The Red Bull X-Fighters will make its first-ever stop in Turkey with its third stop of the $1 million six-event 2012 World Tour. American Todd Potter and New Zealand’s Levi Sherwood will be battling for the World Tour lead. In Istanbul Red Bull X-Fighters will move to a new location, the Kazliçesme Square on the shores of the Marmara Sea next to the ancient walls of the Yedikule Dungeons.
Since 2001 Red Bull X-Fighters has been staged at some of the most iconic landmarks around the world, such as Red Square in Moscow (Russia) and the Pyramids in Cairo (Egypt). However, the Turkish authorities had revoked permission to hold the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour at the Yedikule Dungeons in Istanbul as originally planed.
With respect to their decision, Red Bull X-Fighters will therefore move to a new location, the Kazliçesme Square on the shores of the Marmara Sea next to the ancient walls of the Yedikule Dungeons in old Istanbul. A even bigger course is being build for the first-ever stop in Turkey to attract more enthusiastic Fans.
Breathtaking jumps on motorcycles flying across bullfighting rings, gravity-defying acrobatics in front of frenzied crowds and some of the most exciting bare-knuckle rivalries anywhere in the world of sports will once again be the essential ingredients of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour.
The Red Bull X-Fighters marked their arrival in the city on the Bosporus with an improbable set jumps in front of the Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque. Back in action on the tour after a long recuperation phase is Mat Rebeaud of Switzerland.
ISTANBUL (Turkey) – The historic square between the world famous Hagia Sophia and Istanbul’s Blue Mosque was the location for a series of breathtaking demonstration jumps ahead of the third stop of the $1 million Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour in 2012. Nick Franklin from New Zealand and Mat Rebeaud from Switzerland went all out to put on a spectacular show for the local audience.
Rebeaud, who was the 2008 World Tour winner and took top honors at five tour stops in his career, is back in action after sitting out last season due to injury.
Rebeaud is seen as having only an outside chance to get on the podium in Istanbul because a tight three-way battle at the top has emerged this season. Leading the standings is Todd Potter (USA), who handily won the second stop of the season in Glen Helen (USA) last month, while the Dominator from Dubai, Levi Sherwood (NZL), is in second after opening the season with a victory in Dubai. Last year’s overall winner Dany Torres (ESP) also figures to be battling those two for the win in Istanbul.
The venue for Saturday’s showdown of the world’s best freestyle motocross riders will be the Kazliçesme Square at the base of the ancient Yedikule Fortress directly on the banks of the Sea of Marmara.
for more info about this event check www.redbullxfighters.com
