Defending X-Fighters champion Mat Rebeaud reckons he could be facing one of his toughest ever challenges at the Tour finale in London in August.
The Swiss star heads to the UK capital ideally poised to claim back-to-back titles at Battersea Power Station but admits that the level of competition in FMX is higher now than at any time in the past.
“London will be pretty hard,” he says. “The location looks very sweet and hopefully we’ll get some good weather. But it will be tough, there are four or five guys who can win the championship.
“It’s a bit harder for me now. I finish usually on the podium but the level between the riders is close right now, small things make a big difference,” he says. “To be honest I don’t want to think too much about that!”
Despite the intensity of the competition, Rebeaud insists that it’s still a friendly rivalry and that it’s the toughness of the touring competition that breeds friendship and admiration.
“We are a big family,” he says. “We all have the same training programme, compete in the same race. Everyone respects everyone. I came to X-Fighters four years ago and then it had the 10 best riders in the world, so it’s very hard to get in, but once you’re there it’s pretty sweet. You have a lot of competition and as soon as the show starts, it’s a real fight. But at the end, everyone goes to the party together, it pretty good.
“The whole X-Fighters tour is really cool though, it gives a very good image to the sport of FMX. Pretty much every person who comes and watches X-fighers leaves very happy and likes the sport.
“The show is incredible. Like in Texas with the cowboys… it’s not just a freestyle motocross competition, it’s a true show. Or in Mexico and Madrid, every year they’re sold out, people don’t get bored of it. X-Fighters shows that freestyle is going in a good way.”
It all comes to a head in London next month and even though Mat’s full of admiration for his fellow riders, he says he won’t be holding back on claiming a second title.
“It’s very important, it’s the main series in freestyle. If you win X-Fighters you are one of the best riders. Everybody knows that, so I won’t be holding back.”
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