Pretoria - For the first time, the Red Bull X-Fighters are coming to South Africa and their chosen destination is the Union Buildings.
The X-Fighters is a freestyle motocross tour that attracts the world's best riders who do crazy tricks in stunning locations and the capital has been chosen as the final stop of their 2014 World Tour.
After the Women's Day event being held at the Union Buildings, the Red Bull team will move in and transform the grounds into a challenging track where the riders will compete against the backdrop of the iconic buildings from 1.30pm on 23 August.
Among those competing will be Nick de Wit (South Africa) and international superstars Thomas Pagès (France), Levi Sherwood (New Zealand), Josh Sheehan (Australia) and Dany Torres (Spain).
SHAOLIN BACKFLIP
Pagès performs the Special Flip which involves a complete rotation of the rider's body while flying detached from the bike. De Wit is a master of the Shaolin Backflip - "an upside-down-legs-between-the-arms-outstretched-in-front-of-the-bike type of thing," according to Red Bull. But it is Sherwood who has been unstoppable this year, winning back-to-back events.
De Wit - fondly known as 'Sick Nick' - is the only South African taking part and can expect the support of the crowd. He is the first rider from Africa to compete in the X-Fighters, having secured a wildcard entry. De Wit, who is from Muldersdrift, started competing in motocross at the age of 17 and in 2002, at the age of 20, won his first championship. In 2002 he moved to freestyle motocross where he dominated many events around the country.
NIGHT OF THE JUMP
From 2004 he started making a name for himself internationally - 2006 proved to be a successful year for De Wit as he competed in the Night of the Jump series in Europe, achieving fifth - his highest ranking to date.
De Wit gave the media a taste of what's to come at the media launch at the Union Buildings and said it was tough to be a Red Bull X-Fighter, as it required skills, technique and nerves of steel to do tricks on a moving bike. He said riders spent years perfecting the flips and other spectacular moves which leave the crowds gasping.
He posed next to the Nelson Mandela statue and showed off his KTM SX350 which weighs about 110kg. After that he demonstrated a few small tricks, due to the flat surface.
What is spectacular is when riders go full throttle up ramps from which they are launched into the air.
"Freestyle motocross is all about the tricks.” De Wit said. “If you do easier tricks you score lower points and if you do the difficult tricks you score big, so basically you have to come up with new impressive tricks to go all the way."
He admits to some nerves with the event in his home country, but was also pleased to be able to perform to a new audience and see them enjoy the sport. More than 15 000 spectators from around the country are expected to attend.
When asked what they can expect, organisers suggest expect the unexpected, but it is clearly an event not to be missed by those who love extreme sport, and children will have plenty of fun. Tickets are on sale, and a sell-out crowd is expected on the stands and in the hospitality areas.
Tickets can be bought from the X-Fighters website at R295 for unreserved standing, R545 for grandstand seats and R2450 for corporate hospitality.
We have five double grandstand tickets and 10 double standing tickets to be won.
Just SMS the word PTANEWS followed by REDBULL and your name to 43637. SMSes cost R1.50 and Ts and Cs apply. The line will close on Sunday 17 August and winners will be notified by phone. - Pretoria News