Daredevils of freestyle motocross
Hail the daredevils of freestyle motocross Yaroslav Debelyi

Daredevils of freestyle motocross

September 24, 2008 at 21:33 | Iryna Prymachyk
Twenty-meter-high jumps, back somersaults, flips and spins on motorcycles are only some of breathtaking tricks that could be seen at the International Red Bull X-fighters tour in freestyle motocross, which took place in Kyiv on Sept. 18-19.

Freestyle motocross (FMX) is one of the most dangerous, dramatic and – fans would say – spectacular sports. Derived in the 1990s from traditional motocross racing, today FMX is an extreme and competitive sport, thrilling both high-flying participant and shocked, but delighted, spectators. Artistic combinations of moto-freestyle and traditional bullfighting elements make each competition unique. “If the jump is well-done you will surely hear over 42,000 people applauding to you and you feel like Ozzie Ozborne on the Wembley stadium,” said participant Ronnie Renner. In the mid-90s, some professional bikers decided to change motocross racing into freestyle jumps combined with various acrobatic feats, including a loop on the motorbikes. In 2001, the first such competition called Red Bull X-Fighters took place in Valencia, Spain, the historical motherland of passionate bullfighting. Red Bull X-Fighters immediately became cult-competitions and in 2007 were turned into worldwide international competition series. Those who want to follow the tour sites can log on to http://www.redbullxfighters.com. Participants from all over the world including England, Belgium, New Zealand and South Africa are taking part.

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