Cologne, 6th October 2012: Cologne became a Mecca for the motorcycle industry last week. Beginning 2nd October, the Rhine metropolis played host to INTERMOT, Europe’s largest motorcycle trade fair, and NIGHT of the JUMPS came to the LANXESS arena on Saturday for the tenth round of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championships, showcasing the world’s most spectacular motorcycle sport.

Twelve freestyle motocross pros fought it out for championship points in front of an excited crowd of over 12,000 fans who had come to enjoy the spectacle and cheer on their German heroes, Fabian Bauersachs, Hannes Ackermann and Kai Haase. For Bauersachs, this was to be the final appearance of his active competitive career. The German FMX legend again showed why for years he has been one of Europe’s top riders. He bowed out with his signature tricks, Scorpion Tsunami and One Hand Nac Flip. It was not enough for the finals, but the crowd still cheered him as if he were the winner. Kai Haase also failed to go through, despite executing a number of backflip combos. However, Hannes Ackermann pulled off plenty of thrilling jumps – Tsunami, Hart Attack and Cliffhanger Backflip – to move into fourth position in qualifying.

Hannes Ackermann in the shape of his life: 5th place in the final!

Three Frenchmen followed the German rider into the finals, Brice Izzo, David Rinaldo and Remi Bizouard. The two Czech riders, Petr Pilat and Podmol completed the line-up for the final round.

Maxime Gregoire claimed victory in a spectacular Whip contest. He then tried his hand at The Volt in ‘best trick’ but fell on landing. Spectators saw another fall in Maxxis Highest Air when Luc Ackermann suffered a spill. The 14-year-old began by jumping 9:00 metres, a world record for his age group, only to crash out on landing when attempting 9:50m.


Remi Bizouard is the man to beat 2012 - great Shaolin Flip:

The finale could hardly have been more exciting. One minute Brice was skilfully performing Underflips but then he too had to eat dirt, resulting in only sixth place. Red Bull rider Petr Pilat pulled off a 360 above the kicker ramp and went into fourth position. Hannes Ackermann again executed Tsunami Flip, Hart Attack and Cliffhanger Backflip, plus Airplane, Clicker to Superflip and many other spectacular moves. Pilat beat him, though, by only six points and he finished fifth.


David Rinaldo showed his signature Doublegrab Flip:

David Rinaldo left nobody in any doubt as to why he belonged on the podium. Lazyboy Flip and Double Seatgrab Backflip saw him move up safely into third place, but then judges put Libor with his 360 and Underflip Indy one point ahead of Rinaldo.

Still, it was Remi Bizouard who once more reigned supreme. The two-time world champion performed a 360, Hart Attack Backflip, Cliffhanger Flip and his Ruler Flip, giving him victory at the tenth World Cup competition. Consequently, he remains the hottest contender in the hunt for the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship title; the Frenchman is in first place overall in the championship standings on 192 points. Podmol occupies the number two spot with a 20-point deficit.


The winners of NOTJ Cologne: Podmol 2nd, Bizouard 1st and Rinaldo 3rd

The next world championship points are up for grabs in the Latvian capital Riga on the 27th October. Another victory there should give Bizouard the world championship.