Dubai, 15 April 2011– In front of 15000 spectators, Danny Torres (ESP) won the opening round of “Red Bull X-Fighters” hosted by Dubai under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, in a spectacular night where the Gulf sandy beaches embraced modern architecture, enthusiastic crowds and raging engines.
For the first time in Red Bull X-Fighters 10-year history, the Asian continent hosts the 2011 season opener in Dubai on April 15 at the backdrop of Jumeirah Beach Residence with the support of “du Live!” Torres won after a fierce final battle against Andre Villa where both riders performed breathtaking tricks. It was hard for the judges to take the decision with the variety and difficulty of the tricks performed at the final run, which included challenging and adventurous back flips, indy flips, under-flips-no-hand…etc.
Torres and Villa won over Nate Adams and Blake Williams qualifying to the final run. However, dual battles started in the final four after the first round where Torres and Adam Jones joined the six riders who qualified directly during Qualifying day. Torres expressed his thrill “mainly in this exciting atmosphere at the season opener in Dubai”. “This is only a start in this long championship and against bold and skilled competitors” he added.
Five judges and a head judge issued the results based on five criteria: Variety, Challenge & Execution, Style, Use of the Course and Spectator Reaction. At the end, winners received their trophies with cheers raising high in the sky of Dubai. The spectacular evening will be eternally engraved in the mind of thousands of adventure and challenge fans that gathered at the Jumeirah Beach Residence.
After Dubai the X-Fighters will move on to South America; the Red Bull X-Fighters will be jumping in the Brazilian capital Brasilia for the first time, on the “Streets of the Ministries” (28 May). There will also be stadium events in an intimate atmosphere in Europe in Rome (25 June), Madrid (16 July) and in the new European soccer championship stadium in Warsaw (7 August). The final showdown will take place on the “fifth continent” in Australia (18 September).
Red Bull X-Fighters 2011 in Dubai is supported by du, and as part of its newly launched entertainment platform ‘du Live!’ which brings to the UAE the best events in a ‘live’ format throughout the year.
The event is with the cooperation of Audi, Swatch, The Walk and the Dubai Sports Council, as well as with the collaboration of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Final results of Red Bull X-Fighters 2011 season opener, Dubai
1. Danny Torres Spain 100 points
2. Ander Villa Norway 80 points
3. Nate Adams USA 65 points
3. Blake Williams Australia 55 points
4. Levi Sherwood Newzealand 45 points
5. Eigo Sato Japan 35 points
6. Robbie Madison Australia 30 points
8. Adam Jones USA 25 points
9. Takayoki Higashino Japan 20 points
10. Robbie Edelberg Australia 15 points
11. Lance Coury USA 10 points
12. Jackson Strong Australia 5 points
Remaining rounds of the World Tour
Brasilia Brazil 20 May
Rome Italy 24 June
Madrid Spain 17 July
Warsaw Poland 6 August
Sidney Australia 17 September
