-altitude through the arena in Basel to determine who is the best Freestyle nation.  Three teams with the best FMX riders will compete against each other.  And that’s not all, the best MTB riders are also invited to take part in the Mountain Bike show to give a completely new dimension to the competition.  Each team collects points for their team in various disciplines.  The nation with the most points at the end of the night will be the winner of the first NIGHT of the JUMPs World Team Championship in 2021.

• Team Germany with Luc Ackermann, Hannes Ackermann, Kai Haase

With the three events planned for the Central European region of Germany and Switzerland, of course Team Germany will be one of the key teams in focus.  Led by the nine-time World Record holder, Double Backflipper, European and World Champion, Luc Ackermann.  He will be supported by Berlin FMX star and Front Flip Bonker, Kai Haase.  Of course, the four-time German FMX Champion, Nac Nac Front Flipper and older brother to Luc, Hannes Ackermann will be on tour as well.  Added to that, one of the best Freestyle MTB stars to this great team, Team Germany will be looking a red-hot chance to take the series.

“The Freestyle of Nations Tour is going to be amazing. We want to win the title. And we need everyone to come to the NIGHT of the JUMPs in Basel, Munich and Cologne to support us” said the German FMX hero, Luc Ackermann.

Located on the border of Germany and France, naturally a French team will want to put their mark on the event, and the third team to compete will be one of the most dominant in FMX history, Team Spain.  It will be interesting to see which nation will position itself for the final place in the Teams World Tour.

• More freestyle action than ever – 3x FMX + MTB

In addition to the Freestyle Nations Contest, in which the athletes throw down their best 8 tricks in 90 seconds, there are four other competitions:

• In the Best Whip Contest, all riders will go upside down at the same time in trains
  • In the Synchro Comp, each nation nominates two riders who will perform their best tricks simultaneously, side by side.
  • In the Best Trick Contest, 1 rider from each country will lay down their most difficult or technical trick
  • Since every FMX team has a mountain bike rider, the MTB athletes are also included in the MTB contest for the first time and are not just as a spectacular “side show”.  Some of the biggest tricks will be on offer such as Cash Rolls, Front Flips, Double Backflips and so much more.

The nation with the most points at the end is the winner of the NIGHT of the JUMPs World Team Championship Round.  And of course, after three events, a Championship winner will be announced.

• Over 20 years / over 300 events / more than 3 million visitors worldwide

With over 300 NIGHT of the JUMPs events worldwide in front of more than three million enthusiastic fans in 20 years, NIGHT of the JUMPs have set the standard with records, spectacular stunts and trick premieres.  The World Record in Highest Air was set with Massimo Bianconcini at 11.50 metres, the youngest motorcycle backflip was held by the 12-year old Luc Ackermann; the first ever backflip in Europe (Mike Metzger, Oberhausen, 2003) and the first female backflip in Europe (Emma McFerran, 2013).

• Tickets from 45.90 euros

Advanced ticket booking for the NIGHT of the JUMPs – Freestyle of Nations Tour is in full swing. Tickets are available from 45.90 euros plus fees at www.nightofthejumps.com and all booking offices.

NIGHT of the JUMPs / Freestyle of Nations Tour

• September 25, 2021       St. Jakobshalle, Basel / SUI

Videolink NIGHT of the JUMPs / Freestyle of Nations Tour Trailer 2020:

More information, pictures and videos at www.NIGHToftheJUMPs.com

The post Action Sport madness back in Basel with the first Freestyle Motocross contest in Europe after lock-down. first appeared on Riders Lounge Podcast.

The world’s longest running Freestyle Motocross competition series is back!  After a year and a half without Freestyle Motocross contests all over Europe, September 25^th 2021 marks the day of FMX returning.  After it was recently announced that Switzerland will again allow events with over 10,000 visitors, NIGHT of the JUMPs planned return is in full swing for the St. Jakobshalle in Basel.

