Ben Richardson was chosen as the photographer and Simon Peach as Red Bull Reporter’s writer for Red Bull X-Fighters at Battersea Power Station in London. They got to witness firsthand some of the best FMX riders in the world pull off their tricks and stunts as this global tour touched down in the UK. Fans of motorsports and bike stunts eat your heart out, this one-off show has gone down in history...
FMX riders are crazy. Broken bones, lacerated organs, internal bleeding and memory loss are all just part and parcel of the life of a rider. It seems nonsensical when you say it like that but when you watch them take to the dirt, everything seems to make sense.
The lingering scent of petrol, the atmosphere, the noise, the jumps, the falls. The sport has it all. And the Red Bull X-Fighters had it all. FMX’s premier competition came to the UK for the first time last weekend, bringing the iconic Battersea Power Station back to life in the process. And after four beguiling stops, the London event was the tour finale. Nate Adams started the evening in pole position but with Eigo Sato, Robbie Maddison and Mat Rebeaud also still vying for the title, the sell-out crowd were always in for a treat. The riders didn’t disappoint.
As helicopters circled the dilapidated yet bravura structure, a dozen bikes flew into the ring to the exultation of the crowd. They were revved-up and raring to go. As were the riders. The bikes took to the arena floor by flying out of the third-floor window of the iconic landmark – the biggest free-standing brick building in Europe. And you can be sure that local boy Chris Birch was bricking it when he opened proceedings.
“I know what to expect,” he said with a wry knowing smile. “I’m honoured to be the only Brit competing. I do big stuff. Big extensions, certain tricks that other riders don’t do at the moment. But all I want out of this is a good 90 seconds, the feeling I’ve done my best, the extensions I wanted, then I’ll be happy”.
The cacophony of sound jumped a notch as Birch took to the track in his competitive X-Fighters debut. And he should be happy after a stirring display. ‘Not a bad way to start,’ was the announcer’s stance. It’s fair to say the other 18,000 in the arena thought that was quite an understatement. He was bang on. But those 90 seconds were as far as Birch got. He was one of six riders competing in the first round for just two quarter final berths, taken by Eigo Sato and Mike Mason. The former pulled out a typical wild ride to remain in the hunt for the tour title, while the latter’s holy grab impressed the five judges who sat in a bright red double-decker bus.
After a brief respite, and a mind boggling show from stuntman Terry Grant, the quarter finals began with the modern day Evil Knievel taking to the stage, otherwise known as Robbie Maddison. The Australian, fresh from back flipping Tower Bridge, faced reigning champion Matt Rebeaud in the first quarter final. Both riders still harbored serious ambitions of taking the Series Championship, starting the night in third and fourth place respectively.
But it wasn’t the skilled altercation of two of freestyle motorcross’ preeminent riders it was meant to be. Rebeaud over-rotated on the Superkicker, sending him hurtling into the dirt up-slope. The gasp from the crowd was audible. But, somehow, the Swiss rider managed to get away with bruises, a few stitches and a flat tyre. Nevertheless, it amply showed the danger these riders put themselves in. Maddison therefore progressed to the penultimate stage. And Levi Sherwood soon joined him.
Prior to his jump he predicted he’d produce some “wild stuff.” The 17-year-old didn’t disappoint, seeing off crowd favourite Jeremy ‘Twitch’ Stenberg with some seemingly implausible extentions. Guess that’s why he is nicknamed the Rubber Kid. With Rebeaud having crashed out, another tour contender fell out of contention. Eigo Sato failed to defeat in-form Dany Torres, who continued the great form he showed in his victory in the last round in Madrid. Nate Adams almost fell by the wayside too but he saw off fellow American Mike Mason by the tightest of margins. It set-up an enthralling ‘winner takes all’ tour deciding semi-final against Maddison.
True to form, Adams shone, producing a delectable mix of flawless tricks to ensure Maddison, who was suffering electrical problems with his bike, was on a hiding to nothing. And after securing the tour title he continued to win the London event too.
The 25-year-old secured a landslide decision against Levi Sherwood in the final to land him the clean sweep of prizes.
“This is the greatest achievement of my career,” said the Southern Californian, won two of the five stops on the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour.
“Whoever wins this Tour goes down in the history books. The pressure was huge; it’s a great feeling to win against the best riders in the world.”
And the beaming smile that lit up his face was reason enough to understand why the riders risk life and limb when they take to the dirt. The perfect expression of logical madness.
Simon Peach
View Ben Richardson's photographs at www.redbullreporter.com
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