Podmol, Bizouard and Melero at the Night of the Jumps in Turin

The FIM Freestyle MX 2012 championship kicked off with its first stop in Turin, where fans got to enjoy big thrills with some of the best riders, including Maikel Melero and José Miralles. Twelve riders from seven different countries gathered yesterday on the Italian track for this first round of the calendar at the Palasport Olimpico.

The winner of this first night of excitement was Libor Podmol, followed by another champion, Remi Bizouard, and one of our own, the young Maikel Melero, who continues to amaze at every stage of the Night of Jumps. While three Italian riders tried to compete, their efforts were not enough to reach the final round in a competition of this calibre.

The six riders who made it through to the final with their jumps were David Rinaldo (FRA), Brice Izzo (FRA), Clinton Moore (AUS), Maikel Melero (ESP), Remi Bizouard (FRA) and Libor Podmol (CZE). Bad luck last night for defending champion Javier Villegas, the Chilean suffered a crash on the double jump and hit the ground, and was quickly taken to hospital. Bad luck too for José Miralles, who had problems with his machine and could do little in Turin, but he will fight in the next round.

The rest of the finalists gave their all on every jump. Moore lost his position at the last moment despite a spectacular 360 and a Volt, while Rinaldo could not hold on to his second place in the standings, despite executing a Deadsailor flip. Izzo, for his part, tried everything, but is not yet ready to break into the top 3 of this category. Meanwhile, the one who managed to fly like a champion is Melero, who finished 3rd with his usual style, leaving no one indifferent and pushing to the limit.

Although the battle was at the top between Bizouard and Podmol, and with Villegas out, both had everything to play for. In the end, the Czech crowned himself with a spectacular series, but by just 2 points over the Frenchman, so it was close right to the very last moment.

The standings may change today, but for now Podmol leads with 20 points, Bizouard is 2nd and Melero 3rd.

Results day 2/3/2012