Red Bull X-Fighters Returns to Texas

April 14, 2009, 3:36pm

More than 40,000 watched credit: Rich van Every/Red Bull Photofiles

FORT WORTH, Texas – Red Bull X-Fighters, the world’s premier, most-progressive freestyle motocross series will return to the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas on Saturday, June 27. Last year more than 20,000 fans, plus an estimated 20,000 more outside the venue, witnessed as 12 snarling motorcycles temporarily replaced stampeding Texas Longhorns in the first-ever Red Bull X-Fighters stop in America. Swiss superstar Mat Rebeaud captured the Texas event with an exhilarating final run on his way to the overall series championship, and he looks to fend off the challenges of his traditional rivals and a young upstart to repeat his success in 2009.

NO BULL

The world’s best riders will take on the challenges of a massive, Texas-sized course, providing them with several ways to impress the judges and thrill the crowd in their runs. The winner will receive the trophy, garner the accolades and score 100 points towards the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour series championship.

In addition to Rebeaud, the 12-rider line-up includes series regulars Robbie Maddison (Australia), Dany Torres (Spain), Jeremy Stenberg (USA), Eigo Sato (Japan), Thomas Pagès (France), Andre Villa (Norway) and 17-year-old Kiwi wunderkind, and winner of the Mexico City stop, Levi Sherwood. The final four riders will be named as the event draws closer.

Andre Villa credit: Christian Pondella/Red Bull Photofiles

FREQUENT FLIERS

The Fort Worth stop is the third of five international Red Bull X-Fighters events in 2009, starting with the traditional kick-off at the 45,000-seat Monumental Plaza de Toros in Mexico City. Calgary hosts Canada’s first Red Bull X-Fighters on May 30 at the Calgary Stampede, followed by Texas. The Las Ventas bullring in Madrid will enjoy its eighth-consecutive year with a stop on July 16-17, and the series wraps up with a visit to London on August 22.

Red Bull X-Fighters was created in 2001, debuting in Valencia, Spain at the bullring where the legendary ‘Mad’ Mike Jones claimed victory. Since that historic night, Red Bull X-Fighters events have taken place in the world’s most iconic locations, including the famous bullrings in Madrid and Mexico City, Slane Castle in Ireland, the Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro, a massive stone quarry in Wuppertal, Germany and the Stadion X-Lecia in Warsaw, Poland.

Tickets will go on sale to the public in May, with further information coming shortly.