10 years ago in Hamburg, Germany, Hannes Ackermann took his first major win at NIGHT of the JUMPs against some of the world's best riders!
The following year, he would suffer a horrendous crash, broken back and take 9 years to get back to the point he can ride consistently at NOTJ.
This weekend, he'll be back in Hamburg and bringing the heat with some new tricks and lets see if he can snatch a win. But it's going to be tough to get past his younger brother and 3x World Champ, Luc Ackermann and 6 more riders ready to throw down!
Tune in for the latest preview with Clint Esposito and Steve Sommerfeld from the Two Wheels to Freedom YT
The competition will go down this Saturday night, tune into NIGHT of the JUMPs YouTube LiveStream 7:00pm local German time
UNofficial Track Walk - if you buy tickets and want the exclusive track walk with Steve, please message on Riders Lounge Podcast Instagram with proof of ticket and see you at 17:15 for the VIP walk!
FMX
Luc Ackermann (GER)
Davide Rossi (ITA)
Matej Cesak (CZE)
Mikolej Tempka (POL)
Hannes Ackermann (GER)
Marc Pinyol (ESP)
Brice Izzo (FRA)
Paul Manesse (FRA)
MTB/BMX/Scooter:
Alejandro Bonafe (ESP)
Lennox Zimmermann (GER)
Leon Binckebanck (GER)
Tom Pfeiffer (GER)
Lucas Huppert (SUI)
Dan Miler (CZE)
Enzo Dejesus (ESP)
Jimi Brandt (GER)
Maty Pekarek (CZE)
Petr Castka (CZE)
Pascal Kobl (GER)
This was a wild one! NIGHT of the JUMPs 3rd round of competition came to Budapest, Hungary for the very first time and the second best qualifier crashed out and nearly wiped our the reigning World Champion!
Davide Rossi got away with his Suicide No Hand Front Flip crash, and Luc Ackermann got away with not getting to smashed by a riderless YZ250 veering towards him.
Listen for the behind the scenes of how this latest round went down. From training, missing our rider manager, Rachael, all the tricks in the runs and how hard it is to try and keep riders together and ready to ride the show!
It's all happening in Budapest.
The results:
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) – 87 pts
2. Matej Cesak (CZE) – 72.5 pts
3. Libor Podmol (CZE) – 68.5 pts
4. Davide Rossi (ITA) – 67 pts
FMX Qualification Group 1
1. Davide Rossi (ITA) – 70 pts
2. Matej Cesak (CZE) – 65.5 pts
3. Dany Torres (ESP) – 50 pts
4. Marcin Lukaszczyk (POL) – 40.5 pts
FMX Qualification Group 2
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) – 82 pts
2. Libor Podmol (CZE) – 65 pts
3. Mikolaj Tempka (POL) – 48.5 pts
4. Hannes Ackermann (GER) – 43 pts
Best Whip Contest
1. Matej Cesak (CZE)
2. Marcin Lukaszczyk (POL)
Synchro Contest
1. Libor Podmol (CZE) & Matej Cesak (CZE)
2. Luc Ackermann (GER) & Hannes Ackermann (GER)MTB/BMX/Scooter Best Trick Final
1. Alejandro Bonafe (ESP)
2. Tom Pfeiffer (GER)
3. Petr Castka (CZE)
Did you guys know about this one? I didn't!
In 2018, as part of the Nitro Circus Live tours, the crew rolled into Paris and had one of the biggest competitions that never happened. As comps go, we think of X Games, X-Fighters, Night of the Jumps or even Nitro World Games.
But this time in 2018, with Tom Pages present on his home turf, Travis Pastrana and the crew set about creating one of the biggest comps that was really just for the Paris crowd on the night.
Until now, Clint Esposito and I have our grubby little hands on some epic footage thanks to John Mathews giving us a heads up. And it was pretty epic!
Bilko with the One-handed Nac 360, Tom casually throwing body varials and Travis landing his Double Backy 360 on pedal power.
Riders in:
Travis Pastrana
Blake Williams
Josh Sheehan
Tom Pages
Gregg Duffy
Adam Jones
Harry Bink
Jarryd McNeil
Beau BambergJaie Toohey
Ryan Williams
Beaver Fleming
Dusty Wygle
Jed Mildon
Todd Meyn
Matt Whyatt
Andy Buckworth
While I was driving on the German autobahn trying to figure out AI audio enhancements to make my recording sound better than listening to a guy talking into a phone microphone in an empty van full of road-noise... Luc Ackermann was Tsunami-Flipping from one semi-trailer to another truck, at speed, over a 9 metre high street sign.
