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David Rinaldo has had a pretty good season in the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour, finishing 4th in the last two stops in Athens and Madrid. The French rider is now in South Africa and ready to take on the 4th stop of the tour at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 12 September.
We caught up with Rinaldo to talk about his 2015 season, Freestyle Motocross and his goals for this weekend.
Give us a quick rundown of some of your highlights of your career?
My name is David Rinaldo, 25 years old from France. In 2012 I finished 3rd in the FIM World Championship overall and in 2013 I became European World Champion. But 2015 is on the way to becoming my best year so far, at the moment I’m in the lead of the World Championship and 4th in the X-Fighters series, so fingers crossed for the second parts of the year.
What have your thoughts been on this year’s Red Bull X-Fighters courses, and which one suited your riding style the most?
X-Fighters courses are all the time pretty awesome and different. I really enjoy riding big courses, you can have a lot of fun and for me this is still the most important thing. I never change my riding style, I just try to give my best with the tricks that I’m able to do on the day. Sometimes it works, sometime not.
What are you hoping the course builders do different compared to last year’s Pretoria course?
Last year was a cool track you know, maybe some landing was kind of small but it is what it is, it’s the same track for all of us riders. I already checked the MAP of the track and once again it looks pretty fun with different ramps, dirt take offs, quarter pipes – so yes I’m looking forward to having a good time on it.
With the progression of FMX, there is a fine line between landing new and innovative tricks and crashing out. Where do you draw that line?
Innovative tricks are sick but when you take “the risk” to put it in your run, you also take the risk to have a mistake or crash. Judges are looking at every single thing now, so my opinion with a mistake or a crash you can not move into the next round, but that is only my opinion [laughs]. Best things are style, innovation and perfection, no?
You’ve had quite a successful year on the world tour, what have you change up in your riding and preparation to achieve this?
When I ride, I always try to push myself into my next level, because I love that and I also want to be proud of what a do. You know its pretty difficult to be able to get invite on the best FMX contest in the world. I worked and I still work a lot for that, now I realise my dream to ride the best events with the best riders around the world, so I wanna stay there for a moment.
What new tricks are you working on or planning to work on? Or is that a secret?
No, I have no secret from nobody. Freestyle Motocross is about riding and sharing good moments and tricks with your buddies, so why should I have secret? I’m not at school anymore [laughs].
I work a bit on the Eggroll combos but it’s still difficult, and I also work on the Frontflip, but we’ll see, its not on dirt for now.
How much more do you think Freestyle Motocross and its tricks can evolve and progress?
I have totally no idea. Freestyle Motocross is progressing super fast and at almost each event, so it is difficult to give you a good answer for this question.
What do you think is the main attribute to the progression of FMX in recent years?
Uhmm, the main attribute is to ride “clever”, I mean to not crash, land on both wheels and of course no injuries. We all want to progress and for progression you have to practice more and more but always in a good way.
What are you looking forward to most coming back to South Africa and competing in the 4th stop of the tour?
Like always, I wanna have fun on my bike, putting all my biggest tricks together in one run, giving my best. Then I’ll be happy.
Besides Pages, Moore, Sheehan and Sherwood, which other riders do you see as a threat?
We are 12 riders, and these 12 riders can win. Now the level is so high, every rider is different, we all have a lot of different style or tricks.
What can fans expect from you come 12 September in Pretoria?
About tricks, I don’t really know yet what they can expect but for sure I’ll give my best to be happy and of course make all of the fans happy.
What are your goals for the Pretoria stop of the tour?
My goal is to ride safe with a solid run. Top 5 will be awesome for me.
Lastly, any words for your fans out here in South Africa?
Thanks all the fans who support me and the sport, thanks a lot to give us a chance to ride in your beautiful country. See you guys there. Ride to party!
The fourth stop of the 2015 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour takes place on 12 September at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. Tickets are on sale here.
Can’t make it? We have you covered, as we’ll be broadcasting the event live right here on LW Mag!
To read our previous interview with Clinton Moore, click here.
To read our previous interview with Levi Sherwood, click here.
To read our previous interview with Adam Jones, click here.
To read our previous interview with Remi Bizouard, click here.
To read our previous interview with Tom Pages, click here.
Photos by Flo Hagena and Armin Walcher / Red Bull Content Pool
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