Another podium. Can’t complain.
Thought I had it covered before Maddo came spinning. Haha…
Check check, X-games next.
FMX Torero Maddison Crowned Spanish Campeón
(c) P. Vuckovic – redbullxfighters.com
Cheered on by 25,000 fans, Australia’s Robbie Maddison tamed Madrid’s legendary bullfighting ring on Friday night as he secured victory against the best freestyle motocross riders on the planet. Second place went to the Swiss rider Mat Rebeaud, with the Red Bull X-Fighters filling the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas right down to the very last seat for the ninth year running.
The sound of wailing motors rang through the tunnels around the famous bullfighting arena as the two-wheeled toreros raced towards the kickers at up to 60km/h. It was Aussie superstar Robbie Maddison – famous for jumping over London’s iconic Tower Bridge in 2009 and sailing across the Corinth Canal in Greece in 2010 – who raised the bar yet again in the Spanish capital with a brand-new trick, completing one full rotation of his body over the bike while 15 metres in the air before returning to the saddle to nail the trick and ride away. “The Volt Body Varial definitely helped me win,” grinned the man from Down Under after his victory, adding: “I still can’t believe it!”
Just weeks after beginning training following a major crash, Switzerland’s Mat Rebeaud celebrated a comeback to remember as he defeated the local favourite and 2009 winner Dany Torres (ESP) in the Semi-Finals. Despite having to settle for fourth place, the Spaniard had nothing but words of praise for the huge Madrid crowd and event winner Robbie Maddison: “The atmosphere here is just insane. Next year I’ll be back to take revenge, but Maddison deserved to win here tonight. Thank you to all the fans.”
Third place went to Andrè Villa (NOR), who managed to defend his lead in the overall points classification thanks to yet another strong performance. The Norwegian has a 45-point lead over Maddison going into the fifth stop of the season in London (GBR) on 14 August 2010. “I’ve got to stay consistent and finish on the podium in London and at the season finale in Rome. If I manage to do that then nothing can stand between me and the overall title,” commented Villa.
Final Result Red Bull X-Fighters Madrid 2010
1. Robbie Maddison (AUS)
2. Mat Rebeaud (SUI)
3. Andre Villa (NOR)
4. Dany Torres (ESP)
5. Levi Sherwood (NZL)
6. Adam Jones (USA)
7. Mike Mason (USA)
8. Maikel Melero (ESP)
9. Jackson Strong (AUS)
10. Cameron Sinclair (AUS)
11. Rémi Bizouard (FRA)
12. Jeremy Stenberg (USA)
Current Overall Classification, Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 (after four events)
1. André Villa (NOR) 310 points
2. Robbie Maddison (AUS) 265 points
3. Nate Adams (USA) 225 points
4. Levi Sherwood (NZL) 220 points
5. Adam Jones (USA) 190 points
Yeah baby! Won the qualification here in Madrid with quite a lot of points.
This is the third out of four qualifications I won this year. Atta baby!
Here is what the press says:
Villa Wins Qualifying
(c) F. Hagena – redbullxfighters.com
Villa Wins Qualifying as Frequent Flyers Take to the Skies in Bullfighting Ring
Andre Villa from Norway took top spot in Qualifying on Thursday evening for the main event of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. The victory means that the 28-year-old FMX hero can put his feet up and relax during the First Round on Friday night thanks to a wildcard through to the Quarter Finals.
Japan’s Eigo Sato, sixth in the overall standings going into the Madrid event, was fortunate to walk away from a heavy crash, hitting the landing hill hard after not picking up enough speed going into the kicker. However, fractures to his lower right arm mean that Sato will not be able to compete in the main event.
The Rookie Session saw Jackson Strong (AUS) and Maikel Melero (ESP) lay down milestones in their young careers by claiming the last two starting places in the field for the classic showdown.
A crowd of over 25,000 will whip the legendary bullfighting arena in the Spanish capital into a frenzy on Friday night. The show begins at 9.30pm local time, with the event broadcast live via redbullxfighters.com from 10.30pm.
