Lifestyle: Visitors to the Vienna Air Kings 2015 can look forward to a top-class field of drivers. 16 invited drivers and 45 pre-qualifiers will conjure up their best tricks in front of the Vienna City Hall. This year, for the first time, there will be a woman among the drivers at an FMB event.
The preliminary set list announced by the organizer reads like a who's who of the European dirt scene. The French rider field is particularly well represented with five riders. In addition to Mehdi Gani, Tomas Lemoine, Simon Pages and Louis Reboul, Kona team rider Antoine Bizet will also travel to Vienna. The Brits are also very strong with Daryl Brown, Matt Jones and four-time VAK winner Sam Pilgrim. Joining the party is Poland's Szymon Godziek, who finished second last year and became the Best Trick winner. Also on the podium last year was the Belgian Thomas Genon, who will of course do everything in his power to repeat last year's success or even to top it. Of course, the Czech Tomas Zejda, the Swede Anton Thelander and the Hungarian Oszkar Nagy are always good for a surprise. Peter Henke from Ingelheim is the only German driver in the starting field. Two drivers from overseas will also compete at the Vienna Air King 2015. The 19-year-old American Nicholi Rogatkin is considered the shooting star of the scene and always causes a sensation with his spectacular tricks. Nicholi Rogatkin from Canada will also travel to Austria to defend his title.
In addition to the 16 set drivers, 45 pre-qualifiers will also compete for the tenth anniversary of the Vienna Air King. Of particular note is the participation of the first girl at an FMB event. 22-year-old Spaniard Gemma Corbera is proof that big jumps aren't just for the lords of creation. The Barcelona native will show her best tricks to get among the top pre-qualifiers. A total of only 14 pre-qualifiers advance and are allowed to compete against the seeded drivers on April 12th.