Countdown to the best whip & best trick showdown has begun
The ultimate Moto X showdown of style and skill is back. Ducati King of the Whip is bringing together South Africa’s top Motocross and Freestyle Motocross athletes alongside some of the world’s elite riders.
Competing for glory in the Best Whip and FMX Best Trick contests, riders will push the limits as they chase podium positions and championship honours. You can expect an action-packed afternoon and evening filled with massive airtime, insane whips and tricks, pyrotechnics and non-stop entertainment.
Gates open at 2.30pm, giving you the opportunity to explore the rider pits and interact with competitors during the popular pit walk experience. VIP ticket holders gain exclusive early access from 1pm, including an official rider meet-and-greet. The competition begins at 4pm and builds towards a spectacular night-time finale under the night sky and pyrotechnics.
The Best Whip contest will see riders battling through qualifying rounds, semi-finals and finals, with judges scoring competitors on style, amplitude, execution and variation. The FMX Best Trick contests will raise the stakes even further, featuring both upright and inverted trick categories as riders push the limits of what is possible on a dirt bike.
Returning to defend his King of the Whip crown is America’s Wyatt Fontenot, the rider who last year ended Belgium’s Julien Vanstippen’s reign at the top.
After dominating King of the Whip with an incredible three-peat from 2022 to 2024, Vanstippen arrives with unfinished business. Fresh off securing his third X Games Best Whip gold medal, the Belgian style master is determined to reclaim the title he once made his own.
Australia’s Pat Bowden, one of the most exciting Freestyle Motocross riders on the planet, stole the show in 2025 by sweeping both FMX Best Trick categories with a barrage of mind-blowing tricks.
But the international stars will have no easy ride. South Africa’s homegrown talent will be out in full force, hungry to defend local pride and challenge for the podium. FMX standout Dallan Goldman will once again be in the hunt, while top Motocross racers Trent Valsecchi, Ryan Adler, Dalton Venter and a host of other contenders will bring their signature style and competitive edge to the Best Whip arena.
Food and beverages will be available throughout the venue, creating a festival-style environment for spectators of all ages.
King of the Whip event details:
Date: 7 November 2026
Time: 2.30pm onwards
Venue: Montecasino – Montecasino Boulevard (Cnr William Nicol and Witkoppen), Fourways, Sandton, Johannesburg
Tickets are available now from R300 via Howler.co.za/KOTW2026.