Result Qualification Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Madrid 2010
1. Andrè Villa (NOR)
2. Mat Rebeaud (SUI)
3. Dany Torres (ESP)
4. Robbie Maddison (AUS)
5. Levi Sherwood (NZL)
6. Adam Jones (USA)
7. Mike Mason (USA)
8. Eigo Sato (JAP)
9. Jackson Strong (AUS)
10. Cameron Sinclair (AUS)
11. Jeremy Stenberg (USA)
12. Rémi Bizouard (FRA)
Staying at Ronnie Faissts house and riding at Deegans. I feel so home in this area. I’m for sure gonna spend a lot of time here the next five years. Gonna get myself a crib soon.
Flying to Madrid on Monday for the fourth round of the X-fighters series. Back to LA next Saturday for X-games, then off to London for the X-fighters again.. Boi!
Dropping a few shots I took between the riding sessions..
Get back to you soon.
A sell-out crowd of 40,000 fans were on hand to witness the best twelve freestyle motocross riders in the world battle it out in front of the world-famous Kremlin on Moscow’s Red Square on Saturday night.
Young gun Levi Sherwood (NZL) showed his class in the final against Nate Adams (USA) to take his second ever win on the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour.
MOSCOW (RUS). No fewer than 250 lorry-loads of dirt transformed the historic cobblestones of Red Square in the heart of the Russian capital into an FMX course worthy of hosting the top riders on the planet as the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour hit Russia for the first time ever. With temperatures touching 35 degrees Celsius, it was 18-year-old Levi “Rubberkid” Sherwood who jumped through the air and into the hearts of the Russian fans packed into the historic location: “The tricky course here was just right for me. This day will go down in history.”
Just metres from the eastern walls of the Kremlin, spectacular tricks, incredible flips and the whine of two-stroke motors brought the tens of thousands of fans in the stadium to boiling point. The legendary square in the heart of Moscow, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1990, was packed to the rafters as the best riders in the world came to town. “The pressure was huge, the course was tough and the heat was a problem for everyone,” explained defeated finalist Nate Adams (USA). “It is an incredible feeling to jump here. The equivalent back home in the USA would be to perform in the garden of the White House!”
Andre Villa continues to lead the overall standings in the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 after finishing third in Moscow. Robbie Maddison (AUS), famous for his incredible long-distance jumps over London’s Tower Bridge and the Corinth Canal in Greece, failed to qualify for the semi-finals after missing a landing, eventually finishing fifth. Japan’s Eigo Sato progressed into the semi-finals but has to settle for fourth place after losing his duel against Adams.
The comeback kids Dany Torres (ESP) and Mat Rebeaud (SUI) were unable to keep pace with the best riders in the world in Moscow as they returned to the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour after injuries, finishing sixth and tenth respectively.
Following stops in Mexico City (MEX), Cairo (EGY) and Moscow (RUS), the biggest freestyle motocross tour on the planet now moves on to the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas bullfighting ring in Madrid for the next event of the season on 22/23 July 2010 before the final two showdowns of the season in London (GBR) and Rome (ITA).
Final Results, Red Bull X-Fighters Moscow / Russia: 1. Levi Sherwood (NZL), 2. Nate Adams (USA), 3. Andre Villa (NOR), 4. Eigo Sato (JAP), 5. Robbie Maddison (AUS), 6. Dany Torres (ESP), 7. Adam Jones (USA), 8. Cameron Sinclair (AUS), 9. Jim McNeil (USA), 10. Mat Rebeaud (SUI), 11. Alexey Kolesnikov, 12. Blake Williams (AUS)
Since I’ve been getting press releases where I’ve been involved, I haven’t been writing much on this web page lately.
So here is a more “personal” update with mainly pictures telling most of the story.
