Freestyle World Championships in Cologne

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Freestyle World Championships in Cologne
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Freestyle World Championships in Cologne

Sport: Night of the Jumps in Cologne
Apollo Cologne

Good mood – thanks to a manned free flight program: When the freestyle motocrossers take off towards the hall ceiling at the Night of the Jumps, even the most melancholy contemporaries get really excited.

Markus Jahn

09/10/2014

The Night of the Jumps events all have a tight schedule. This Saturday night break is no exception. Next door, INTERMOT is still running at the Cologne Exhibition Center, while the hall doors in the Lanxess Arena will open at 5.30 p.m. on the dot. Then it is time for the visitors to quickly find their bearings in order to make their way to the so-called pit party without further ado. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., clearly regulated, secured by security, it takes place in the catacombs of the hall. Loud, full, casual.

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Sport: Night of the Jumps in Cologne
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A jam-packed paddock, and in this one hour there is up-close action for the public. The drivers mostly slouch on their mopeds and patiently do their job. The “Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger”, photographers, reporters, “something with the media”, even the venerable, long-serving WDR plowed its way in close combat with company strength. Between all the autograph requests, interviews and silicone-wrapped advertising girls, you discover a fascinating form of generational understanding in absolute diversity: for example, the typical father-son shared fun in freestyle motocross.

No other motor sport attracts more younger fans than freestyle

“Eric, Eric, stand over there quickly, I’ll take a picture, that’s a German driver!” In a few cases, mom is still there and directs, for couples without children he quietly explains the freestyle world to her while the girls go straight to the drivers without a partner. But no matter who drives whom or what, where, everyone is enthusiastic – and usually wants to convey that to someone. After just one hour, the smartphones in the hall are guaranteed to have hardly any battery life. But, hush, hush, the schedule is pressing – it’s going on in the ranks.

Buuummmm. A hammer blast marks the end of the opening show. Anyone who has ever been there knows this number after music, fire and smoke – and covers their ears in good time. From now on, newcomers will know what the hour has come. The Nights of the Jumps (NotJ) always work the same – and always work well. Even the hair of moderator Sven Schreiber and his team is a distinguishing feature: sloping and raised. No matter if 2008 or 2014.

The engines rattle, the hairdo is right. No joke, they have already caught the hairspray sponsor and incorporated them. But business acumen doesn’t have to be a disadvantage. In spite of, or perhaps precisely because of, the constant buzz of advertising, the visitor gets a lot on offer. In any case, the audience doesn’t seem to mind. In general, no other motor sport attracts more younger fans than freestyle. And it fertilizes the slightly graying two-wheeler scene in general and wonderfully. The motorsport men from the FIM with their official shirts also noticed this early on and given the wild freestyle and the NotJ series official World Championship status since 2006. Contrary to all fears, it did not harm the sport in the least. The level of trickery is constantly increasing, the boys are more fit than ever. Only the good old party heroes without title lust stayed behind on the jump ramp. Occasional acrobats have to go to village festivals. At the very top, only the professionals are left. Do you remember the former German guard Fabian Bauersachs, Lukas Weis and Busty Wolter? Bauersachs is now on the jury and evaluates, Lukas Weis drinks beer from the bottle in the photographer’s pit and Busty Wolter explains the sport: “The Night of the Jumps is something like Harvard University in our sport. You practice and practice, although the riders could jump blindly with the same distances and structures. But here in the halls you get the precision and security to insist on the biggest outdoor events as a professional and earn real money. With Kai Haase as well as Hannes and Luc Ackermann, the next talented generation is already on the launch pad. Now you just have to prove it. “

Stunt and freestyle videos on MOTORRADONLINE.TV

Freestyle is like eating nougat: the first bites are terrific

80 seconds for seven jumps plus a double-counted bonus hop, the boys remain in the qualification to show the jury what you can do. Whoever flies out here can take a shower straight away, because only six drivers make it to the final. Kai Haase wants to be the first to know and presents a new generation of tricks as a bonus jump. It detaches itself from the motorcycle in the air and then rotates completely on its own axis. He’s almost there, but not quite, and hurts himself a little too. The strict judges are relentless today and award more points for safety and cleanliness of the jumps. This also applies to Luc Ackermann. Brother Hannes makes it to the final, but has to let the big boys go.

Holterdipolter ends the show after five hours. The Spaniard Maikel Melero is allowed to stand on the podium in front of the Australian Rob Adelberg. The Frenchman David Rinaldo complains in third place about the arbitration board and the scoring. There is still sparkling wine for everyone. But in the back of the audience there is also murmuring: An East Westphalian who has just picked up a fresh beer would be ready for significantly more freestyle. Well, freestyle is like eating nougat: the first bites are terrific – but what is the truism? Stop when it’s best.

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