Riders Lounge Podcast - Freeride / Freestyle Motocross and Action Sports

Here we go! It has been a minute since the last podcast! Sorry for the little hiatus (after the last hiatus) but time is of the essence, and I figure while the studio isn't finished, let's just go audio only now. This is a special type of episode, perhaps one I continue into the future. This is the re-live audio commentary from NIGHT of the JUMPs in Munich at the second round of the 2026 s...

10 years ago in Hamburg, Germany, Hannes Ackermann took his first major win at NIGHT of the JUMPs against some of the world's best riders! The following year, he would suffer a horrendous crash, broken back and take 9 years to get back to the point he can ride consistently at NOTJ. This weekend, he'll be back in Hamburg and bringing the heat with some new tricks and lets see if he can snat...

This was a wild one! NIGHT of the JUMPs 3rd round of competition came to Budapest, Hungary for the very first time and the second best qualifier crashed out and nearly wiped our the reigning World Champion! Davide Rossi got away with his Suicide No Hand Front Flip crash, and Luc Ackermann got away with not getting to smashed by a riderless YZ250 veering towards him. Listen for the behind the scene...

Did you guys know about this one? I didn't! In 2018, as part of the Nitro Circus Live tours, the crew rolled into Paris and had one of the biggest competitions that never happened. As comps go, we think of X Games, X-Fighters, Night of the Jumps or even Nitro World Games. But this time in 2018, with Tom Pages present on his home turf, Travis Pastrana and the crew set about creating one of the...

While I was driving on the German autobahn trying to figure out AI audio enhancements to make my recording sound better than listening to a guy talking into a phone microphone in an empty van full of road-noise... Luc Ackermann was Tsunami-Flipping from one semi-trailer to another truck, at speed, over a 9 metre high street sign. There's a small difference in where our creativity ventured whil...

What a battle! In 2015, X Games decided that FMX Best Trick was getting too gnarly, so they decided to tame things down and bring the Quarter Pipe Best Trick comp so hopefully no one would kill themselves live on ESPN. But that didn't stop Tom Pages, Josh Sheehan, Levi Sherwood, Jey Rouanet, Davi Johnson and Cam Sinclair from sending it hard with probably more crashes than we've seen in a regular...

It takes a lot for anyone to come close to surprising Javier Villegas, the veteran FMX rider from Chile and former World Champion. But Nico Ferreira came with the big tricks at the Brazilian FMX Championships now known as FMX na Roca with a Surfer take-off to Tsunami backflip over a Dirt Jump!!! And it was only like 65ft and mellow as hell on a step-down. How the hell did Nico get that done? Eithe...

NIGHT of the JUMPs 25th anniversary show was one to remember in Dresden, Germany! After the first ever show in Riesa in 2001 it is crazy to see NOTJ still here 25 years later and going strong! Luc Ackermann has been the man to beat for the past 5 years and for round 2, 2025 Pat Bowden arrived to put some pressure on the local German on his home soil. Highlights include: Dakar Rally Bike Backflip w...

How many times has Colby Raha come from behind to take the win on the final jump? 2025 Quarter Pipe was one of the best we've seen and the young gun Guillem Navas snuck up into second place over Corey Creed. Jason Borosky also had a huge improvement this year! Join Steve Sommerfeld and Clint Esposito as they watch the full competition and review for X Games Quarter Pipe 2025.

X Games Best Whip was always going to be a nail-biter, especially in 2025 when X Games banned the Electric Bikes, so there was no Patrick Evans returning to defend his medal. But Julien Vanstippen, Tom Parsons, Jarryd McNeil, Tyler Bereman and I'd say Wyatt Fontenot showed why it didn't matter! Join Clint Esposito and Steve Sommerfeld for the full review of X Games Best Whip 2025 Julien Va...

X Games has celebrated 30 years and this past weekend Rob Adelberg came away with the first Gold Medal with the brand new trick, a Front Flip Rowedova Stripper! Adelberg has innovated 3 brand new Frontie tricks in the past few weeks with the Porti-Air and then Rowedova at X Games Japan. Tom Richards debuted with the Inside Roll for his Silver medal! Ben Richards brought the Special Flip with his o...

Quarter Pipe is one of the gnarliest competitions out there and for those who like racing with a definite winner - this is your category! The highest jump wins. Simple Rider Line-Up: Tyler Bereman Jason Borosky Corey Creed Kohl Denney Brian McCarty 'McGnarls' Guillem Navas Colby Raha Unfortunately no Axell Hodges in this years line-up, but these riders here are some of the biggest senders....

Join Part 2 of the Two Wheels to Freedom podcast with Clint Esposito where we discuss the X Games Best Whip competition coming up this weekend. How crazy is this, X Games have banned the Stark Varg electric bike (and any other electric bikes if someone would bring a competitive model out) So there is NO Patrick Evans - last years winner. Insane. Tom Parsons had to drop his Stark and get back on th...