As you probably have seen, Egypt went really well for me. My goal was to win, but I told myself I would be happy with a podium. So after finishing second I was content, even if I burned a trick in the final against Adam Jones. Adam who almost high sided with the camel during the presentation, absolutely killed it in Egypt and cleaned the table after working his way up from a mid pack qualification run. Well deserved.
This second place felt almost as good as the victory in Mexico to be honest. After winning the qualification, there was a lot of close battles I had to get through in a new competition format. Everyone kills it right now and the smallest mistakes can be the difference between an amazing feeling you will carry with you for the rest of your life, or a defeat that can tear you down or build you up – depending on who you are.
Except from an epic battle in amazing scenery with the pyramids and the Sphinx in the background, we had time to get some classic tourist shots like this one bellow:
Eigo Sato, Manu Troux, Micha, I and Sebastien being tourists for a day
Micha at the Nile getting grilled in 40 Celsius with questions she never thought of.
Photo “Jeff” Jean Francois Muguet
After I came back to Spain from Egypt the wind was a serious issue and I couldn’t get on my bike for 1,5 week. Sometimes it’s nice to be forced to relax, but going out to the park hoping the wind will calm down just makes you go monz.
So I loaded my van with dirt-bikes and surf boards and went to the Pagés brothers (http://www.brothers-trip.com/) in Hossegor, France hoping for better conditions.
We rented an apartment on the beach the first week before we crashed at my friend Manu Troux who has quit FMX years ago and is now pimpin up old mopeds to a one of a kind must have ride.
“Surf” view
But the luck was not with me weather-wise this month. Most of the two weeks I was there It was raining and we just got a few days or riding in. But I’ve been in this game too long to hang my head when I can’t ride, and managed to get in some good surf sessions, drinking some French wine and getting blue teeth, reconnecting with old friends and making new friends.
Photo “Jeff” Jean Francois Muguet
Not hanging my head. I look retarded on that photo. Looks like a kid who got what he wanted for christmas.
Pat Gimez and Charlés Pagés talking spins and laws of physics.
Testing my new 7d camera. Chris Birch also made his way to Hossegor before he headed to England for a Red Bull demo at the Road racing GP in Silverstone.
Check out Chris Birch at www.sirswampy.com
On the way back from Hossegor I stopped in Valladolid to ride a mobile landing event with Dany Torres, Jose Mirallies, Daice Suzuki, Wiley Fullmer and Eugenio Zafra this Saturday.
I am telling you man. I did the most embarrassing thing I’ve done in my career. I am cracking up just thinking about it. In the presentation of the show, I was committed to do a stoppie over the whole fun-box even if my speed was too slow. If you ride, you know you gonna tilt it high up to make it roll at slow speed. Well, I managed to go over my handlebars landing straight on my stomach all the way down to the dirt. Haha!! What a dork. The bike front flipped and hit me in the back and head leaving me with rubber and peg marks in the back as you can see on the photo bellow. Yeah monz! A little groggy and bruised up, but finished the show pretending it didn’t hurt at all. Haha.. Wish I had it on tape for you
Tire marks to the right, peg marks to the left.
Valladolid
All in all it was a pleasant stay in Hossegor. And even if I didn’t get much time on the bike going into Moscow I really felt good and ready to roll on the last practice in Spain Monday morning.
Can´t wait to see what Dane has for us here in Moscow. Ready for some nasty dirt doubles and tech lines.
With a 40 point lead in the X-Fighters series, no lost luggage or canceled flights I can do nothing but smile going into this one looking forward for a new battle with friends from all over the world.
I have actually packed my bags for two months. Just imagine how that is. Going straight to California after Moscow, then X-Fighters in Madrid – X-games Los Angeles and finally X-Fighters in London before I am back home. Or, what is the definition of home really? A place where your mail arrives? I live in hotels and have vacation home. Home is in your heart and where you find peace. I find peace when the wheels are rolling.
I left windy conditions in Spain to go to Hossegor in France.
Jammin’ the park with the Pagés brothers, Jay Rouanet and Chris Birch.
