Sofia, December 14, 2019: The season finale of NIGHT of the JUMPs came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday night. Ten of the world’s best Freestyle Motocross athletes from seven nations and three continents fought for the last points of the year inside the Armeec Arena in Sofia. After four years, the people of the Bulgarian capital could finally experience the biggest Freestyle Motocross spectacle live again. It was in 2015 when the longest running FMX sport series visited Sofia, and in 2019 the fans experienced the gripping final fight, firsthand.
Three out of the top 4 riders from NIGHT of the JUMPs were on hand to ride the event with Adam Jones (USA), Pat Bowden (AUS) and Luc Ackermann (GER) ready to ride. Only the five-time World Champion, Maikel Melero (ESP), was unable to compete after his recent shoulder surgery but was able to return as a special guest Judge in Sofia. The three main players left no doubt in anyone’s minds during the qualification round as to who was going to be battling for the victory.
Jones with his signature style on the bike showed everyone how to do text-book Cliffhanger and Deadbody Flips, while Pat Bowden extended his Cliffhanger Flip even further and threw in his 360 Nac-Nac over the Superkicker to secure second place in the preliminary round. It was again the young German who would lead the field in qualifying with his 360, Flair, Front Flip and Double Flip to land over 50 points in front of the next best rider. Petr Pilat (CZE) with his flair, Leo Fini (ITA) with his style and Filip Podmol (CZE) with his best qualification run of his career including his new One-Hand Indy Flip completed the final 6 going into the final.
Despite having his baggage including his suspension go missing on his flight to Sofia and missing most of the training time, Marc Pinyol (ESP) didn’t make it through to the Top 6 Final, but still showed the other riders his whips are on another level when he turned his Kawasaki back-to-front in the Best Whip competition in front of a charging Filip Podmol in second place. The Italian team of Leo Fini and Davide Rossi showed near perfection in their Synchro competition but were just pipped at the post by Adam Jones and Filip Podmol on Team Yamaha 2-stroke with their huge synchronised Ruler Flips and Switchblade Flips.
Opening the Final 6, Leo Fini returned for his last run of the 2019 season and the atmosphere among the near 10,000 visitors was electric. For the battle of third position overall between Podmol, Jones and Bowden was going to come down to the wire. Jones put together a huge run, however Podmol missed a trick and slipped to 6th on the night and missing a chance at taking third overall in the season. While Jones waited nervously, Pat Bowden stepped up the battle of the style kings with his Front Flip to narrowly secure second place. Luc Ackermann had the honours of the final run of the season, and he left no doubt amongst the crowds and judges who the champion of 2019 was, with his Flair, 360, Ruler Flip, Hart Flip, Front Flip and topped it off with the Double Backflip. The arena erupted to celebrate with the German Wunderkind as he took the overall victory ahead of Melero and Bowden.
With six out of seven possible wins, the FMX Terminator, Luc Ackermann has been crowned the FIM Freestyle Motocross World Champion. He is the youngest Freestyle Motocross World Champion of all time and has impressively broken through Maikel Melero’s five-year dominance. With his victory in Sofia, the 21-year-old German also was crowned the NIGHT of the JUMPs World Tour Champion 2019.
“I’m just overjoyed. I’ve dreamed of the World Championship title for so long and worked so hard for it. Winning the NIGHT of the JUMPs Tour Championship on top here in Sofia makes the perfect season” Luc Ackermann said.
One of the most exciting seasons of NIGHT of the JUMPs has come to an end. The riders will now have two months to relax and work on new tricks as they return for the next event on 21/22 February, 2020 where NIGHT of the JUMPs will take over Berlin to celebrate its 20th anniversary with even more FMX fireworks to be expected.
Video link Best Tricks NOTJ Sofia 2019:
https://youtu.be/W_EM6ta8Y24
FACTS
NIGHT of the JUMPs
Sofia, 14. December 2019
Results NIGHT of the JUMPs – Final
1. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 372 Points
2. Pat Bowden AUS MA Yamaha 350 Points
3. Adam Jones USA AMA Yamaha 322 Points
4. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 312 Points
5. Leonardo Fini ITA AMF KTM 288 Points
6. Filip Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 268 Points
Results Qualification
1. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 373 Points
2. Pat Bowden AUS MA Yamaha 322 Points
3. Filip Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 306 Points
4. Adam Jones USA AMA Yamaha 304 Points
5. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 302 Points
6. Leonardo Fini ITA AMF KTM 273 Points
7. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Husqvarna 235 Points
8. Davide Rossi ITA OSK Kawasaki 225 Points
9. Marc Pinyol ESP RFME Kawasaki 220 Points
10. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 209 Points
FIM Freestyle MX World Championship 2019
Ranking (after final contest)
1. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 120 Points
2. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 108 Points
3. Pat Bowden AUS MA Yamaha 74 Points
4. Adam Jones USA AMA Yamaha 68 Points
5. Filip Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 61 Points
6. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 53 Points
7. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Husqvarna 42 Points
8. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Suzuki 41 Points
9. Rob Adelberg AUS MA Yamaha 40 Points
10. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 38 Points
11. Leonardo Fini ITA PZM KTM 36 Points
12. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Husqvarna 35 Points
13. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 29 Points
14. Edgar Torronteras ESP RFME Yamaha 20 Points
15. Hitoshi Takahashi JAP MFR Yamaha 16 Points
16. Jeremy Rouanet FRA FFM Yamaha 12 Points
17. Fred Kyrillos BRA CBM Honda 12 Points
18. Mat Rebeaud SUI FMS Alta 7 Points
NIGHTof the JUMPs World Tour Champion 2019
Ranking (after final contest)
1. Luc Ackermann GER DMSB Husqvarna 140 Points
2. Maikel Melero ESP RFME KTM 108 Points
3. Pat Bowden AUS MA Yamaha 92 Points
4. Adam Jones USA AMA Yamaha 84 Points
5. Filip Podmol CZE ACCR Yamaha 71 Points
6. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 53 Points
7. Leonardo Fini ITA PZM KTM 48 Points
8. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 44 Points
9. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Husqvarna 44 Points
10. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 43 Points
11. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Husqvarna 42 Points
12. Javier Villegas CHL FMC Suzuki 41 Points
13. Rob Adelberg AUS MA Yamaha 40 Points
14. Edgar Torronteras ESP RFME Yamaha 20 Points
15. Hitoshi Takahashi JAP MFR Yamaha 16 Points
16. Jeremy Rouanet FRA FFM Yamaha 12 Points
17. Fred Kyrillos BRA CBM Honda 12 Points
18. Davide Rossi ITA OSK Kawasaki 8 Points
19. Marc Pinyol ESP RFME Kawasaki 7 Points
20. Mat Rebeaud SUI FMS Alta 7 Points
More info, photos and videos at www.NIGHToftheJUMPs.com.
NIGHT of the JUMPs Press-Office
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Oliver Franke
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