There's a small difference in where our creativity ventured while driving on the autobahn, safe to say, Luc's a little more creative. And crazy!
Here's a little break-down of just what Luc did last week, and why it's an important part of the Freestyle MX game.
And something I'd love to see more of in the future. Maybe not sooooo close to death though.
What a battle! In 2015, X Games decided that FMX Best Trick was getting too gnarly, so they decided to tame things down and bring the Quarter Pipe Best Trick comp so hopefully no one would kill themselves live on ESPN.
But that didn't stop Tom Pages, Josh Sheehan, Levi Sherwood, Jey Rouanet, Davi Johnson and Cam Sinclair from sending it hard with probably more crashes than we've seen in a regular Best Trick competition!
I joined Clint Esposito on the Two Wheels to Freedom YT for a companion piece as we step back in time 10 years ago to when Quarter Pipe's were all the rage and some new innovation was coming thick and fast.
It takes a lot for anyone to come close to surprising Javier Villegas, the veteran FMX rider from Chile and former World Champion.
But Nico Ferreira came with the big tricks at the Brazilian FMX Championships now known as FMX na Roca with a Surfer take-off to Tsunami backflip over a Dirt Jump!!! And it was only like 65ft and mellow as hell on a step-down. How the hell did Nico get that done?
Either way, it was enough to narrowly take the win over Javier in Brazil!
Tune in to hear Steve Sommerfeld join Clint Esposito on the Two Wheels to Freedom YouTube companion video. If you'd like to watch it, you can go here: https://youtu.be/-UvJCcIxPz0?si=XNns7m8bg42DZIR1
Results from 2025:
Title history
NIGHT of the JUMPs 25th anniversary show was one to remember in Dresden, Germany! After the first ever show in Riesa in 2001 it is crazy to see NOTJ still here 25 years later and going strong!
Luc Ackermann has been the man to beat for the past 5 years and for round 2, 2025 Pat Bowden arrived to put some pressure on the local German on his home soil.
Highlights include:
Join Clint Esposito and I as we go through the Qualification and Finals before the next event coming in Budapest, Hungary on October 4th.
(Also, sorry on the background sound - sounds like it was echoing from our YouTube companion piece. It's quiet enough that you should hopefully forget about it)
Freestyle Motocross Final
1. Pat Bowden (AUS)288 Points
2. Luc Ackermann (GER)283 Points
3. Libor Podmol (CZE)263 Points
4. Matej Cesak (CZE)246 Points
Freestyle Motocross Qualifikationsgruppe 1
1. Pat Bowden (AUS)267 Points
2. Libor Podmol (CZE)249 Points
3. Marc Pinyol (ESP)242 Points
4. Mikolej Tempka (POL) 205 Points
Freestyle Motocross Qualifikationsgruppe 2
1. Luc Ackermann (GER)275 Points
2. Matej Cesak (CZE)235 Points
3. Hannes Ackermann (GER) 220 Points
4. Alex Bucholtz (AUS)153 Points
Whip Contest
1. Matej Cesak (CZE)
2. Pat Bowden (AUS)
Synchro Contest
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) & Hannes Ackermann (GER)
2. Libor Podmol (CZE) & Matej Cesak (CZE)
Best Trick MTB/BMX/Scooter Final
1. Alejandro Bonafe (ESP)
2. Lennox Zimmermann (GER)
How many times has Colby Raha come from behind to take the win on the final jump?
2025 Quarter Pipe was one of the best we've seen and the young gun Guillem Navas snuck up into second place over Corey Creed. Jason Borosky also had a huge improvement this year!
Join Steve Sommerfeld and Clint Esposito as they watch the full competition and review for X Games Quarter Pipe 2025.
X Games Best Whip was always going to be a nail-biter, especially in 2025 when X Games banned the Electric Bikes, so there was no Patrick Evans returning to defend his medal.
But Julien Vanstippen, Tom Parsons, Jarryd McNeil, Tyler Bereman and I'd say Wyatt Fontenot showed why it didn't matter!
Join Clint Esposito and Steve Sommerfeld for the full review of X Games Best Whip 2025
X Games has celebrated 30 years and this past weekend Rob Adelberg came away with the first Gold Medal with the brand new trick, a Front Flip Rowedova Stripper!
