Daredevils on two wheels coming to Mars Stadium

MARS Stadium will host what is being billed as the greatest show on two wheels when the Freestyle Kings Live tour comes to Ballarat next weekend.

The show will be two hours of leading Australian and international motocross and BMX riders performing choreographed tricks and stunts, with pyrotechnics and theatrics in an event for all ages.

It will take place from 3pm to 5pm, with tickets available through Ticketek.

 

Headlining the bill on Sunday 15 February will be Australia’s most famous stunt rider Robbie Maddison – regarded as the modern-day Evel Knievel – and his sons Kruz, 14, and Jagger, 11, who combined are billed as the nation’s first family of action sports.

As well as the Maddisons, the lineup will feature 10-times X Games gold medallist Rob Adelberg, world champions Clinton Moore and Pat Bowden, and BMX stars Harley Allen and Ellie Chew.

 

Top-tier athletes such as Lance Russell, Jett Anderson, Brayden Davies and Callum Shaw round out the bill.

“At 43 years old, it is no secret that I am closer to the end of my freestyle motocross career than I am to the start,” Maddison said before the tour’s launch in Tasmania.

“My accomplishments on a dirt bike have been beyond my wildest dreams, but by far my greatest achievement is watching my three boys share the same passion I have for this sport and to see them push through the nerves and perform in sell-out shows across the globe.

“They are little showmen at heart and, while I might be a bit biased, I think it’s the favourite part of the show for the crowd.”

For his part, Adelberg enjoys taking the show to regional audiences.

“I’m from regional Victoria and my dirt bike has taken me all over the world for the last 20 years,” he said.

 

But he said regional crowds were the best ones to perform for.

“Make no mistake, this is the best riders on the planet who will be throwing down tricks that need to be seen to be believed,” Adelberg said.

Ballarat mayor Tracey Hargreaves said the city was proud to be supporting the event through its Tourism Events Grant Program.

 

“Ballarat has a great track record for staging world class events and for us this is another opportunity to showcase what we have to offer,” Cr Hargreaves said.

“I know there will be plenty of attention when this talented group of death-defying thrillseekers comes to our city.”

Promoter Josh Hannah said including Ballarat and other country centres like Horsham on the tour could be seen as an “odd” decision, but regional areas were at the forefront of organisers’ thinking.

 

“Regional Australia has a deep affinity and love for all things dirt bike and BMX, so it just made sense for us to take this tour to areas that wouldn’t traditionally get this type of world class entertainment,” he said.

“While we have a our rider lineup come in from across Australia and the USA, we source everything else locally in Ballarat – from food and beverage to ushers, security, machinery and everything else needed to pull off a show like this.

 

“We obviously get a lot out of these shows, but we like to think we give a lot back to a regional centre like Ballarat.”

The official website is freestylekings.com