2nd day | 21st April 2007

Ailo Gaup strikes back and wins the 2nd day of the NIGHT of the JUMPs in Basel!

On the 2nd day of the NIGHT of the JUMPs at the St. Jacobs Arena Basel only 10 FMX riders could start. Fredrik Johansson crashed on Friday and had to pass. World Championship leader Romain Izzo got an injury in the trainings session on Friday and was out, too.

On Saturday it was up to the favorites to get into the final. Libor Podmol, Ailo Gaup, Remi Bizouard and Mat Rebeaud reached the final six. Next to them German Fabian Bauersachs and Oystein Kjorstad with his first final appearance 2007 made it.

The Whip contest won Ailo Gaup ahead of German Lukas Weis. Polish Bart Olgaza won the Highest Air with 8,00 meter ahead of Lukas Weis with 7,80 meter.

Fabian Bauersachs did the opening of the final. 1-Handed Seatgrab Indian Air, 2-Seatgrab Lookback, Cliffhanger to 1-Hand-Landing, Flintstone, Rock Solid Indian Air, McMetz to 1-Hand-Landing, Tsunami, Hartattack Indian Air and Flintstone to Saran Wrap to 1-Hand-Landing. But as Fabian had 1,5 Deadsailor in his run, he reached only 244 points and ended up 6th.

Oystein Kjorstad celebrated his first final appearance 2007. With Backflip, Double-Handed Hartattack, Tsunami, Barhop Indian Air, Sidewinder Indian Air, Seatgrab Indian Air, 1-Handed Seatgrab Indian Air, No-Foot Flip and a Heelclicker Flip in the Double-Up the jury gave him 289 points and put him on 5th position.

Libor Podmol was next. He still had his foot injury, but gave all. 1-Hand Take-Of Seatgrab Indian Air, Double-Handed Hartattack, Holyman, Whip Backflip, Cliffhanger to No-Hand-Landing, Rock Solid, 1-Hand Flip to 1-Hand-Landing, Tsunami, No-Foot Flip, Flintstone and a missed Cordova Flip in the Double-Up. A really good run, but with the miss in his last jumped, Libor was pissed. So he did it one more time only for the audience and this Cordova Flip was nearly perfect. With 295 points he missed the podium and ended up 4th.

Now it was up to the „Iceman“ Ailo Gaup and the Norway guy was still pissed from Friday, as he missed the 1st place only by a few points. This time he wanted to have the victory with all his power. Candybar Flip, 9-O-Clock, Holyman, Whip Flip, Heelclicker Flip to 1-Hand-Landing, Cliffhanger, Holygrab, Whip, Can Flip to SideSaddle-Landing and the Underflip to 1-Hand-Landing. That was a massive run and put the pressure to Remi and Mat.

Remi was strong in the qualification. He was a favorite to the victory this evening. With Scorpion 9-O-Clock Indian Air, Airwalk, Double-Handed Hartattack Indian Air, 9-O-Clock, Rock Solid to Hartattack, 1-Handed Backflip, Seatgrab Indian Air to Indian Air, Heelclicker Flip, Scorpion Tsunami and a No-Hand-Flip in the Double-Up he did a good run. But the absolute will to win was missing. So he reached 310 points and got 3rd.

So only the Swiss local hero Mat Rebeaud could beat the „Iceman“. Pushed by his home crowd he started the fire. 1-Handed Take-Of Sidewinder Indian Air, 1-Handed Can Flip, Holyman to 1-Handed Seatgrab Indian Air, Candybar Flip to 1-Hand-Landing, Tsunami, 9-O-Clock Indian Air, Holygrab, No-Handed Nac Flip, 1-Hand to 1-Hand Backflip and the Underflip in the Doube-Up. That was a close decision. With 329 points Mat was 2nd. Finally the „Iceman“ deserved the win and reached his first IFMXF victory since 2005.

With the victory of Ailo Gaup at the 5th contest of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championships the guy from Norway took the lead with 73 points. Only two points behind French Remi Bizouard follows. Vice World Champion Libor Podmol with current 64 points is 3rd ahead of Romain Izzo with 59 points. World Champion Mat Rebeaud with 58 points is in charge. Things are very tense for the 6th contest of the FMX World Championships that will be held in Belgrad on the 12th May.