Adelberg has innovated 3 brand new Frontie tricks in the past few weeks with the Porti-Air and then Rowedova at X Games Japan.
Tom Richards debuted with the Inside Roll for his Silver medal!
Ben Richards brought the Special Flip with his own flair to take Bronze!
Join Clint Esposito and Steve Sommerfeld for the Review of X Games Best Trick from Salt Lake City 2025.
Results:
Quarter Pipe is one of the gnarliest competitions out there and for those who like racing with a definite winner - this is your category!
The highest jump wins. Simple
Rider Line-Up:
Unfortunately no Axell Hodges in this years line-up, but these riders here are some of the biggest senders. So I'm expecting this to be one of the hardest comps over the weekend!
Who is your favourite?
Join Clint Esposito and I on Part 3 of X Games preview for 2025
Join Part 2 of the Two Wheels to Freedom podcast with Clint Esposito where we discuss the X Games Best Whip competition coming up this weekend.
How crazy is this, X Games have banned the Stark Varg electric bike (and any other electric bikes if someone would bring a competitive model out)
So there is NO Patrick Evans - last years winner. Insane. Tom Parsons had to drop his Stark and get back on the 4 strokes.
Here's the Rider Line-up:
X Games 2025 is back and this year it's in Salt Lake City!
For the 30th year of X Games, it'll be a big celebration but before we get there let's check out who's in Moto Best Trick!
This will be an interesting Best Trick competition - but there are 4 big name riders missing who could easily be there!
But what about guys like:
Here we go! X Games Japan starts today, so this Preview is just in time.
Listen in with Clint Esposito and I going through the in's and out's of the first X Games of the year.
Only 5 riders on the list, so we can get through this fast.
Who's in?
Rob Adelberg
Jacko Strong
Benny Richards
Taka Higashino
Genki Watanabe (Wanky San!)
Who will win this one? And will we see something new?
My only guess will be Rob Adelberg training on his new Porti-Air Front Flip.
X Games Salt Lake City coming up next week, this will be interesting.
Join Clint Esposito and I as we preview the riders field for the upcoming Duelo de Motos which is back for another year in Brazil!
The Brazilian FMX Championships are still going, and it's great to see some new names on the list which surprised Clint and I as we were going through it.
I think the favourite will still be Javier Villegas, but Colby Gort isn't scared to send it. Especially on the different course design they have each year!
Who will take it out in 2025?
RIDERS LIST:
Brazilian LOCALS
Gilmar Flores, Joaninha
43 years old
Sinop–MT
Roberto Henrique Martins da Silva (Robertt Fire)
38 years old
Inocência-MS
Nicolas Ferreira
29 years old
Sinop-MT
Jonilson lima da Silva (Kiko Loko)
38 years old
Boa Vista (RO)
2020 Brazilian Champion
Shows in China/England/Ireland/Dubai/Russia/Scotland/Portugal
Pablo Ferreira
34 years old
Sinop-MT
Pedro Nougalli
30 years old
Bragança Paulista-SP
Maxwell Teixeira Machado
INTERNATIONALS
Colby Gort (USA)
Arizona (USA)
29 years old
Javier Villegas
Santiago (Chile)
40 years old
three-time champion
Join Clint Esposito and I as we review the first round of the World Championships at NIGHT of the JUMPs from last weekend!
In one of the best NOTJ's we've seen in a long time, Luc Ackermann came with something brand new! The real front flip over the Next Gen ramp!
But Mincha came with soooo many new Front Flip combos and banging style, it was like splitting hairs for the points overall.
Of course, the chat came down to one thing... the Front Flip.
What are your thoughts? Are we wrong?
It doesn't even matter that this is one week after the event. The Press Conference isn't a place to worry so much about the event, it's about still trying to do a podcast in the background without anyone knowing it!
Tune in with Riders Lounge Podcast & KING of the WHIP as we hosted the first KOTW Press Conference at World of Yamaha in Johannesburg, South Africa just before the 6th annual King of the Whip took place at Montecasino.
We had the locals of Dallan Goldman, Jesse Wright and Dalton Venter joining the international riders of Julien Vanstippen, Tom Parsons, Andreu Lacondeguy, Genki Watanabe, Antonio Navas and Pat Bowden to talk about FMX, KOTW and what gets them pumped to ride!
Join Steve as he interviews the newcomers to the final round of NIGHT of the JUMPs in Hannover on the weekend.