And if it’s windy we don’t hang our heads. We are at the number one surf spot in Europe and we love it!!
Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 / Cairo / Great Sphinx of Giza
Sphinx Crowns Jones Cairo Champion
The Great Sphinx of Giza and 10,000 fans cast a keen eye over the 12 best FMX athletes on the planet on Friday night. At the second stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 desert winds, sand and temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius pushed man and machine to the limit, with Adam Jones (USA) emerging victorious in front of one of the world’s most spectacular backdrops.
CAIRO (EGY). Directly in front of the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the Great Sphinx of Giza built between 2700 and 2600 BC, it was the American Adam Jones who destroyed his 11 opponents’ dreams of victory by progressing all the way to the Final, where he tricked and flipped his way past the winner of the season opener in Mexico City (MEX), the Norwegian Andrè Villa, to win the event.
“This really is a dream come true for me. The conditions in Cairo weren’t easy, but my final run was perfect, and that meant the judges were then on my side,” grinned the 26-year-old.
In front of the 73.5-metre-long and 20-metre-high Great Sphinx of Giza, it was “only” the nerves of the top freestyle motocross riders from Europe, Asia, America and Australia that crumbled away as they sailed 15 metres high and 30 metres in length through the warm night air. All of the members of the international FMX elite were in agreement: “To be able to jump at such a unique location is just incredible.”
After two of the six stops comprising the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 it is Andrè Villa who continues to lead the overall standings. The next event is scheduled to take place on Moscow’s Red Square (RUS) on 26 June 2010.
Final Results: Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010, Cairo, Egypt:
1. Adam Jones (USA), 2. Andrè Villa (NOR), 3. Nate Adams (USA), 4. Robbie Maddison (AUS), 5. Levi Sherwood (NZL), 6. Eigo Sato (JAP), 7. Jim McNeil (USA), 8. Libor Podmol (CZE), 9. Lance Coury (USA), 10. Daice Suzuki (JAP), 11. Petr Pilat (CZE), 12. Nick DeWit (RSA)
Images free of use for editorial purposes. Photo credit: Joerg Mitter, Andreas Schaad, Balasz Gardi, Flo Hagena for Global-Newsroom
Facts: * Ten years after its creation, the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 comprises six events Mexico City (MEX), Cairo (EGY), Moscow (RUS), Madrid (ESP), London (UK) and Rome (ITA).
* The 12 best freestyle motocross athletes in the world perform breathtaking tricks, flying up to 15 metres high and 30 metres in length on motocross bikes available in all normal FMX stores.
* The head-to-head runs between the riders are evaluated by a six-man judging panel. Following Round One, the event advances to the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals, where the night’s winner is crowned.
Let’s watch and experience the Red Bull X-Fighters 2010 in Egypt together. Meet other members of FmxWorld and chat live about the event. I will be there with you:-) of course.
Let’s watch it all together and use the Fmxworld Chat (to be found on the lower left corner of this page with the option to pop the window out) to share our excitement and drink some beer or Red Bull together.
Norway’s Andrè Villa took first place in Qualifying for the second stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 in Giza (EGY) on Thursday evening. Following his rain-affected win in Mexico City (MEX), the Temecula resident and leader in the overall standings after one event was once again in a class of his own in front of the pyramids and Great Sphinx outside the Egyptian capital. Second place behind Villa went to the reigning Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Champion Nate Adams (USA), while shooting star of the FMX scene Levi Sherwood (NZL) put in a strong run to take third spot.
