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Cape Town - In less than a month’s time the world’s top freestyle motocross riders will take to the skies in front of the iconic Union Buildings for the final stop on the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour.
Buy your tickets today!
Over the last decade, the progression of freestyle motocross tricks have been out of control. And no venue has been more conducive to the evolution of FMX than Red Bull X-Fighters. South Africa’s top FMX rider Nick de Wit will be in Pretoria flying the home colours.
Here ‘Sick Nick’ takes us through some of the most extreme tricks likely to go down on the day.
1. Rock Solid Backflip
If there’s one rule everyone learns about backflips and motorcycles on day one is don’t do it. If there’s a second rule, it’s don’t let go of the bike. Japanese FMX legend Taka Higashino ignores both with his Rock Solid Backflip. During the flip he grabs onto and then releases his hands from the seat for a fraction of a second.
WATCH: X-Fighters Tricktionary Episode 1
2. Shaolin Flip
The Shaolin is a legs-between-the-arms trick that’s been standard in the FMX rider’s arsenal for years. Back in 2001, the Shaolin actually won X Games Best Trick. That’s when it was performed upright. Now, riders like Levi Sherwood are mixing them in with a backflip.
WATCH: The Shaolin Backflip explained
3. The Special Flip
The Special Flip was invented by Travis Pastrana’s insane cousin, ‘Special Greg’, but it was brought to moto by the king of X-Fighters, Tom Pagès. It is not a backflip variation, but instead involves a complete rotation of the rider's body while flying detached from the bike.
WATCH: A trick they call special
4. The Bike Flip
The Bike Flip, developed by Tom Pagès is exactly what it says - a full rotation of the 100kg-plus motorcycle while the rider is flying detached from it. When Pagès landed his spectacular Bike Flip at Red Bull X-Fighters Madrid - the first time the trick had ever been performed in competition - it took freestyle motocross to the next level.
WATCH: X-Fighters Tricktionary Episode 4
Red Bull X-Fighters, Pretoria takes place on Saturday, August 23. Tickets are available through Computicket
Play the X-Fighters Trivia game to stand a chance of winning a Red Bull Experience at the event.
