The Whips, Tricks and Massive Airtime Are Coming
The countdown is officially on, and if you like your motocross with massive airtime, insane tricks and a fair amount of pyrotechnic madness, then King of the Whip 2026 needs to be on your calendar.
The ultimate Freestyle MotoX showdown of style and skill returns to Montecasino on 7 November 2026, bringing together South Africa’s top Motocross and Freestyle Motocross riders, along with some of the biggest names from around the world.
This year sees Ducati come on board as the official Title Partner, adding even more weight to an event that has firmly established itself as one of South Africa’s most visually explosive Motocross spectacles.
The event is presented by LW Mag, in partnership with Monster Energy, iCAUR, Garmin, Motul, DJI, Fox Racing and Estrella Cerveza.
Whips, Tricks and Serious Airtime
Big battles will be fought across the Best Whip and FMX Best Trick contests, with riders throwing everything they have at the judges as they chase the win, the cash and the bragging rights.
And this is not going to be a sit-down-and-watch-quietly kind of afternoon.
Expect massive airtime, insane whips, mind-bending tricks, pyrotechnics and non-stop entertainment as the competition builds towards a spectacular night-time finale beneath the night sky.
Gates open at 2:30pm, giving fans the chance to get into the venue, check out the rider pits and get up close with the competitors during the popular Pit Walk.
VIP ticket holders get to arrive even earlier, with exclusive access from 1:00pm, including an official rider meet-and-greet.
The competition gets underway at 4:00pm, with the action building throughout the afternoon before the lights, pyrotechnics and big tricks take over for the evening finale.
Who’s Throwing It Down?
The Best Whip competition will run through qualifying rounds, semi-finals and finals, with riders judged on style, amplitude, execution and variation. In other words, simply getting the bike sideways isn’t going to cut it.
The FMX Best Trick competition cranks things up another notch, with both upright and inverted trick categories giving riders plenty of opportunity to push the limits of what can actually be done on a dirt bike.
There is also serious incentive to send it, with riders competing for their share of the cash prize purse, along with prizes supplied by the official event partners.
And then there are the international heavyweights.
Returning to defend his King of the Whip crown is America’s Wyatt Fontenot, who ended Belgium’s Julien Vanstippen’s reign at the top last year.
Vanstippen, however, is hardly going to roll over and hand the crown back. After dominating King of the Whip with an incredible three-peat from 2022 to 2024, the Belgian style master arrives with unfinished business. He is also fresh from securing his third X Games Best Whip gold medal, so you can expect him to be seriously motivated to reclaim the title he once made his own.
Then there is Australia’s Pat Bowden, one of the most exciting Freestyle Motocross riders on the planet. Bowden stole the show in 2025 by sweeping both FMX Best Trick categories, throwing down a barrage of mind-blowing tricks in the process.
But don’t think the locals are going to stand back and watch the international stars have all the fun.
South Africa’s homegrown talent will be out in force, ready to defend local pride and have a proper go at the podium. FMX standout Dallan Goldman will once again be in the hunt, while top Motocross racers Trent Valsecchi, Ryan Adler and Dalton Venter, along with a host of other contenders, will bring their own style and competitive edge to the Best Whip arena.
So, who takes the Best Whip and FMX Best Trick honours in 2026?
We’ll have to wait and see.
More local and international rider announcements will be revealed over the coming month, giving fans plenty of time to pick their favourites before the bikes fire up at Montecasino.
So, What Exactly Is a Whip?
If you’ve ever watched a Motocross rider launch off a jump and thought, “There is absolutely no way that bike is coming back straight,” you’ve probably just witnessed a whip.
A whip is one of Motocross’ most iconic aerial manoeuvres. While airborne, the rider throws the motorcycle sideways, backwards or even upside-down, often at an extreme angle, before bringing everything back into line for the landing.
It takes style, bike control, commitment and creativity, and when it is done properly, it is one of the most spectacular skills you’ll see anywhere in Action Sports.
Make a Day of It
You don’t have to be a hardcore Motocross fanatic to enjoy King of the Whip.
Whether you’re a dedicated MX fan, an adrenaline junkie or simply looking for something different to do with the family, the King of the Whip promises an atmosphere unlike anything else on the South African motorsport calendar.
There will be food and beverages available throughout the venue, creating a festival-style environment for spectators of all ages.
And if previous editions are anything to go by, you don’t want to leave getting your tickets until the last minute.
Tickets are on sale now from R300, with every previous edition selling out. Fans are therefore encouraged to get their tickets early to avoid disappointment.
For tickets and event information, head to howler.co.za.
King of the Whip 2026
7 November 2026
Montecasino
Gates: 2:30pm
VIP access: 1:00pm
Competition starts: 4:00pm
Tickets from R300