In the searing heat of the desert just outside Cairo it was Andrè Villa who was able to continue his sensational form by winning Qualifying thanks a range of sick tricks performed with his inimitable style. The Norwegian rider, who had never won a Red Bull X-Fighters event until the start of this season, will now be looking to give his all at the main event on Friday evening and extend his lead in the overall standings. However, reigning champion Nate Adams, shooting star Levi Sherwood and world record holder Robbie Maddison (AUS/4th in Qualifying) are hot on the heels of the Norwegian and intent on putting on spectacular FMX show for the huge crowd in front of the unique backdrop of the pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
Red Bull X-Fighters Egypt Qualifier Result
1. Andre Villa / NOR / Yamaha
2. Nate Adams / USA / Yamaha
3. Levi Sherwood / NZL / KTM
4. Robbie Maddison / AUS / Yamaha
5. Eigo Sato / JAP / Yamaha
6. Adam Jones / USA / Yamaha
7. Jim McNiel / USA / Suzuki
8. Libor Podmol / CZE / Suzuki
9. Petr Pilat / CZE / KTM
10. Lance Coury / USA / Honda
11. Nick de Wit / RSA / KTM
12. Daice Suzuki / JAP / Yamaha
On the way to Egypt.
I was supposed to get there last night, but because of the vulcano making a mess at Spanish airports we lost our connection to Cairo. So after 14 hours at airports and a hotel stay in Madrid we are trying again now. Boarding in 30 min. Will lose one day practice, but that’s cool. Just a ramp to ramp set up anyway.
Fmx world is running some stuff on their web page where you can ask me some questions which i will answer on their video.
Check it out here on this long ass link:
http://www.fmxworld.com/main/authorization/signIn?target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fmxworld.com%2Fprofiles%2Fblogs%2Fnight-of-the-jumps-sanliurfa
I took the easy way. Copy and past…
I´ll write you some of my own words later.
Norway’s Andre Villa pulled off a surprise win at the first stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 in Mexico City on Friday evening. With the main event forced to be abandoned due to extreme weather conditions, the Norwegian used his win in Qualifying to claim victory in the city’s Plaza de Toros Monumental.
Red BullAndre Villa celebrates his monumental win in Mexico City.
A huge 42,000-strong crowd packed the arena to cheer on the twelve FMX toreros on their high-octane steeds as they flew through the largest bullfighting ring in the world. On kickers catapulting the athletes 15 metres into the air, the best riders on the planet — including Corinth Canal and Tower Bridge hero, Robbie Maddison (AUS) — showcased the very latest freestyle motocross tricks.
The first stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters 10th anniversary year saw a Norwegian rider win an event for the first time. Andre Villa benefitted from freak weather conditions including torrential rain and lightning to take the win after the competition had to be abandoned after the first round. “I have trained hard my whole life and made so many sacrifices for this,” explained the delighted 27-year-old. The remaining spots on the podium went to reigning World Tour Champion Nate Adams (USA) and Robbie Maddison (AUS), with Spain’s Dany Torres taking fourth place despite being forced to land his tricks with just one hand due to a fractured wrist.
Nate Adams (USA) had warm words of congratulation for the victor: “Andre deserved to win here. When it comes to open-air sport, you have to live with the weather conditions. The heavy rain meant the landing hill was very slippery. I think the decision to abandon the competition was the right one.”
In just a few weeks time, on 14 May 2010, the Red Bull X-Fighters will get their chance for revenge at the second World Tour stop directly in front of the world-famous Sphinx in Giza, Egypt. Further stops in Moscow (RUS), Madrid (ESP), London (GBR) and Rome (ITA) complete the World Tour 2010.
As you probably know I am in Mexico for the first round of the Red Bull X-fighters.
It all starts now.. Check out this little teaser below.
Yesterday night I rode the pre qualification and got second behind Adam Jones, ahead of Jim McNeil, Charles Pagès, Cam Sinclair and Libor Podmol.
Which means two more qualification rounds today before I´ll ride in front of 42.000 people. Cuuuummooooonnn!
Feeling pretty good and can´t wait to get started.
Get back to you soon. Follow me closer on www.twitter.com/dedevilla
Here you have an update from Pecquencourt, France:
Pecquencourt in France is normally a quiet and peaceful village with 2000 inhabitants, a few supermarkets and local shops. But the local people are just “like sand grains on a beach” when motorcycle enthusiasts from France, Belgium and other parts of Europe come together for the yearly Moto Saloon of Pecquencourt.
