When it comes to the international freestyle motocross scene, the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas arena in the heart of the Spanish capital Madrid already has legendary status – after all, the insane Madrid fans with their traditional red handkerchiefs have played host to some of the finest FMX riders in the history of the sport over the years. Yet whenever the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour prepares to return to Las Ventas it is not to celebrate the achievements of the past, but to look to firmly the future, for it is in Madrid that new tricks are created, fledgling FMX talents are discovered and Red Bull X-Fighters history is written.
The first ever stop in the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas was won in 2002 by local hero Edgar “E.T.” Torronteras, ahead of the American duo of Mike Jones and Mike Metzger. However, just one year later another rider from the USA, Kenny Bartram, took top spot to claim an Iberian double victory after his win in Valencia earlier in the year to crown himself the King of Spain! The following year 2004 saw the start of an unprecedented domination of the sport by one man: Travis Pastrana won three out of four events in Las Ventas in 2004, 2006 and 2007, with only the reigning Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Champion 2009, Nate Adams (USA), able to break his incredible winning streak in 2005. In 2008, Switzerland’s Mat Rebeaud swept all before him on the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour, winning his third event of four in Madrid just weeks before sealing victory in the overall standings in Germany with one event still to go. Finally, last year the event came full circle with a spectacular win for local hero and fans’ favourite Dany Torres (ESP), with the Spaniard once again using the insane crowd support to soar through the sky and defeat the eventual 2009 World Tour Champion Nate Adams and multi-world record Robbie Maddison (AUS) in front of his home fans.
So, one question remains: who will claim victory in the famous arena in 2010 and write his very own chapter of Red Bull X-Fighters history? After three of the six stops in the 2010 season, it is very much all to play for in the overall standings: following his win at the season opener in Mexico City, Andrè Villa (NOR) will be looking to extend his lead over Nate Adams, but both Adam Jones (USA) and Levi Sherwood (NZE) already have wins to their names on the World Tour 2010 and will be looking to finally topple Villa from the top of the table at the most famous arena of them all. Or can Dany Torres once again draw on the energy of his home fans to complete back-to-back wins in Madrid and round off an incredible comeback after surgery on his wrist earlier in the year? One thing is for sure: with their red handkerchiefs and whining chainsaws, the 25,000 insane Spanish fans packed into the arena will create an atmosphere like no other on the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010.