Red Bull X-Fighters return to Osaka, Japan this weekend following a enthralling opening round in Mexico City two months ago.
Japan’s Taka Higashino will be looking to repeat his win of 2013 when the X-Figthers World Tour stopped off in Osaka for the first time. He will have his work cut out though as New Zealand’s Levi Sherwood comes off the back of a win in Mexico.
Defending champion Thomas Pagès of France will also be looking to get his title hopes back on track after finishing a disappointing fifth place in the opening round.
Five up-and-coming riders from Japan will do battle in the Wildcard Qualifying round on Saturday the hopes of making it through in to the main event on Sunday. Daice Daisuke, Bupper Shinichi, Gonta “little Daice” Suzuki, Kuimura Kota and Watanabe Genki will be trying to earn a spot in the final round. They are the same five riders who delighted the Osaka crowd a year ago in the National Qualifier.
The FMX riders will be taking on challenges of 30 metre jumps and reaching heights of 15 metres from the ground as they look to pull off the most audacious tricks in front of the expecting crowd.
With the FMX profile rising in Eastern Asia the locals will be looking forward to a battle between former champions Dany Torres (2011), Sherwood (2012) and Pagès (2013).
While Sherwood is currently in form, Pagès will be looking to add to his two wins in 2013 and get his championship winning form back on track after being knocked out in the quarter-finals by American rider Adam Jones.
Pagès definately has something big in store this weekend, check out this video he’s posted…
2014 World Tour Standings
1. Levi Sherwood (NZL) 100 points
2. Josh Sheehan (AUS) 80
3. Dany Torres (ESP) 65
4. Adam Jones (USA) 55
5. Thomas Pagès (FRA) 45
6. Rob Adelberg (AUS) 35
7. Javier Villegas (CHI) 30
8. Maikel Melero (ESP) 25
9. Libor Podmol (CZE) 20
10. Remi Bizouard (FRA) 15
