Hardcore Freestyle Motocross goes off in Finland

Team USA Wins and Ties Team Point Standings
 
AURORA, Ill. (May 15, 2006) – Team USA was victorious Saturday evening at the second of three stops on the Hardcore Freestyle Motocross tour at Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland. The win tied the team standings for the series with one event left. Fans can follow television coverage of the Hardcore Freestyle Motocross exclusively on Eurosport, Europe’s leading sports media platform, in one-hour programs of the energy-packed events.
 
In the Team Europe vs. Team USA format, it was USA’s Beau Bamburg that out-performed Team Europe and guided the Americans to victory in front of the packed Hartwall Areena crowd. However, the event did not unfold without some amazing drama.
 
Heading into the event, Team Europe led Team USA by one win. Team USA had their backs to the wall and competed without two of their top riders, Mike Mason and Dustin Miller, while Derek Berlew rode with an injured knee. Mason, who swept all three individual competitions at the opening event of the series in Antwerp, Belgium, also led the individual point standings. Stepping into these vacated spots of the American team were 2006 IFMA Freestyle Motocross champion Beau Bamburg and Suzuki freestyle team rider Jeff Banks.
 
Before the enthusiastic crowd at Hartwall Areena, Bamburg won all three categories – the whip, freestyle run and the doubles contest – and threw down several back flip combinations. A few of the big tricks were a back flip-nac, whip-flip, back flip-heel clicker and a McMetz to put Team USA ahead 235-230 on Saturday.
 
“These riders are amazing,” said Magnus Danielsson, senior director of European events, Live Nation. “It's always great to come to Finland. The fans here love live motorsports events. Finland's own FMX superstar, Jussi Seljas, had an impressive performance in the whip contest and almost earned the win for Team Europe.
 
“With only one stop left on the hardcore tour, we couldn't have asked for a better plot for the final round. With the US team winning the main event in Helsinki, the series is tied going into the final event. This weekend in Zürich at the Hallenstadion AG, we will crown the champion.”
 
With Mason out of the event, Team Europe’s Frankilin moved into the individual points lead. Frankilin holds down a 20-point lead. However, on his last jump, he injured his knee and will miss the final event. The drama going into the final match-up in Zurich is the most intense the tour has seen.
 
Hardcore Freestyle Motocross has given European fans the chance to witness the American pioneers of the sport take on the new European rebels in a Team Europe vs. Team USA format. Live Nation, the promoter and producer of the world’s largest, longest running and most famous freestyle motocross tour on the planet, brings its new Hardcore Freestyle Motocross Tour, featuring with the world’s top riders, to its final stop at Zurich’s Hallenstadion AG May 19&20.
 
Team Standings:
Team Europe:                 2 Wins
Team USA:                     2 Wins
 
Individual Standings:
1. Nick Frankilin              186pts
2. Jake Windham           166pts
3. Jeff Fehr                     159pts
4. Derek Burlew             154pts
5. Nick de Wit                 153pts
6. Mike Mason                150pts
7. Busty Wolter              150pts
8. Jimmy Verburgh         144pts
9. Dustin Miller                135pts
10. Chris Burch              133pts
11. Beau Bamburg          50pts
12. Jeff Banks                 32pts
13. Jussi Seljas              31pts
 
Hardcore Freestyle Motocross delivers the best riders from the U.S. and Europe in a competition that has never been seen before. Modelled after the celebrated U.S. tour, the Hardcore Freestyle Motocross tour pits five elite U.S. competitors against five elite European competitors in a gravity-defying duel for supremacy.
 
Fans will be able to get up-close and personal with the world’s top freestyle motocross riders during the pit party, which will take place on Friday and Saturday at Zurich’s Hallenstadion AG.
 
Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketcorner.ch or by phone at +41 900 800 800. Look for more important announcements regarding the 2006 Hardcore Freestyle Motocross at www.hardcorefmx.com. Please direct all inquiries to Magnus Danielsson.