News

10 Questions for Dany Torres

In 2002 the Red Bull X-Fighters jumped through Madrid's Las Ventas bullfighting arena for the very first time, with Spain's Edgar Torronteras winning in front of a huge home crowd. His fans called him E.T. Now they call his successor D.T.

Dany Torres may only be 24, but he is already an old hand when it comes to busting out the most insane tricks on an FMX bike. In his Red Bull X-Fighters debut in Madrid in 2004, D.T. took an impressive seventh place. In 2005, he moved up two spots to fifth place, and in 2006 - in Mexico City as well as in Madrid - he took fourth. In 2007, his time had come: the Spanish wunderkind won Red Bull X-Fighters in Mexico City with a dominating performance.

"Dany's trick list is up to here," said FMX superstar Travis Pastrana. "I didn't think he would be able to link the course how he did! I'm really impressed!"

After a couple of years plagued by injury, Torres proved his perfect sense of timing as he returned to fitness and form for his home even in Madrid in 2009. In front of a delirious crowd, Dany gave the world's best FMX riders a lesson in style and trick execution as he went HUGE to win his first event for two years and send the Madrid fans wild.

The 2010 season started with a crash that Torres had to deal with almost the whole season, as the injured hand simply did not get better for a while.

Dany did not appear for the show in Egypt and was just back on the bike only a few days before the event in Russia. The 4th place on home soil in Las Ventas and the 3rd in London proofed that he is getting back to shape. All together, Torres was only able to show his full potential during the 2010 final in Rome, when he was crowed for victory. The comeback kid came back another time and became Red Bull X-Fighters Champion in 2011.

FMXWorld.com
sat down with Dany to recap the 2011 season.

fmxworld.com: Hi Dany. Congrats again for such a great season! Beside a few shows/demos the FMX year is pretty much over....Tell us what you are doing at the moment? Are you on well deserved holidays?

Hi! Thanks a lot. For the moment my season is not over since I have some demos in Italy, Switzerland, Mexico...I will have some holidays at Christmas and the first week of January...honestly, I need it!

fmxworld.com: Let's recap 2011 a little bit. On the 1st stop in Dubai you could grab the win, but during the event not even your father Ramon was sure that you make it even to the final. My comment was that you will win, which he did not believe & even with my low-key spanish I could not understand that he believed you make the final. Dubai was important on the path to become the 2011 champ. How was the night for you?

It was hard...I understand my father because during the qualifications, I was really motivated and doing my best but the results were too bad, I was only 7. Something was going wrong and we didn't know what it was exactly. My father and myself lost self confidence and i decided to meet the judges to try to understand why I was only 7 when I did my biggest tricks. After this and a little help from my brother, we change a little the rounds and everything was perfect. It was such an important victory...

fmxworld.com: The tour went on to Brazil and you had to sit it out, then the mishap in Rome.... But home is home and in Las Ventas you could grab another well deserved victory. How big was the pressure to ride in Madrid after 2 Events with pretty much no points for the championship?

In Spain the pressure was big, but I think the pressure was not really focused on the championship it was more coming from not disappointing the Spanish crowd. I think that all the riders want ride well all the time but when the event is the most important in the country and it's your own country, you want to do it bigger and better. Of course I wanted to do it good for the championship but specially for the fans...

fmxworld.com: In Poznan many people thought that you would grab another win, but Nate simply had more trix in the final and could dominate again. Once you came to Australia, seeing that Nate will probable have to sit it out this time & Andre Villa not showing up, you did the math and knew that a 3rd place was enough to be the tour champion. After archieving that goal, we had the impression that in the round after you have been simply to happy to fight more. What was going on in your mind going into that run? Honestly!

Hahahahaha...no, no. Honestly? No math! I was fighting for the first place for sure. In semi finals Josh put a really good run. It was difficult to do it better but if I had done a good run without any mistakes, it could have been possible. Unfortunately I made a mistake in the double line and I said to myself, now it's impossible, I have the 3rd place and the title in the pocket. So, why run the risk?

fmxworld.com:What does the Red Bull X-Fighters Championship mean for compared to other titles?

Without doubt Red Bull X-Fighters is the most important Championship, it's the title. X-Games are also very important but it's not a championship. It's only a one day event and to win at X-Games you need to be the best and have a little luck that everything works perfect.

There is no room for mistakes ... There is also the IFMXF Championship where I never take part, but I know that they are doing well and year after year they have better riders like Sheehan, Melero, Villegas, Podmol...

fmxworld.com: In 2012 you will be the hunted one. Who are the most competive players in the game stopping you to win another championship? Give us some names and let us know WHY?

Nate Adams: because he is like a hammer.
Josh Sheehan:if he is able to put the double in his rounds, it will be difficult.
Levi Sherwood: we all know the qualities of Levi and after a hard 2011 season he will come stronger for sure
Andre Villa: with a big bag of stylish tricks
Anyhow, the Red Bull X-Fighters is the most important championship with the best riders in the world, there may be surprises with any of the riders.

fmxworld.com: Last year, we came down to Arahal, Spain to film with you and a few others on your compound and you went right after to the hospital for some metal removement. Do you have the same procedure this year or is everything on your body looking smooth?

Not quite...I still have pain in my foot since the crash I had in the beginning of this season. The doctor is trying to heal my foot without going under the knife and now it seems that it is on track.

fmxworld.com: Are you working on new tricks for the 2012 season?

Not yet, I'm waiting to take a rest for Christmas and beginning of 2012 will try some new tricks ... I have a few crazy ideas but we'll see next year.

fmxworld.com: Are more and more sponsors calling you after all the success in 2011? Any new brands you are going to work with?

Yes, there are some but honestly it's not my job. I know I'm in good hands with Fly Group and I'd rather not worry about this. I just wanna ride!

fmxworld.com: Do you think your buddy Maikel Melero will take some English Class over the Winter to be able to communicate better with all the nice girls on the Red Bull X-Fighters Tour in 2012?

Hahahahaha...I know he's making efforts to learn...writing some posts in English on his facebook with lot of mistakes! Seriously, the last 2 years have been very special to Maikel and especially this year. In January he intends to join English lessons (we'll see...) but above all, he is training hard all day with some new big tricks. If he continues like this, Maikel will be a tough opponent next season...

fmxworld.com: Any last words?

THANKS to the fmxworld crew for your great job and of course THANKS to all my fans.