X Games 2025 is back and this year it's in Salt Lake City! For the 30th year of X Games, it'll be a big celebration but before we get there let's check out who's in Moto Best Trick! Rob Adelberg Taka Higashino Brian McCarty 'McGnarls' Ben Richards Tom Richards Jacko Strong Genki Watanabe This will be an interesting Best Trick competition - but there are 4 big name riders mi...

Here we go! X Games Japan starts today, so this Preview is just in time. Listen in with Clint Esposito and I going through the in's and out's of the first X Games of the year. Only 5 riders on the list, so we can get through this fast. Who's in? Rob Adelberg Jacko Strong Benny Richards Taka Higashino Genki Watanabe (Wanky San!) Who will win this one? And will we see something new? My o...

Join Clint Esposito and I as we preview the riders field for the upcoming Duelo de Motos which is back for another year in Brazil! The Brazilian FMX Championships are still going, and it's great to see some new names on the list which surprised Clint and I as we were going through it. I think the favourite will still be Javier Villegas, but Colby Gort isn't scared to send it. Especially on the dif...

Join Clint Esposito and I as we review the first round of the World Championships at NIGHT of the JUMPs from last weekend! In one of the best NOTJ's we've seen in a long time, Luc Ackermann came with something brand new! The real front flip over the Next Gen ramp! But Mincha came with soooo many new Front Flip combos and banging style, it was like splitting hairs for the points overall. Of...

It doesn't even matter that this is one week after the event. The Press Conference isn't a place to worry so much about the event, it's about still trying to do a podcast in the background without anyone knowing it! Tune in with Riders Lounge Podcast & KING of the WHIP as we hosted the first KOTW Press Conference at World of Yamaha in Johannesburg, South Africa just before the 6th annual King...

Join Steve as he interviews the newcomers to the final round of NIGHT of the JUMPs in Hannover on the weekend. Especially with Squibby, Powley, Costela and Mincha who all had very last minute invites due to injuries and the birth of Melero's new baby. What do they all think of the setup and how confident they feel coming into the competition! Jamie Squibb Francis Costela Arran Powley Jose Mincha J...

Tune in with NIGHT of the JUMPs LiveStream host Steve Sommerfeld as he interviews the winners from the final round of the FMX World Tour in Hannover, Germany! Final 1.          Luc Ackermann (GER)             280 Points 2.          Jose Mincha (ESP)      263 Points 3.          Davide Rossi (ITA)       253 Points 4.          Matej Cesak (CZE)      242 Points   Freestyle Motocross Qualification Grou...

Tune in with Steve Sommerfeld as he interviews the winners from Round 5 of the World Tour at NIGHT of the JUMPs in Cologne, Germany! Final 1. Luc Ackermann (GER) 280 Points 2. Davide Rossi (ITA) 263 Points 3. Brice Izzo (FRA) 229 Points 4. Paul Manesse (FRA) 215 Points Freestyle Motocross Qualification Group 1 1. Brice Izzo (FRA) 249 Points 2. Paul Manesse (FRA) 214 Points 3. Matej Cesak (CZE) 212...

Join Steve Sommerfeld as he wanders the Pit Party at NIGHT of the JUMPs to interview the riders just before the competition was about to start in Cologne at Round 5. Interviews with: Tom Pfeiffer Dan Miler FTA's Robin Steiner, Luuk Swinkels, Niklas Distler, Milco Abrahams Luc Ackermann Brice Izzo Paul Manesse Riders Lounge Podcast Contact Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ridersloun...

Who's in and who's out for Round 5 of the Freestyle MX World Tour at NIGHT of the JUMPs this Saturday night in Cologne, Germany! Tune in to find out what new tricks Brice Izzo and Leo Fini are bringing and Paul Manesse will make his debut at NOTJ! FMX Luc Ackermann Andreu Lacondeguy Matej Cesak Leo Fini Davide Rossi Paul Manesse Mikolej Tempka Brice Izzo BMX / MTB / Scooter Alejandro Bonafe Leon B...

Join Steve as he finds a few of the riders in the swarm of the NIGHT of the JUMPs Pit Party. 1 hour before the competition started in Berlin all the riders were on the floor meeting the crowd and we grabbed some interesting interviews! Libor Podmol dropped some big news! He's coming back in the next NIGHT of the JUMPs with an old trick that we didn't think we'd see from him again! Maty Pekarek was...

Here's a snippet from the NIGHT of the JUMPs Berlin 2024 LiveStream with host Steve Sommerfeld speaking with Luc Ackermann, Marc Pinyol and Alejandro Bonafe after the podium and winners ceremony. Berlin – 05.10.2024 Results   Final 1.    Luc Ackermann (GER)   279 Points 2.    Marc Pinyol (ESP)  264 Points 3.    Davide Rossi (ITA)   257 Points 4.    Matej Cesak (ITA)   215 Points   Freestyle Motocr...