At the beginning of 2005, Mat moved to California to take the opportunity of training in sunshine, because back home in his native Switzerland the weather is often dominated by rain and snow. The risk paid off - at the end of 2005 Mat was number one in the IFMXF ranking, and in January 2006 he won his first silver medal at the Winter X-Games.
In March 2006, he won the Red Bull X-Fighters event in Mexico City ahead of his hero Travis Pastrana (USA), claiming: "This is the best day of my life!"
In 2007, having just recovered from a broken femur, Rebeaud was back on track stronger than ever before. With only two weeks of training on the bike after rehab, he just missed the podium at the Red Bull X-Fighters 2007 stop in Mexico City.
In 2008 Mat won the first stop of the series in Mexico City, placed second in Rio de Janeiro (BRA), claimed his first victory on US soil at the Red Bull X Fighters in Fort Worth Texas, won another Red Bull X-Fighters in Madrid, claimed an X-Games Silver Medal in Moto X Freestyle, and won his fourth Red Bull X-Fighters of the year in Germany to become the Tour Champion even before the last event in Poland - where he place third! What a year for the Swiss flyer!
Despite never hitting top form, Rebeaud was still in with a chance of winning the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2009 at the season finale in London, but eventually missed out on back-to-back titles due to a backflip crash, caused by a nail in his back tire.
2010 started with an almost deadly crash while practising for the first event in Mexico. Rebeaud was happy to back on the bike in summer to ride the Red Bull X-Fighters event in Moscow as his first contest in the year. The 10th place demonstrated that Mat was not really in shape, but it was a good opportunity to gain new confidence for the event Madrid where he could grab a strong 2nd place.
Finishing on six position in London and ending up fifth in Rome made an overall of 7th in the final Tour Ranking, which is quite remarkable for only riding 2/3 of the tour.
After all those ups & downs everything looked like Rebeaud would find back to the shape of 2008, before bad luck stroke back again, this time at home in his new foampit. While practising the "Volt" Mat got hurt badly again and was forced to let the 2011 season pass with no results.
Mat Rebeaud - Down but Not Out!
D. Grund - redbullxfighters.com
Article Details
Related Content
Red Bull X-Fighters Rome Jun 25, 2011
The roar of the crowd would not stop rolling through the Stadio Olimpico crowd as X-Fighters Nate Adams and Andre Villa revved up for the start of the final showdown between the two. When they did...
Red Bull X-Fighters History May 12, 2011
Created back in 2001, the Red Bull X-Fighters concept has grown to become the biggest and most respected freestyle motocross tour on the planet, featuring the world’s best riders throwing down mad...
Red Bull X-Fighters - Dubai, UAE
Two all-time firsts for the Red Bull X-Fighters! To kick off the 2011 season the FMX elite will...
Go To EventRed Bull X-Fighters Dubai 2011 Apr 4, 2011
Under Patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum the Red Bull X-Fighters World Series will visit Dubai for the first time on the 15th of April 2011.
Mat Rebeaud - Down but Not Out!