TV NRK (the largest media organisation in Norway) and Red Bull made an agrement about sending the whole Red Bull X-fighters live on prime time, Saturday night after the 21.00 news.
This is major for Norwegian motorsport, FMX and myself.
I’m proud of what I’ve done to influence this and I hope you will be watching. Hold on to your wigs and glasses NRK viewers.
To the “Norgies” out there:
Here is some more news about the broadcasting.
Click on photo to read the whole story
Didn’t wish you guys a merry christmas yet either…
It all drowns in the mass media these days, doesn’t mean much anymore more. But anyway. Here is one for yha:
The OTP photo shoot went great.
We managed to entertain two medium Spanish villages and having a good time while doing it. Weather played to our favour and everything went “slicker than grease”.
Stories got told and new stories was made. Jay Schweitzer claims was the sickest FMX helicopter shoot ever done.
Make sure to get yourself a copy of the new On The Pipe coming in December.
A few photos from the shoot. (There is more in the photo gallery)
With Twitter, Facebook and interviews done around I feel people have heard my story from Rome.
In case you missed it. Here are some words.
I basically needed to beat Nate Adams to take the overall. The week before Rome, Nate and I hung out for a week in France getting to know each other even better. We agreed losing for a friend would not be that bad.
After my first qualification round I did a mistake, but still managed to qualify third. I decided not to ride the second round because I wanted to go head to head with Adam Jones instead of Dany Torres which I thought looked really good that weekend.
I was still trying to hold on to my “new” attitude, trying to have as much fun as possible and enjoy the moment. Doing around 15 hours with interviews and media shoots before the contest, reminded me how important this is and what it has come down to.
I was feed up with the interviews and eager to go in battle. Funny enough I was not nervous the contest night. I didn’t want my nervousness to destroy this great moment I was in.
In my first round against Remi Bizouard I won all the judges and I felt good for my next round against Adam Jones.
I was on the time limit to get in my last jump on my run against Remi so I knew I had to be fast around the course. At this long straight part I was up in fourth gear pinned to save time before I shifted down to second in the corner and lined up for the next trick which was SUPPOSED to be a cliffhanger flip. Well. You probably saw the rest. After watching the footage I saw that I went too fast into the ramp and rotated too fast when connecting for the cliffhanger. If it was the speed I had in “my body” after trying to save time at the straight away or a moment out of focus that made me fail, I still don’t know. It was like my hands were glued to the handlebar. Like it wasn’t meant to happen. After missing on that trick the “air went out of the balloon” and I messed up again on a cordova flip on 34 meters. Just like that I lost the title.
For many days I had a hard time forgiving myself for the mistake I did. Two tricks more and I would’ve accomplished the goal of my career. My plan worked. Dany kicked out Nate Adams in the semifinal as well. But because Nate had a better qualification result than me he got third and I got fourth. Well, that’s gambling.
After some days of feeling like a pile of shit, I brought myself up and forgave myself. The faster you let go, the faster you will move on and realize that life is not that bad.
This year has been so great for me. Great results, many new deals were signed and the future looks great. Feeling down right now would be grief. I choose to be graceful.
To move forward you need to accept that things happen for a reason. If Nate would’ve placed one position worse or I would place one better in any of the six events I would have won the championship. That’s how close it was.
Some people say the key to success is learning to deal with massive amounts of rejection. Master rejection and you’ll be a success.
That leaves the conclusion to; this experience was necessary to kick some mother fucking ass in the future!
I am not giving up on my dream.
Wow. It’s been two crazy months on the road. Finally back in my own bed after crossing the Atlantic ocean four times, been in Moscow, Madrid and London.
Even if it burns me out being on the grind like that, it’s a self-chosen life challenge that gives me so much, and I would not be without it.
I’ve made sacrifices like most athletes that have come this far. When people say we are lucky, we just nick and think; if you only knew how dedicated we are and how much work and pain there was on the road getting here, you would take luck back.
Life is really what you make out of it and is a reflection of your fantasy. No matter if you are a top athlete or a random guy trying to make a living, it’s you who have to grab on to what you claim is yours in life. Hold on to it, work hard, believe and never let regrets take place of your dreams.
I was just a little punk from a village with 4000 people where it was winter 6 months a year, a country with 4 million people. What were my odds to be leading the hardest series in a sport like FMX? Very small, and it was a long way to go.
So please people, no matter what you believe in, don’t give up. Remember, holding on when other people let go, can make that difference. Have faith.
I’ve posted some updates on what’s been happening.
London was, to say it mild, not a good weekend for me.
