Racing: Red Bull XRAY a huge hit

International star Robbie Maddison and Jarryd McNeil were the big winners at last weekend's free-to-the-public Red Bull XRAY event in Picton (NSW).

By all accounts, the event was a brilliant, high-tempo affair, and included two separate formats: freestyle motocross and Speed and Style.

Predictably, Maddison, who recently wrapped up second overall in the prestigious Red Bull X-Fighters, came out on top in freestyle ahead of Taka Higashino and McNeil, but it was Speed and Style which proved to be the most compelling ingredient of XRAY.

That battle pitched the freestyle competitors against eight motocross stars, including Craig Anderson, Tye Simmonds, Daniel McCoy and Cody Mackie, in a series of man-on-man two-lap races.

Each jump was worth 10pts, with the rider's total then deducted from the overall time at the end. The rider with the lowest score then progressed into the next round.

The format made for some exciting tactical battles, with McNeil the eventual winner from Mackie and Simmonds.

"I had a heap of fun at the event and it was a bonus to get on the podium," said Simmonds.

"A highlight was banging bars with Robbie Maddison on the circuit like it was a championship event, and we were both throwing down whips.  With the points system Robbie beat me by one second, but he was penalised two seconds for cutting the track, so I won the heat.

"I didn't like to take the heat win that way because I like to win fair and square, but I can say I fairly earned my third place in Speed and Style."