50.000 people turn the small French village into a motorcycle wonderland where crêpes and Richard fly around the tents between classic motorcycles or leather jackets you never think could be sold.
But besides all the motorcycle fanatics with high hillbilly factor you will also find thousands of core FMX fans. They are here to see the biggest FMX demo that goes off in France.
With a line of riders that you’d never thought would be affordable for a contest “in the middle of nowhere”, the fans know they will be served with the freshest stuff FMX has to offer.
Bringing the goods this year was Dany Torres, Robbie Maddison, Eigo Sato, Charles Pagés, Wiley Fullmer, Jay Rouanet and I. Which makes five out of seven X-Fighter riders.
Charles Pagés, Dany Torres, André Villa, Jay Roaunet, Eigo Sato and Robbie Maddison
Dany Torres has been on fire lately and executes the hardest tricks in the book, including this double grab flip.
There are small margins in FMX. Unfortunately Dany Torres went down after missing his grab on a double grab indy flip. Dany came out of it only with just some bruises.
This is the fourth year I Ride in Pecquencourt.
One size fits all.
Enjoy the action with this little video from the FullGaz crew. Click to view here.
I am writing you guys an update, which means I am travelling.
Jupp. Sitting on the flight to Mexico right now. Nine hours flown, three to go.
It´s the first round of the X-Fighters series. Third time in Mexico for me. Third is the charm right?? Ha! Bring it…
Well. After the demo in Pecquencourt I had two days in Spain before I went to Norway for a week. My original plan was to stay in Spain to prepare for Mexico, but my dear mum had been through a pretty hard chemotherapy and I just had to see her and the rest of my family.
I flew home the first of April and nobody knew I was coming home. First I April fooled my mum. Talked to her on the phone and said I was watching a beautiful sunset in Spain. After I hung up I walked straight into her house. She was tripping and couldn’t believe it. Haha..
Then it was my Dads turn. And he had it coming. I am wounded for life from all the fools he has pulled. But this time I was gonna get him.
25 of my family members ware celebrating my Grandfathers 75 years birthday. I called my Dad while I was outside the restaurant and asked if anybody April fooled him today, as he explains that he is hard to fool and that nobody got him, Micha and I step into the restaurant fooling him and the rest of the crew. Got yha!!!
Just need to April fool him 23 more times and we will be tied
Thought i could put aside some days with family and friends in Norway. Just woke up and looked out the window. Sunny and fresh snow.. Back to Spain on Wednesday, and then flying to Mexico the 13th. Jupp jupp..
A interview i did with Expn.
Follow this link to see the video interview. http://espn.go.com/action/fmx/blog/_/post/5031921
Travelin’ Man
Norway’s Andre Villa leaves his Spanish dwellings for the USA
March 26, 2010, 6:13 PM
By: Ryan Leyba
When you’re a professional FMX rider, Norway is the last place you want to live. So, like any FMXing Norwegian would do, Andre Villa packed up and moved to the next most logical country — Spain. But, after building an insane compound, Villa realized that even though he had a perfect riding spot and a host of European riders to ride with, he needed to be in the United States riding with the best. So fast-forward to 2010 and Villa is in the heart of it all — Temecula, Calif. — house hunting and riding in between open houses.
ESPN.com/Action’s Cliff Talley hooked up with Villa before heading to Costa Rica for X-Knights. He tells us all about his reason for moving to the states, his new bikes, who he rides with, and what his dream house looks like. Check it out.
Nobody updated my web page?
Damn, better do it myself then.
I´m sitting on my yearly Ryanair flight. You know, the low fare company with 20 euro pr. kg for extra weight, 3 euro te and seats so tight that you can scratch your ears with your knees. Yes, that one.
I´m on my way to Pecquencourt, France to ride a two days demo with Robbie Maddison, Dany Torres, Charles Pagés, Eigo Sato and Jay Roaunet. It´s the same demo I´ve been riding for many years. If you remember, I made some “gray weather” videos from 2008 and one from 2006.
