Freestyle prodigy Petr Pilat: Only flying is better

On 8 August, the traditional Falta Memorial will once again take place in Kostelec near Prague. This is no ordinary classic event. Here, you can meet sporting personalities from a variety of disciplines. In 2025, for example, I met the 1986 Talkessel winner, Josef Chara, and the 1981 Talkessel winner, Petr Kovar, who provided fascinating insights into the history of Czechoslovakian motocross. But contemporary athletes are also present in Kostelec. The Czech freestyle star Petr Pilat organised a spectacular supporting programme there with his junior academy, and of course I took the opportunity to speak to him.

Petr Pilat springt den Backflip Cliffhanger

Foto: Thoralf Abgarjan

Petr Pilat – also well known in Dortmund

Petr Pilat is likely to be familiar to German fans from Supercross Dortmund, where he has put on spectacular shows time and again since 2012 (most recently in 2026). Petr Pilat was one of the rising stars of the 2000s and 2010s. He was European champion at the age of just five, Italian youth champion in the 65cc class in 2002, and a two-time Czech champion in the 65cc and 85cc classes. ‘Pillnitz’ was born in Prague in 1991, which is precisely why he wears start number 91. “I can’t even remember whether I sat on a rocking horse or a motorbike first. In any case, I twisted the throttle for the first time when I was just three years old. I can’t actually remember it, but my parents keep telling me that story.”

I can’t even remember whether I sat on a rocking horse or a motorbike first.

Petr Pilat

Petr Pilat springt diverse Backflip-Varianten

Foto: Thoralf Abgarjan

Only flying is better

“Ever since I was a child, I’ve enjoyed being in the air more than being on the ground,” explains Pilat. “I was lucky that Petr Kuchař [Note: a well-known Czech motocross rider and freestyler] lived very close to us back then. He took me under his wing and, together with my father, supervised my first attempts. In 2001, Kuchař ended his motocross career and switched to freestyle. He built himself a ramp and got started. “I was immediately hooked. Petr lent me a ramp, which we set up together behind our house. That’s how I started freestyle at the age of ten.” Three years later, this adventure almost ended in tragedy. “During a show in Orlík in 2004, I crashed and injured my entire chest. Helicopter, hospital, intensive care, coma – it was a terrible time.” As well as organ damage to his lungs, liver and spleen, he broke both his arms. “But I fought my way back and, with the support of my family, managed to get back on my feet. After half a year, I was back on my motorbike.”

Entry in the Guinness Book of Records

In autumn 2005, ‘Pillnitz’ performed a backflip at the FMX Gladiator Games and, at the age of 14, earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest person ever to perform a backflip. “When I performed the backflip in front of the crowd at the Sazka Arena, I was completely overwhelmed,” says Petr. “I think I’d shown that I was serious about freestyle motocross. And I still am to this day.”

Petr Pilat: Nur Fliegen ist schöner

Foto: Thoralf Abgarjan

Record-holder in several categories

His height of 1.92 is extraordinary. “I think I’m the tallest freestyler on the planet [Note: in terms of height, of course]. “I’m constantly being asked whether I’ve grown far too tall for this sport. All I can say is: I don’t know, because for me there’s no alternative. But with some tricks, being tall actually looks good. And the judges can spot that very clearly at competitions.”

Another setback and European Champion 2015

“I then took part in the European Freestyle Championships, but suffered another serious fall with severe injuries. The doctors predicted I’d be out of action for two years, but I didn’t give up; I worked hard on my comeback and realised that the best remedy was believing in myself. Not even three months after the accident, I was back on my motorbike and achieved what I’d been working towards: I became European champion. As I stood on the podium at the NIGHT-of-the-JUMPs European Championship awards ceremony and the national anthem played, tears streamed down my face. I remembered the doctors’ words and their prognoses, and now, just a few months after the accident, I was standing there on the winners’ podium, stronger than ever.”

Petr Pilat: Völlig losgelöst ...

Foto: Thoralf Abgarjan

Freestyle Junior Academy

“In 2015, I founded the Freestyle Junior Academy. So it’s been around for over 10 years now. I’ve got a few very talented lads and I’m proud of them, because there aren’t very many young people who do freestyle motocross.”

Four-stroke engines in freestyle

Freestyle was long considered one of the last strongholds of two-stroke engines. However, more and more four-stroke bikes are now appearing in freestyle. “I’ve ridden a 250cc two-stroke all my life. But over the last two years, two-strokes have changed significantly with the switch from carburettors to fuel injection. This has also altered the explosive nature of the power delivery; it’s become smoother. That might be fine for motocross, but for freestyle we need the full power output, especially in small arenas and with short run-up zones. And that’s exactly what I was no longer happy with – and that was also the main reason for switching to a four-stroke bike. I ride the 450 KTM. It’s got loads of power. It’s good for lots of tricks, but for others a two-stroke would be better. So both have their pros and cons. It’s 50:50. But at heart, I’m still a fan of two-strokes.”

Freestyle vs. Motocross: The Differences

“We have stiffer springs and use different oil for our hard landings,” explains Pilat. “The seat is lower because we need the space for our legs. There’s a handle under the seat (seat grab). The handlebars are slightly higher and we have ‘flip levers’ here, which are mainly intended for backflip combinations. These levers prevent your body from rotating too far forwards. Otherwise, you’d crash, the bike would hit you, and that’s not pleasant.”

20 years with KTM: ups and downs

Last year, ‘Pillnitz’ celebrated his 20th anniversary with KTM, and during that time the Czech rider has, of course, had to deal with some serious injuries: “It’s just like in motocross: if you want to be fast, you’re bound to crash and get injured sometimes.” Pilat rides for the legendary Dukla Prague sports club, for which practically every well-known Czech motocross rider has competed: from Jaroslav Falta to Zdenek Velky, Jiri Churavy, Miroslav Halm and many other motocross legends. “I’m proud to be able to wear the Dukla logo on my racing shirt,” says the likeable Czech.