Villegas strikes double blow at NIGHT of the JUMPs in Linz

Linz, 21st January 2012: Saturday’s freestyle motocross spectacular in the Austrian city of Linz was also the second round of the UEM Freestyle MX European Championship. In the battle for points, the twelve FMX riders were determined to showcase their most extreme tricks. The crowd were shocked to see Australian FMX sensation Clinton Moore take a tumble performing a 360. Maxime Gregoire (FRA) also came a cropper trying to pull off the Volt body varial, but undaunted, the Frenchman went on to claim victory in the ensuing Whip contest.

For the second day running, local hero Thomas Wirnsberger got the better of fellow Austrian Martin Schenk; he pulled off a Cordova Flip in the TAG Heuer double-up to qualify an agonising seventh and narrowly miss out on his first NIGHT of the JUMPs final. His loss was Hannes Ackermann’s gain, as the German rider put in one of his best runs in recent years. He was joined in the final by Brice Izzo (FRA), Jose Miralles (ESP), Petr Pilat (CZE), Javier Villegas (CHL) and Remi Bizouard (FRA).

The other German in the line-up, Kai Haase, may not have made it through to the final six, but will have been satisfied to take the Maxxis Highest Air trophy twice in a row, outclassing Italian step king Massimo Bianconcini on the night.

Having made it through to the final for the first time, Hannes Ackermann seemed overawed by the occasion, a dead sailor and other minor errors leaving him well adrift in sixth. Jose Miralles showed off a new Stallfish Backflip combo but in the end had to settle for fifth place. Brice Izzo, on the other hand, was really back on song. Last year’s winner at Linz performed a Superman Seatgrab Indy that left him just six points short of a podium finish. This went instead to the Czech backflip combo expert Petr Pilat, who summoned up his first Stripper Flip in a long time.

But as so often in recent months, the battle for the top podium spot was between reigning European champion Remi Bizouard and current world champion Javier Villegas. Neither was inclined to make any careless errors, and both were pulling out their best stunts. Ultimately, it was Villegas who held the advantage, just as he had the day before. He thus increases his lead in the European Championship standings, but will be conscious of Bizouard breathing down his neck in second place.

The third and last round of the UEM Freestyle MX European Championship is to be staged on 12th May at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, where the destiny of the 2012 title will be decided.




FACTS
NIGHT of the JUMPs/UEM Freestyle MX European Championships
Linz, 21st January 2012 – Round 2
Results NIGHT of the JUMPs – Final
1. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 401 Points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Yamaha 393 Points
3. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 387 Points
4. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 381 Points
5. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 378 Points
6. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 254 Points
Results Qualification
1. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Yamaha 331 Points
2. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 325 Points
3. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 324 Points
4. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 316 Points
5. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 307 Points
6. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 300 Points
7. Thomas Wirnsberger AUT OSK Yamaha 280 Points
8. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM 273 Points
9. Martin Schenk AUT OSK Yamaha 251 Points
10. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 241 Points
11. Maxime Gregoire FRA FFM Yamaha 208 Points
12. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 194 Points


Results Whip Contest
1. Maxime Gregoire FRA FFM Yamaha
2. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha
3. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM

Maxxis Highest-Air
1. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 7,00 Meter
2. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM 6,50 Meter



UEM Freestyle MX European Championships
Ranking (after 2nd contest)
1. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Yamaha 40 Points
2. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Yamaha 36 Points
3. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 28 Points
4. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 24 Points
5. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 24 Points
6. Massimo Bianconcini ITA PZM KTM 20 Points
7. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 19 Points
8. Clinton Moore AUS MA Yamaha 18 Points
9. Thomas Wirnsberger AUT OSK Yamaha 16 Points
10. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 12 Points
11. Martin Schenk AUT OSK Yamaha 11 Points
12. Maxime Gregoire FRA FFM Yamaha 10 Points