And gray it´s gonna be this year to. The weather forecast promises rain so for the first time in my FMX career I´m actually bringing goggles with tear-offs on. No joke! I don´t mind getting dirty. Right…
Well, we had a good time in Costa Rica.
Had some time to relax the days before the event, and even if it was windy in practice, it wasn´t that bad for the event. The energy from the audience was amazing and I wish I could’ve ridden more than one round. Unfortunately for me I got straight up fu”#$% by the judges. Sorry to say it. But it was my turn to be a victim of confusion in the judging panel. All good though. Next time it could be somebody else. Everybody came from Costa Rica in good health.
Holygrab – Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Dany Torres was absolutely killing it, proving that he is a solid contender for the Red Bull X-Fighters series this year. This was the fourth time Dany won the X-Knights in Costa Rica. He is huge over there which got him recognised at the Iberia, managing to upgrade five of us into business class. Por la patilla tio!
Dany Torres has also joined the Etnies team for 2010. Expect him holding the Etnies flag high with contests all over the world.
Costa Rica avec Charles Pages.
We even had time for some safari this time. Many hours on the buss to see the volcano and the rain forest with crocodile, snakes and all the comes with it.
I promised you some words about America as well.
As I told you, most of the time went with riding the 450 4-stroke on the motocross tracks and off course some freeriding.
Photo Todd Stewart
My plan going to US was kind of “going back to the roots”, meaning finding new inspiration and getting back to the pure pleasure of riding. Don´t get me wrong, I easily find motivation to ride and I love my job. But when you are going into your 9th season as a pro rider and you´re still not quite satisfied with the outcome, you need to look around you and make sure you don´t get stocked in your own shit. You know, a little less focus on the physical training and the stuff around riding itself. I was actually not connected to internet with my computer for two months. Therapy baby…
Focus on stuff that matters.
I definitely got a new spark caused by riding with inspiring people on amazing compounds and motocross tracks, back on the Yamaha “mi amor”. I have to give it up to Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Brian Deegan, Ronnie Faisst, Scott Pierce for letting me roost their playgrounds. Also wanna give it up to Jay Schweitzer who brought me out to ride at Reche Canyon, Fitz and Wyvern. Always a pleasure to work with “the unbeatable ping pong master” Jay and Mack Dawg.
I rode a lot with Bilko and had a blast with him. Even learned some stuff from the nut case. It´s pretty simple – “I don´t give a f!”#$. I just carry on”. Comuuuuuunnnnn!!
I´ll post up a couple of photos for yha guys..
Fitzland. Photo by Hitoshi “CAZY” Kajino
Reche Canyon – Photo John Ciotti
Reche Canyon – Photo John Ciotti
Fitzland. Photo Chris Tedesco
Deegans. Photo Chris Tedesco
The 13th of April I am flying to Mexico to ride the first stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters… juuuup jupp jupp.
Made it over to Costa Rica where I will ride the X-knights with this crew http://www.xknights.com/costarica/pilotos.cfm.
Just done with the PR / presentation at this “flashy” place with firework, blitzes and females with an overwhelming high silicon average.
I have some more stuff from USA, but now I´m gonna listen to this pillow for a while.
Write yha soon..
Today it’s one year since Jeremy Lusk passed away after a brutal crash in Costa Rica.
Metal Mulisha brought together a big crew to show some respect and remember Jeremy.
First we had a nice little ride session before the rain caught up with us and we could enjoy a pleasent meal.
Then we went down to San Diego to pay Jeremy’s grave a visit. It was the first time I was there and I got blown away how nice they had done the gravestone. It was really Jeremy…
I knew that Super Bowl was big in the USA, but I would never have guessed how many viewers it had; 106,5 million americans watched the game. Which by the way is the best rating ever on US TV. Beating the last episode of M*A*S*H which in 1983 had 105,97 mill.