With the first freestyle MX event in Europe since lockdowns began, the NIGHT of the JUMPs creators wanted to bring something special for the first event.  The Freestyle of Nations is coming to Switzerland for the first time ever.

• Premiere of the Teams World Championship in Switzerland

For the Swiss premiere of the team-based World Championship, the riders will be flying at low-altitude through the arena in Basel to determine who is the best Freestyle nation.  Three teams with the best FMX riders will compete against each other.  And that’s not all, the best MTB riders are also invited to take part in the Mountain Bike show to give a completely new dimension to the competition.  Each team collects points for their team in various disciplines.  The nation with the most points at the end of the night will be the winner of the first NIGHT of the JUMPs World Team Championship in 2021.

• Team Germany with Luc Ackermann, Hannes Ackermann, Kai Haase

With the three events planned for the Central European region of Germany and Switzerland, of course Team Germany will be one of the key teams in focus.  Led by the nine-time World Record holder, Double Backflipper, European and World Champion, Luc Ackermann.  He will be supported by Berlin FMX star and Front Flip Bonker, Kai Haase.  Of course, the four-time German FMX Champion, Nac Nac Front Flipper and older brother to Luc, Hannes Ackermann will be on tour as well.  Added to that, one of the best Freestyle MTB stars to this great team, Team Germany will be looking a red-hot chance to take the series.

“The Freestyle of Nations Tour is going to be amazing. We want to win the title. And we need everyone to come to the NIGHT of the JUMPs in Basel, Munich and Cologne to support us” said the German FMX hero, Luc Ackermann.

Located on the border of Germany and France, naturally a French team will want to put their mark on the event, and the third team to compete will be one of the most dominant in FMX history, Team Spain.  It will be interesting to see which nation will position itself for the final place in the Teams World Tour.

• More freestyle action than ever – 3x FMX + MTB

In addition to the Freestyle Nations Contest, in which the athletes throw down their best 8 tricks in 90 seconds, there are four other competitions:

• In the Best Whip Contest, all riders will go upside down at the same time in trains
  • In the Synchro Comp, each nation nominates two riders who will perform their best tricks simultaneously, side by side.
  • In the Best Trick Contest, 1 rider from each country will lay down their most difficult or technical trick
  • Since every FMX team has a mountain bike rider, the MTB athletes are also included in the MTB contest for the first time and are not just as a spectacular “side show”.  Some of the biggest tricks will be on offer such as Cash Rolls, Front Flips, Double Backflips and so much more.

The nation with the most points at the end is the winner of the NIGHT of the JUMPs World Team Championship Round.  And of course, after three events, a Championship winner will be announced.

• Over 20 years / over 300 events / more than 3 million visitors worldwide

With over 300 NIGHT of the JUMPs events worldwide in front of more than three million enthusiastic fans in 20 years, NIGHT of the JUMPs have set the standard with records, spectacular stunts and trick premieres.  The World Record in Highest Air was set with Massimo Bianconcini at 11.50 metres, the youngest motorcycle backflip was held by the 12-year old Luc Ackermann; the first ever backflip in Europe (Mike Metzger, Oberhausen, 2003) and the first female backflip in Europe (Emma McFerran, 2013).

• Tickets from 45.90 euros

Advanced ticket booking for the NIGHT of the JUMPs – Freestyle of Nations Tour is in full swing. Tickets are available from 45.90 euros plus fees at www.nightofthejumps.com and all booking offices.

NIGHT of the JUMPs / Freestyle of Nations Tour

• September 25, 2021       St. Jakobshalle, Basel / SUI

Videolink NIGHT of the JUMPs / Freestyle of Nations Tour Trailer 2020:

More information, pictures and videos at www.NIGHToftheJUMPs.com

NIGHT of the JUMPs press office

Berlinièros PR

Oliver Franke

Riehlstrasse 9 – 14057 Berlin – Germany

T: +49 (0) 30 3974 36

The post After 18 months, FMX Competition returns! first appeared on Riders Lounge Podcast.