Out to defy gravity

Sundown in the African savannah provides a hugely impressive backdrop for a human attempting a jumbo effort while the real jumbo appears oblivious.

French rider Remi Bizouard is warming up ahead of tomorrow's Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour in Pretoria, South Africa, where he will be one of 12 daredevils out to thrill a capacity crowd.

Red Bull X-Fighters are worldwide freestyle motocross motorbike stunt competitions. Pretoria is the penultimate of five stops which end next month in Dubai.

Riders compete by performing gravity-defying aerial stunts on specially prepared motorcycles.

The current leader of the tournament is Australian Clinton Moore, with Tom Pages and David Rinaldo of France in hot pursuit of the title.

Tomorrow's contest takes place in front of the majestic Union Buildings, the official seat of the South African government, and an emblem of democracy presided over by the towering figure of Nelson Mandela.

The competition started in 2001 in Valencia, Spain.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 11, 2015, with the headline Out to defy gravity. Subscribe