German freestyle motocross riders were at the Nürburgring during the Superbike World Championship weekend for the third time in a row. As in previous years, the final competition of the German Freestyle Motocross championship was staged in the 'ring' arena (part of the Nürburgring complex).

Just a week after kicking-off in Riesa, it was already time to decide who would succeed Fabian Bauersachs as German champion. The main contenders in the battle for his crown were Hannes Ackermann from Thuringia and Berliner, Kai Haase, who occupied the two top positions in the overall standings.


The German FMX Champion - Hannes Ackermann

Hannes Ackermann, Kai Haase and Robert Naumann pulled off spectacular jumps, performing beautiful backflips even at the qualification stage. Ackermann won the hard-fought first rounds, securing a comfortable 33-point lead over Haase and Menge. Besides the main riders in contention, however, rookies including Mike Born and Christian Kleiner delighted crowds, as did German FMX veteran Sven Schmid with perfectly executed tricks.

The Alfa Romeo Whip contest was a special show highlight. Kai Haase eventually emerged victorious from Hannes Ackermann and Florian Menge.

Florian Menge doing a great Stripper

Things then hotted up again in the final round of the Sinisalo FMX German Championship, as the prize awaiting the new champion was not just Sinisalo riding gear, but also a cheque for around two million euros from the title sponsor, plus a Suzuki RM 250 for the coming season.


Mike Plümacher with an extended Double Grab

Mike Plümacher, at a slight disadvantage after a backflip crash in Riesa, did his run without backflips, but moved into P9, executing beautiful Holygrabs. Rookie Christian Kleiner produced incredibly spectacular Dead Bodies from his repertoire, causing even the judges to hold their breath.
 
Tim Kerling finished a well-deserved fifth with fabulous Cliffhangers and Onehand Seatgrabs, upstaging old-hand Tom Ferber, who had to be content with sixth place.


Kai Haase doing an Onehanded Seatgrab Indy


Sinisalo rider Florian Menge fell on the last jump after a flawless run, losing vital points in the day's standings. Consequently, he was only fourth and missed the podium.
 
Sven Schmid, oldest driver in the field at 37 years of age, won the applause of the audience, securing many points from jury members with perfect Tsunamis and stylish, well-executed Hart Attacks. He whooped with joy on moving up into third place in the day's standings.


Top 3 Sinisalo German FMX Championship - Plümacher, Ackermann, Haase

The two best-placed riders from the preliminary round and the overall standings, Hannes Ackermann and Kai Haase, produced an amazing backflip battle for the showdown in the ring arena. Ackermann eventually won the second round of the FMX Sinisalo German championship with a 48-point lead on Haase and a superior combination of tricks: Airplanes, Rock Solids, Side Shows and extreme Flip Combos.

Hannes Ackermann has now secured his third German championship title in the overall rankings at the tender age of twenty-one. Kai Haase was runner-up for the first time, and Mike Plümacher was placed third in the 2011 Sinisalo FMX German championship, despite his ninth position in the day's standings.