Swiss FMX rider Mat Rebeaud could be forgiven for not listing London amongst his favourite cities after a crash at last year's Red Bull X-Fighters, but he's back this year and hoping for better fortune.
The 28-year-old California-based star came back to form in the previous Red Bull X-Fighters round in Madrid and is determined to erase the memories of 2009 this weekend. We spoke to Mat after his first practice session at Battersea Power Station...
You had a big crash here last year. Tell us about that?
Yes, it wasn’t my fault. I got a flat tyre on the run and that’s bad luck, but hopefully the luck will be with me this year and I hope to ride a big competition this weekend.
What's it like to ride at Battersea Power Station?
It’s an amazing location here at Battersea. It’s really cool for the fans and to ride here in this special place is a pleasure.
You've just been out on the course for the first time. What's it like out there?
It’s a very big, technical course and I think that will help the judge to separate the riders because the harder the track is the more you can see the difference between each rider. I think you need to concentrate hard on this course to make no mistakes and to have a good run.
What tricks have you got lined up for us?
That’s top secret. You’ll have to wait until the competition!
Fair enough. How important is it though to keep coming up with new tricks?
It’s very important to keep bringing in new elements to your run, because the judges love that. They tend to give you a better score if you come with new tricks because that’s what freestyle motocross is all about, to bring new moves, new tricks and just something different.
What sort of skills do you need to be a top FMX rider?
In freestyle motocross there are many different aspects. You need to be a showman because of the crowd and you need to be very technical on the bike and do big tricks, big extensions. That’s what makes the sport special and that’s why I like it.
Tell us why people should come and see Red Bull X-Fighters this weekend.
Because it’s the biggest freestyle motocross show in the world and you have all the best riders and an amazing venue here. It’s the biggest track of the series and you need to come and feel the energy, atmosphere, the smell of the bikes, the noise and it makes it all really cool.
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