Biker's stunts in Manila premier

MANILA, Philippines - Snippets of footage are now accessible in the internet showing Red Bull trial freestyle motorbiker Julien Dupont’s incredible antics on Manila streets but the official video premier is set at the launch of the European version of the energy drink in cans tonight at the Makati Stock Exchange Plaza.

Dupont, 32, was in town recently to shoot videos of his amazing motorbike rides which are considered stuff of legend on YouTube. The French daredevil has taken his act to at least 25 countries all over the world, performing once before 25,000 wide-eyed spectators on a makeshift arena in Singapore. His sport is loosely known as motocross in an urban setting. Wherever he rides, Dupont expresses his mantra “Freeride Everywhere.” His videos are in a Red Bull portfolio called “Ride The World.”

In Intramuros, Dupont did an impromptu sequence as pedestrians couldn’t believe their eyes. He sped his bike on one wheel, like mounting a bucking horse, spun 360 degrees twice in a row, balanced his two-wheeler on a high wall and jumped over a jeepney from a running start on a wall, dropping down at least six feet. Dupont is known for riding walls and jumping alleys but on Intramuros’ crowded streets, he restrained himself even as it didn’t seem so. Still, he rocked the streets like they’ve never been rocked before.

“Manila is awesome,” said Dupont who has enthralled audiences in Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona. “It’s a good spirit, the people enjoy (my stunts), a great first experience for me.”

During his visit to the country last week, Dupont found time to take a rest in Palawan. It was too short a vacation as after a few days, he was off to Munich for a show. A gig in Austria is also lined up before he returns home to France where he lives with his girlfriend and their one-year-old son. Dupont said he’ll never encourage his son to take up his dangerous sport.

“This is high-level, creative, dangerous biking,” he said. “If there’s anyone interested to do this, my advice is to go to a specialized motorbike school. There are specialized motorbike schools in Europe where riders learn to master this sport. Freestyle biking is more of an attitude. You do a live show which is unplanned. You face the elements, people, cars. You test your creativity.”

Dupont said he follows Formula 1 racing and basketball, among other sports. “I’ve been to two Formula 1 Grand Prix,” he said. “I’ve visited the drivers, especially those from the Red Bull team. I’m a big fan of Mark Webber of Australia. I know France will play in the basketball tournament in the Olympics and I’m hoping they do well. We have French players in the NBA like Tony Parker.” His all-time sports idol is martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

An outspoken free spirit, Dupont has tattoos all over his body that express his beliefs. One tattoo shows a crying star, his way of repudiating the “star system” which is prevalent in show business and sports. Another tattoo depicts his atheist conviction.

Dupont wasn’t the only daredevil whom Red Bull brought to the country to shoot videos. The Red Bull Air Force Team from the US did a formation flight over Boracay and landed on the island’s white beaches. Leading the team was Jon Devore who appeared in fight action scenes of the movie “Transformers.” Colombian cliff driver Orlando Duque took his act to El Nido. New Zealand’s Rhys Millen, a start of the US drifting series, roared through downtown Manila in a 250-horsepower Nissan.

The different stunts will be shown for the first time on wide-screen monitors during the Red Bull launch. The Thai version of Red Bull in bottles has been in the local market for years and was a fixture in the PBA as a franchise. But now, the European version, made in Austria, is invading the country with a carbonated formulation that isn’t as syrupy or sugary as the Thai beverage. The Austrian drink was created in 1987 and is considered a premium product of Europe. Red Bull is the world’s largest selling energy drink with 4.5 billion cans sold a year.