Especially with Squibby, Powley, Costela and Mincha who all had very last minute invites due to injuries and the birth of Melero's new baby.
What do they all think of the setup and how confident they feel coming into the competition!
Jamie Squibb
Francis Costela
Arran Powley
Jose Mincha
Jimi Brandt
Tobias Freigang
Alejandro Bonafe
Tom Pfeiffer
Final
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) 280 Points
2. Jose Mincha (ESP) 263 Points
3. Davide Rossi (ITA) 253 Points
4. Matej Cesak (CZE) 242 Points
Freestyle Motocross Qualification Group 1
1. Jose Mincha (ESP) 256 Points
2. Davide Rossi (ITA) 255 Points
3. Francis Costela (ESP) 241 Points
4. Arran Powley (GBR) 208 Points
Freestyle Motocross Qualification Group 2
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) 276 Points
2. Matej Cesak (CZE) 244 Points
3. Mikołaj Tempka (POL) 225 Points
4. Jamie Squibb (GBR) 215 Points
Whip Contest
1. Jamie Squibb (GBR)
2. Matej Cesak (CZE)
Synchro Contest
1. Francis Costela & Jose Mincha (ESP)
2. Arran Powley (GBR) & Mikolaj Tempka (POL)
MTB Best Trick
1. Alejandro Bonafe (ESP)
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Tune in with NIGHT of the JUMPs LiveStream host Steve Sommerfeld as he interviews the winners from the final round of the FMX World Tour in Hannover, Germany!
Final
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) 280 Points
2. Jose Mincha (ESP) 263 Points
3. Davide Rossi (ITA) 253 Points
4. Matej Cesak (CZE) 242 Points
Freestyle Motocross Qualification Group 1
1. Jose Mincha (ESP) 256 Points
2. Davide Rossi (ITA) 255 Points
3. Francis Costela (ESP) 241 Points
4. Arran Powley (GBR) 208 Points
Freestyle Motocross Qualification Group 2
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) 276 Points
2. Matej Cesak (CZE) 244 Points
3. Mikołaj Tempka (POL) 225 Points
4. Jamie Squibb (GBR) 215 Points
Whip Contest
1. Jamie Squibb (GBR)
2. Matej Cesak (CZE)
Synchro Contest
1. Francis Costela & Jose Mincha (ESP)
2. Arran Powley (GBR) & Mikolaj Tempka (POL)
MTB Best Trick
1. Alejandro Bonafe (ESP)
Tune in with Steve Sommerfeld as he interviews the winners from Round 5 of the World Tour at NIGHT of the JUMPs in Cologne, Germany!
Final
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) 280 Points
2. Davide Rossi (ITA) 263 Points
3. Brice Izzo (FRA) 229 Points
4. Paul Manesse (FRA) 215 Points
Freestyle Motocross Qualification Group 1
1. Brice Izzo (FRA) 249 Points
2. Paul Manesse (FRA) 214 Points
3. Matej Cesak (CZE) 212 Points
4. Mikołaj Tempka (POL) 211 Points
Freestyle Motocross Qualification Group 2
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) 280 Points
2. Davide Rossi (ITA) 266 Points
3. Leonardo Fini (ITA) 263 Points
4. Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP) 192 Points
Whip Contest
1. Davide Rossi (GER)
2. Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP)
Synchro Contest
1. Davide Rossi & Leonardo Fini (ITA)
2. Brice Izzo & Paul Manesse (FRA)
MTB Best Trick
1. Alejandro Bonafe (ESP)
NIGHT of the JUMPs World Tour Ranking 2024 (after five competitions)
1. Luc Ackermann (GER) 100 Points
2. Marc Pinyol (ESP) 66 Points
3. Davide Rossi (ITA) 64 Points
4. Matej Cesak (CZE) 58 Points
5. Mikolaj Tempka (POL) 44 Points
6. Leonardo Fini (ITA) 38 Points
7. Maikel Melero (ESP) 36 Points
8. Libor Podmol (CZE) 26 Points
9. Filip Podmol (CZE) 19 Points
10. Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP) 17 Points
11. Brice Izzo (FRA) 16 Points
12. Pepa Aaron (CZE) 15 Points
13. Paul Manesse (FRA) 14 Points
14. Harry Bink (AUS) 12 Points
15. Colby Gort (USA) 10 Points
16. Ronnie Showman (GER) 9 Points
