Before some of the world’s best freestyle motocross (FMX) riders gathered in South Africa to perform gravity-defying tricks on their motorcycles, another group of talented individuals had its own innovative feats to accomplish—using Cat® machines.
To sculpt tons of red African soil into a track worthy of the world’s most prestigious FMX event series, the Red Bull X-Fighters turned to local Cat dealer Barloworld Equipment.
“Building the full track outside of the Union Buildings in Pretoria required a range of different earthmoving machines,” says Samantha Swanepoel, general manager of marketing and communications for Barloworld Equipment. “The expert track builders that Red Bull X-Fighters flew in from America prefer Cat machines, so we provided the equipment free of charge through our Cat Rental Store.”
When the track-building team arrived on site, they immediately put six Cat machines—938H and 950 GC wheel loaders, 320 excavator, D6R dozer, TH414 telehandler and 226B skid steer loader—to work moving and hauling dirt and constructing ramps.
“The Cat gear is just way more superior than their competitors—just the innovation, the amount of models that they currently have,” track builder Ty Fenwick says. “To travel the world, to hang out with these guys, to drive this brand-new equipment, it’s dreams come true for me.”
Just two weeks after construction began, on September 12, more than 17,000 fans circled the newly constructed track to watch the riders compete head-to-head in a series of knockout rounds.
“The feedback from the track team is that the equipment was incredible,” says Martin Van Staden, national events manager for Red Bull. “Barloworld Equipment has been an amazing partner to deal with.”
Watch the video to see the track take shape and hear why the track builders prefer Cat equipment.
