Motorcycle Stunt Riding World Cup hat trick!
Indoor Stunt Riding World Champion title number three for Chris Pfeiffer
For the third consecutive year, Chris Pfeiffer on his BMW F 800 R claimed the Indoor World Cup, which was decided at the the Swiss-Moto Exhibition in Zurich. In second and third places, two Hungarians: Balasz HERZCEG and Zoltan Angyal.
In the absence of a recognized regular outdoor World Stunt Riding event, all eyes and ears were at the Indoor World Championships in Zurich, on Sunday, 22 February 2009. Thousands of visitors gathered to see stunt riders from all over the world.
Toilet instead of Motorcycle - journey with flu
The reigning double world champion and title defender Chris Pfeiffer (Halblech, Allgäu, GER) was favourite again, but a debilitating flu made the first day of training agony: he spent more time on the toilet than on his motorcycle! At that time, even for him to participate was in question. As the training showed, the competition from Europe and overseas had really increased/improved, so an easy title defence for Pfeiffer was in doubt.
"Only" Third in the first qualification run
The first sign of this negative trend was in the first qualifying race on Saturday, in which Pfeiffer only achieved third place. "I had to use a few hot tricks from my repertoire, because I just wasn’t feeling fit enough," says the professional motorcyclist, "and this was sufficient to keep the leadership within reach [I think!]."
Schwyzer Schoggiland as legal doping
After a large slab of original Swiss chocolate as a homeopathic remedy, Pfeiffer was then in the second run of Saturday's qualification. The oldest (most experienced?) rider, he scored victory with maximum daily scores from the judges. On aggregate, he was level with the leaders overall before Sunday’s finals. The historical order had been restored.
Crash in the semi-finals
As the last of the 16 semi-finalists, Pfeiffer entered the 50 x 15m wide Action Area, coated with 70 tonnes of the finest asphalt especially for this event, ready to show his tricks. About half-way through, he crashed doing a one-handed wheelie, which he himself invented, the “Touch-Ground Circle”. He was able to complete his course, all other elements were fine, but marks were deducted and he was slightly unnerved (I think) “Apparently the turn in the circle wheelie was too dynamic, with more than 45 degree angle, the rear wheel started to [stall?], I lost grip and fell. It broke part of the bike [something to do with foot rests], which gave me difficulties during the rest of the course.”
Unleashed in the final
With fire in his belly and the certainty that he’d already had enough bad luck, Pfeiffer went into the final. Supported by his fans, family and in front of thousands of spectators, he was one of the ten best riders to have reached the final.
He showed one trick after another, fluid, dynamic and as solid as a Swiss clock. The five judges gave him the day’s best score, and therefore, for the third consecutive time, he became indoor world champion for stunt riding.
"I was quiet before the finals started and just happy that I had the chance to do it all again. The mood here at the Swiss-Moto was amazing, so I just went for it. When I stopped my BMW F 800 R and waited for the scoring, I knew already that this would be enough. When I saw the confirmation of the judges, I was overjoyed. Under these conditions, it was certainly my toughest of all three World Cup titles, so I enjoyed it all the more, " said Pfeiffer.
Why an Indoor World Cup?
In the absence of an international outdoor championship for both continents, the Indoor World Championship is the world's most important event in sports stunt riding. Chris Pfeiffer, who has several European Championship titles as well as victories in major US events, can be allowed to drive indoors:
"The surface is specially applied for the event and is of excellent quality, flat and without holes, scratches and other things that you do not need, when you do no-handed wheelie turns, for example. The wind and weather conditions don’t disrupt you, it is the same conditions for everyone, and the sound of all the spectators in the room creates a louder, great atmosphere.”
Another success for Pfeiffer
Like no other, Chris Pfeiffer has dominated the stunt riding scene since 2003, and this success is another part of this saga. Nevertheless, the innovative motorcyclist from Allgau, is retreating a little from the competition circus: "I've repeatedly won everything that there is to win, and it will be time soon to leave it to others. I myself am also increasingly involved in photos, video projects and want to take care of my just released DVD "Stunting for Life", which was only a prelude. I will keep working away at the endless limits of the sport and will be at the forefront of the more progressive side of it. Stunt riding is a freestyle sport, and can be expressed in many different ways, "said Chris Pfeiffer cryptically, after his triumph.