During the year, the weekend of the Super Bowl is the time when most avacado (for the dip) and flat screens are sold.
And a 30 sec comercial costs 2,7 million dollars. BOOOM!!
I had the chance to experience the Super Bowl at Jimmy Fitzpatrick’s uncle together with 150-200 other lads.
Here are some of them
You can read and see some more photos on the expn blog
So the Red Bull X-fighters qualification got cancelled because of heavy rainstorms. (read about what’s gonna happen to the X-fighters on the FMX blog on www.expn.com.)
They said the storm we had was the worst storm in 14 years. El Niño conditions. Bad timing huh.
I still got a lot of riding down, but mostly riding tracks and the hills. Well, that’s more fun anyway.
Spend some time riding with my mechanic Inge Aarnes from Norway as well, who, by the way, is too fast to be a mechanic.
Inges mechanic skills got this beauty open and started in no time.
Had the help of Japanese designer Naoki from BPM (who also paints my helmets) and DUK graphics to get my bike dialed. Thanks for making me look good.
BPM design and DUK graphics
Also need to give it up to Go Pro who stashed me up with their new HD edition. Can’t wait to try it out. Go to www.gopro.com and get yours.
Not so much more happening except riding dirt-bikes in this ‘off-season’. And the stuff that comes with it. Like:
Baby sitting Renners dogs. See anything wrong in this picture?
Killing some buggers. This sucker took a shit in my airfilter box. For real. That’s the price to pay
Watching Anaheim supercross. San Diego coming up this weekend.
In the hills with Bilko. (Bilko is a tough mofo. Crashed in the hills, broke a rib and rode like nothing had happened)
And Twitch. King of the hills. (sorry for bad quality. These are all i-Phone photos. Jupp)
Braking in the YZ. Tedesco crushes it at Fitz.
Can’t believe I did this whole update from my freaking i-Phone.
No US social security number – no internet. But you can go and buy a new car whithin 10min.
And to find a good car offer – just look for a gorilla at the junktion.
My thumbs are bleeding.
Thumbs up, this gotta stop.
Finally got ourselves settled here in Temcula, California.
Got the van back on the road after some mice had a feast on my electrical cables. The shag wagon is rolling, and so are we.
Got ourselves a nice place in Glen Oaks. 7 min to Twitches, 10 to Deegans, 4 to Fitzpatrick and so on. It’s central with a great view over Temecula.
Thanks to Tom Flores who hooked us up with this great house that makes the stay in US more pleasant.
This is actually just the guesthouse of the main house. Once again – things are bigger in America.
And they are different. Like the marketing policy. Who the hell cares if George Foreman is on the cover when you want to buy a grilling machine? One thing I am gonna give the Americans though – you can turn right on red.
Glenn Bagge at MotoWorld of El Cajon hooked me up with some rides. Get over there to meet some great people with a great selection. I got a YZ 250 (yes. back on blue) set up for FMX. And this week I couldn’t hold myself and had to purchase a new 450. When you are in MX paradise it would be wrong to not have a MX bike right? Went to Pala race track last week and had a blast with Faisst, Twitch, Taka, Garland and crew. I freaking love being here even if I ended up in the worst storm in 14 years. It’s poring down and everything is flooded around here.
Managed to squeeze in a day of freeride yesterday with Twitch, Josh Hansen, Josh Hill, Fitzpatrick and a couple of other guys.
Also had a day in Reche Canyon with Brody Wilson before the rain storm came.
Just had two days of FMX riding, but hopefully I’ll get some more before we head into the Red Bull X-fighters qualification the second of February. 80 riders signed up. 26 riders are chosen to ride the qualification where they pick 6 riders to join the series. Jupp jupp..
Waiting for my new custom gear to show up.
The Alpinestars collection this year is dope. Can’t wait to put it on.
At last I want to give some love to Micha who is starring the Nikita adds in magazines around the world..
That´s my girl. The Lusk wrist band never comes off.
Red BullAndre Villa celebrates his monumental win in Mexico City.
