Desert Storm
By TMX Archives on 12th Jan 04
EUROPE'S PREMIER FMX promoters the IFMXF took a walk on the wild side recently when they headed to Africa with five of their contracted riders - including Britain's best Chris Brock and Gary Taylor - for a Namibian/ South African EUROPE'S PREMIER FMX promoters the IFMXF took a walk on the wild side recently when they headed to Africa with five of their contracted riders - including Britain's best Chris Brock and Gary Taylor - for a Namibian/ South African freestyle frenzy called Desert Storm.Brock's African adventure began in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he and Mad Mike Jones schooled 40 local riders in the latest of the Red Bull X-Ray FMX clinics. Meanwhile Gary, Ailo Gaup, Busty Wolter and Oystein Kjorstad were riding dunes by day and hiding from lions at night over in the Namibian desert. "It was really good," reckons Taylor. "The only down side was the high winds we came across which made riding in the desert a bit sketchy."For the final few days of the trip Brock and Jones returned to the main group for laid-back freeride sessions and a contest at the Namibian beach resort of Swakopmund.As dolphins and bikini-clad beauties frolicked in the sea the six riders battled it out for top honours in the Best Whip and Freestyle competitions with Brock taking a pair of well-earned wins."Ain't I just the *******s!" says Chris through his trademark cheeky grin. "I keep telling Taylor he isn't fit to shine my boots and now he knows I speak the truth. Africa's been awesome, a real eye-opener - especially when you come from Devon."