The 2016 FIM Freestyle MX World Championship kicked off with two huge nights of action in the city of Basel, Switzerland over the weekend.
Australian’s Rob Adelberg and Pat Bowden were two riders amongst a stacked field of some of the world’s most talented FMX athletes from six different nations all putting it on the line for valuable championship points.
Reigning world champion, Maikel Melero launched his 2016 campaign by qualifying first on the Saturday night and would progress through to the final where he faced off with French rider David Rinaldo. Melero pulled out the California Roll, then the Double Grab Flip, Ruler Flip over the Super-Kicker and finished it all off with the Nac-Nac Flair on the quarter pipe and took the win.
Adelberg put in an impressive run in his final and would finish in fourth position. But it was fellow Aussie Pat Bowden who would leave a lasting impression, taking first place in the best whip contest.
On the Sunday it was defending Champion Maikel Melero who again put on show of absolute dominance, qualifying first and taking the win in the final over French rider Remi Bizouard.
Adelberg again qualified strong and improved on his result, finishing third on the night an now sits in fourth in the point standings. Bowden would go on to back-up his best whip win the night before with another clear victory on the Sunday night and is ninth overall.
