Intense battles in both the best whip and best trick contests at the 2025 Volkswagen Amarok King of the Whip saw the USA’s Wyatt Fontenot crowned the new King of the Whip, while Australia’s Pat Bowden successfully defended both of his best trick titles.

The action unfolded in front of a sold-out crowd at Montecasino, Johannesburg.

The event was presented by LW Mag in association with Monster Energy, Yamaha, Garmin, Motul, GoPro, Fox Racing, PlayTSOGO, and Estrella Cerveza.

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Top freestyle motocross and motocross riders took to the ramps to compete in the best whip and best trick contests, all vying for a share of the R250 000 prize purse.

The 2025 rider lineup featured 21 South African competitors and nine international athletes Julien Vanstippen (Belgium), Wyatt Fontenot (USA), Pat Bowden (Australia), Genki “Wanky” Watanabe (Japan), Vicki Golden (USA), Ry Hazell (Australia), Marc Pinyol (Spain), Julien Mannon (France), and Stav Orland (Uganda).

“Seeing what we achieved this year is something I’m proud of. I can confidently say that King of the Whip has grown into one of the world’s premier freestyle motocross events,” said event organiser Ryan van der Spu.

“The calibre of international athletes who come to South Africa to compete against our local stars is insane. The action was non-stop from start to finish, with energy building all the way through to the final and prize-giving.”

The best whip contest kicked off the day with riders going head-to-head across four qualifying rounds, each battling for a spot in the next stage.

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Judges assessed amplitude, style, and variation as they narrowed the competitors down to the 16-rider semi-final.

From there, they eliminated eight riders, leaving the top eight to advance to the finals.

Before the king of the whip could be crowned, the spotlight shifted to the FMX riders as they showcased their skills in the best trick right-side-up and upside-down competitions, where each rider had three chances to take to the ramps and pull off the best trick possible.

Pat Bowden, the defending champion, dominated both categories, reaffirming his status as the undisputed king of the tricks.
Bowden claimed the top spot in the right-side-up category with his electrifying Christ air stage dive (no-hander lander).

Genki Watanabe unveiled his new trick, the octopus, a whipped-out seat-grab indy to airplane, earning him second place, while Julien Vanstippen followed in third with a whipped-out airplane to seat grab.

In the upside-down category, Bowden again dominated; this time with his show-stealing rowedova backflip to one-hander lander.

Marc Pinyol, who won the 2023 best trick contest with his iconic California roll body varial, brought the trick back for 2025 to secure the runner-up position.

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Julien Vanstippen completed the podium with a powerful backflip tsunami.

“It means a lot to me. I was lying in a hospital bed in Russia six weeks ago, and I didn’t think that I would be here. The first place feels good, but what means the most to me is the fact that I’m even here,” said Bowden, winner of the best trick contest.

“I am grateful to Ryan for putting this event on; everyone who supports it. This is definitely a world-class event.

“I was here last year, and he somehow managed to step this thing up year after year. I think the future looks bright. It will be interesting to see where this event goes.”

Before the evening’s main event, the best whip final, fans were treated to Monster Energy’s rig riot, a laser and light show that transformed Montecasino’s façade into a breathtaking display, marking a first-of-its-kind experience in South Africa.

As the riders got ready to send it into the final, the tempo intensified, enhanced by pyrotechnics and a crowd brimming with anticipation.

The riders left nothing on the table as they attempted to dethrone reigning champion Julien Vanstippen.

The final delivered a fiercely contested showdown between Vanstippen and the two Stark Varg riders Wyatt Fontenot and Ry Hazell.

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Vicki Golden, the event’s first female competitor, was also in the mix along with Genki Watanabe, Stav Orland, Ryan Adler, and Trent Valsecchi.

With each jump, the whips got bigger. In the end, Fontenot rose above the pack to claim the crown of best whip winner from Vanstippen.

Hazell delivered an outstanding performance to secure third place, with Orland and Golden rounding out the top five.

“It’s amazing. The guys out here pushed me to the fullest. Vanstippen has always been a big inspiration to me, and to ride with him and compete with him is wonderful,” said Fontenot.

“Since I’ve landed, I’ve had the coolest people around me. South Africa, I’m definitely coming back. Nicest people out here.”
Ryan Adler delivered an impressive performance throughout the day, advancing from the qualifying rounds to the semi-finals and ultimately earning his place in the final.

On his opening jump of the last round, he unleashed one of his biggest whips of the event, but suffered a heavy crash.

Despite returning to a badly damaged bike, Adler got it patched up well enough to make another attempt before the final wrapped.

His determination, spirit, and energy throughout the competition earned him the newly introduced Ricky Raaff Award, presented in honour of the late Ricky Raaff.