FUEL TV to Air Red Bull-Fighters Australia

LOS ANGELES - FUEL TV will telecast the Red Bull X-Fighters Australia on Sunday, September 18 at 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT in a spectacular two-hour championship showdown. The world’s elite riders will be performing their tricks on Cockatoo Island – the largest island in Sydney Harbour – in the battle for the most prestigious freestyle motocross title of this generation. Nate Adams (USA) and Dany Torres (ESP) both have golden opportunities to win the 2011 title at Cockatoo Island, a former imperial prison, industrial school and reformatory, in Sydney Harbour.

Defending champion Adams has already won three rounds in 2011 (Brazil, Italy and Poland) while Torres has claimed two victories this year – in Dubai and Spain. “Obviously I’m going to try to use the chances I have to win the title,” Torres said before departing for Australia. “But Nate naturally has the advantage going into the finale.”

Adams, who is leaving nothing to chance, has dominated his rivals at times this year with his awe-inspiring tricks and solid performances. But he’s expecting a tough battle in Sydney. “I’ve worked hard during the break,” he said. “First I’d like to win every event. Then we can talk about it later.”

Australia’s Robbie Maddison is a national hero in his homeland, and has been before acquiring worldwide fame with his spectacular New Year's Eve jumps as well as leaps over the Corinth Canal in Greece and the Tower Bridge in London. “Cockatoo Island will be a real highlight for all the fans and athletes,” he said. “I want to be up there at the top.”

New Zealand's Levi Sherwood, one of the brightest young stars in the sport, will be making his comeback in Sydney after missing most of the 2011 season due to injuries. Also returning from the injured list will be Australia's Josh Sheehan, who got back-to-back podiums this year in Italy and Madrid with consecutive third place finishes. Reflecting the sport's popularity in Australia, the field in Sydney will be packed with four Aussies, including Rob Adelberg and Cam Sinclair along with Maddison and Sheehan.

At the Red Bull X-Fighters an international jury is used to judge the performances of the heat-to-heat duels. Every run through the course has a different time limit – with 90 seconds for the quarter finals, 75 seconds for the semifinals and 120 seconds in the finals. The judging in five categories decides between the winners and the also-rans. In 2011, there have been Red Bull X-Fighters competitions in Dubai, Brasilia, Rome, Madrid and Poznan (Poland).

Current overall standings (after 5 of 6 rounds): 1. Nate Adams (365 points), 2. Dany Torres (325 points), 3. Andre Villa (270 points), 4. Blake Williams (215 points), 5. Eigo Sato (180 points), 6. Robbie Maddison (160 points)

Starting list for Sydney: Josh Sheehan (AUS), Robbie Maddison (AUS), Levi Sherwood (NZL), Rob Adelberg (AUS), Adam Jones (USA), Dany Torres (ESP), Todd Potter (USA), Mike Mason (USA) , Eigo Sato (JPN), Cam Sinclair (AUS), Nate Adams (USA), Maikel Melero (ESP)

Make sure to catch the final stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour on FUEL TV Sunday, September 18 at 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT. For more information or TV listings, go to www.fuel.tv

For more information, please visit www.redbullxfighters.com.
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