Rebeaud not fit for home event

Former FIM Freestyle Motocross World Champion Mat Rebeaud will miss his home round this weekend as the Night of the Jumps circus visits the St Jakobshalle in Basle, Switzerland, for rounds 4 and 5 of the 2011 season.

Rebeaud suffered a serious injury in January but had hoped to make his return at the St Jakobshalle as part of a meeting of World Champions alongside reigning title-holder Libor Podmol and two-time title winner Remi Bizouard. However, the 29-year-old hasn’t recovered in time, meaning no Swiss riders will take part in the event, which kicks off this evening.

Despite Rebeaud’s absence a strong field of riders has assembled for the event, including Red Bull’s Petr Pilat, who makes his return from action after injury. Title contenders Bizouard, Podmol, Massimo Bianconcini and Fabien Bauersachs will also be present as will the likes of Romain Izzo and Hannes Ackermann.

A collection of inexperienced, but talented riders will also be out to challenge the established order as the likes of Josh Sheehan, Javier Villegas, Maikel Melero and David Rinaldo continue to make progress after impressing already this season.

In addition, all the riders will attempt to break the world record, set last year by Alistair Sayer, in the Maxxis Highest Air Contest.

Watch NIGHT of the JUMPs action from Basel LIVE on Motors TV tonight at 9pm (BST) and Saturday at 8pm (BST).


Andy Wilkinson

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