Luc Ackermann caps off a perfect end to the season – Youngest FMX World Champion of all time
The season finale of NIGHT of the JUMPs came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday night. Ten of the world’s best Freestyle Motocross athletes from seven nations and three continents fought for the last points of the year inside the Armeec Arena in Sofia. After four years, the people of the Bulgarian capital could finally experience the biggest Freestyle Motocross spectacle live again. It was in 2015 when the longest running FMX sport series visited Sofia, and in 2019 the fans experienced the gripping final fight, firsthand.
Three out of the top 4 riders from NIGHT of the JUMPs were on hand to ride the event with Adam Jones (USA), Pat Bowden (AUS) and Luc Ackermann (GER) ready to ride. Only the five-time World Champion, Maikel Melero (ESP), was unable to compete after his recent shoulder surgery but was able to return as a special guest Judge in Sofia. The three main players left no doubt in anyone’s minds during the qualification round as to who was going to be battling for the victory.
Luc Ackermann had the honours of the final run of the season, and he left no doubt amongst the crowds and judges who the champion of 2019 was, with his Flair, 360, Ruler Flip, Hart Flip, Front Flip and topped it off with the Double Backflip. The arena erupted to celebrate with the German Wunderkind as he took the overall victory ahead of Melero and Bowden.
With six out of seven possible wins, the FMX Terminator, Luc Ackermann has been crowned the FIM Freestyle Motocross World Champion. He is the youngest Freestyle Motocross World Champion of all time and has impressively broken through Maikel Melero’s five-year dominance. With his victory in Sofia, the 21-year-old German also was crowned the NIGHT of the JUMPs World Tour Champion 2019.
“I’m just overjoyed. I’ve dreamed of the World Championship title for so long and worked so hard for it. Winning the NIGHT of the JUMPs Tour Championship on top here in Sofia makes the perfect season” Luc Ackermann said.