Red Bull had made such a good job with all the aspect in London. But Red Bull can still not do anything with Mother Nature.
It was on and off raining the whole weekend and it made it hard for the track workers and riders.
A heavy shower came at the contest day and made the track so muddy that in the end they turned the contest into a demo. Before that decision was made I was flying into the audience – Literally.
I was willing to try out the course with Chris Birch to see if the course was safe enough to hold a contest. And that’s when I got cross-rutted and ended in the audience.
After drifting to the right, I slightly missed the landing and almost blew my hands off the handlebars. I was heading straight into another landing and launched into the audience. I managed to jump over the handlebars and kick the bike down so it would not end up in the audience. That gave me a boost to get over the fence and unfortunately I landed on some people that needed medical assistance. The next minutes I was out of myself and didn’t quite understand where I was. So for the people I hit. Sorry for not checking up on you. I hope you are doing fine.
Here is a low quality video of the crash:
There you go. That’s my London story. Another big crash on the record. Bruised up with a concussion, but not our. (HVA?) Right now, two weeks after I am sitting at Charles De Gaule in Paris, on my way to ride a demo in north of France.
I am still leading the X-fighters series with a few points to Nate Adams. The lowest score of the six stops will go out, so it means it will be a catfight in Rome in a few weeks. I am going to get ready and give everything I have in my life’s most important contest. Send me good thoughts!! I’ll need em..
Here is the introduction to the X-fighters London TV show.
My name is Bond. James Bond.
Result London
1 – Levi Sherwood – NZL
2 – Nate Adams – USA
3 – Dany Torres – ESP
4 – Mike Mason – USA
5 – Adam Jones – USA
6 – Mat Rebaud – CH
7 – Cameron Sinclair – AUS
8 – Clinton Moore – AUS 9 – André Villa – NOR
10 – Robbie Maddison – AUS
11 – Chris Birch – UK
12 – Robbie Adelberg – AUS
Overall result
1 – André Villa – NOR – 310 points
2 – Nate Adams – USA – 305 points
3 – Levi Sherwood – NZL – 290 points
4 – Robbie Maddison – AUS – 265 points
5 – Adam Jones – USA – 210 points
6 – Dany Torres – ESP – 210 points
7 – Mat Rebaud – CH – 130 points
8 – Eigo Sato – JAP – 130 points
9 – Jim McNeil – USA – 95 points
10 – Mike Mason – USA – 85 points
11 – Cameron Sinclair AUS – 80 points
12 – Clinton Moore – AUS – 25 points
13 – Manikel Melero – ESP – 25 points
14 – Libor Podmol – CZE – 25 points
15 – Jackson Strong – AUS – 20 points
Saturday, the day after Madrid I flew straight to California to get ready for X-Games. First practice was already on Tuesday so it was without doubt a tight schedule.
I felt really confident going into X-Games and I knew my chances were good. I thought this was going to be my year.
It all ended with a disappointing experience after getting sick with a stomach flu and inner ear infection that messed up my balance. I rode the practices and didn’t want to give up even if I almost vomited right before last practice.
I felt out of control and had pull out because of safety reasons. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve done in my career, but the chances for getting hurt were bigger than anything else, and I didn’t want to jeopardize what I had going.
Pre London
A week after X-Games I was back on the bike in California preparing for X-fighters in London. I managed to get a few days in and I felt good and felt ready to play, after missing out on X-Games.
Just jamming with Faisst, Maddo, Nate and Taka at Deegans and Maddos. You know, having a good time with the boys.
I’ll post a couple of photos and a video jammin around:
Tsunami at Deegans
Holyman – Maddos house
Ronnie Faisst took home the bronze at X-Games Speed and Style together with Twitch. The greatest moment of X-Games 2010 if you ask me. My boys!
Tsunami flip – Maddos house
If you want to see more photos go to my facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/villafmx
Well, that is old news now. You have seen the videos and photos. I won the qualification, but unfortunately had to meet Maddo in the semis who came in fresh with a body varial taking home the win.
A little bummed, but still happy getting on the podium for the fourth time this year.
Second in 2008. Third in 2010. Still for the hunt of that number 1.
If I would have any “home arena” at the X-fighters, Madrid has to be the one. The supporting clan from Norway was bigger than ever with around 40 people this year, making more noise than the rest of them.
After a long time with negotiating over in USA, I finally signed with Monster Energy drinks. I am thrilled to get on board with Monster and I’m looking forward to bring Monster on the map in Europe as well.
I am also now riding FOX gear and feel sexier than ever. Ohhh baby.
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.
