That the second best from 2007 would be the best in 2008 following the retirement of the great Travis Pastrana: this naïve assessment seemed too simple for most FMX fans. But Mat Rebeaud – not a bad boy like Jeremy Stenberg, not a showman like Ronnie Renner, but very obviously the best FMX rider at this time – seems to feel very comfortable following in Pastrana’s tire tracks. First he won the Red Bull X-Fighters in Mexico City, where he’d already been victorious in 2006. Then he defended his point lead in Rio with a second place. And he just celebrated his second win of the season in Fort Worth, Texas, and built on his overall lead even further: With 280 points, the 25-year-old Swiss is now ahead of Jeremy Stenberg (240) and Robbie Maddison (165). Nice on the streets, tough on the bike ‘Mat is tough,’ says Travis Pastrana, ‘and he’s got an iron will.’ With a freshly healed femoral fracture and practically without preparation, Mat came fourth in Mexico City in 2007. With a lot of guts he achieved the world record for the highest air: 11 meters. Guts also helped him win in Fort Worth. ‘In the last jump I simply risked everything,’ Rebeaud said: ‘If something had gone wrong, I would’ve paid hugely for it.’ But his Backflip Superman Indy over the quarterpipe went smoothly and impressed the crowd, jury and his adversaries alike. ‘He risked everything and deserved to win,’ the beaten Jeremy Stenberg said, also applauding his rival. Revenge at the first Red Bull X-Fighters in Germany? Jeremy ‘Twitch‘ Stenberg has another two chances to beat Rebeaud. The American, currently 40 points behind, which constitutes a fifth place, is particularly looking forward to the next opportunity. To beat Rebeaud – the first European to ever win a Red Bull X-Fighters event – on July 4, American Independence Day, would be perfect timing. But Rebeaud is also burning for a win on the same date. In Wuppertal, Germany, only a few hundred kilometers from his Swiss home town, all his friends and relatives will be there rooting for him.