Metal Mulisha Athletes Rob Adelberg and Rookie Tom Robinson went up against the world’s best Freestyle Motocross riders at Red Bull X-Fighters Madrid 2016 this past weekend. Both Rob and Tom were in Group A Qualifier along with Levi Sherwood and Adam Jones. Metal Mulisha’s Tom Robinson would be the first to throw down and he did not disappoint with a flawless run and landing his first ever “Robinson Roll” to dirt in front of the sold out Madrid crowd, proving there is a ton more to come from this young talent! Adelberg would follow with another flawless run and secure himself into the quarterfinals, beating out Jones and Robinson. Adelberg would slate himself against World #1 Clinton Moore. Adelberg had a few uncharacteristic mistakes and would not move onto the semi-finals. Now the boys prep for Nitro Games in Salt Lake City, UT in 2 weeks.
In an epic three-way battle featuring the world’s best FMX riders, Thomas Pagès emerged victorious at the Red Bull X-Fighters event in Madrid for a record-breaking fourth consecutive year on Friday. The flying Frenchman sent the sold-out crowd of more than 20,000 at the Las Ventas bullring into a state of euphoria with a brilliant run against Clinton Moore and Josh Sheehan Australia in a gripping final. He filled his run with gravity-defying tricks of up to 15 meters high.
Moore, the 2015 World Tour champion, came in a close second after a flawless run in the final with his Bundy jump recorded to be 14 meters high by a new Intel high-tech device. Sheehan had to settle for third despite nailing his signature double back flip. Levi Sherwood (NZL) finished fourth on an unforgettable night at the FMX extravaganza in the Spanish capital. No other riders have won Madrid more than twice.
“That’s insane,” said Pagès, trying to catch his breath after dazzling the appreciative crowd on Friday with a stunning comeback following his lowly 11th place finish in Thursday’s Qualifying marred by a heavy crash. “I was really stressed coming here with the new tricks. But it all worked out. Madrid is the best place in the world for FMX. It’s incredible. What a place to be!”
Pagès won all five helmets from the judges in a clean sweep of the first three-way final in the history of the Red Bull X-Fighters, one of the many innovations added for the stop in Madrid. The 31-year-old Pagès, who won the World Tour in 2013, mastered his Bike Flip, his Special Flip, his new Front Flip Flair and the Volt – amazing tricks that only a few years ago would have been enough on their own to win an event.
“I’m very happy with my run,” said Moore. “It was definitely one one of my best runs ever. I’ve got a little more homework to do. Hopefully next time I’ll be even better prepared and do an even better run.”
Red Bull X-Fighters Madrid 2016 Result
1. Tom Pages (FRA)
2. Clinton Moore (AUS)
3. Josh Sheehan (AUS)
4. Levi Sherwood (NZL)
5. Maikel Melero (ESP)
6. Rob Adelberg (AUS)
7. Taka Higashino (JPN)
8. David Rinaldo (FRA)
9. Dany Torres (ESP)
10. Adam Jones (USA)
11. Tom Robinson (AUS)
12. Sebastian Westberg (FIN)