The Red Bull X-Fighters world tour will take place again in front of South Africa’s iconic Union Buildings, in Pretoria, on September 12, with construction of the venue, including the tracks and ramps, almost complete.

The event was expected to attracted 15 000 to 18 000 spectators, said energy drinks producer Red Bull South Africa sports marketing director Doug Bird during a media visit to the arena on Tuesday.

Created in 2001, Red Bull X-Fighters is the most prestigious freestyle motocross event series in the world, with a 14-year history and more than 50 past events on six continents. The riders compete head-to-head through a series of knockout rounds.

Capital equipment supplier Barloworld Equipment, Caterpillar’s Southern African earthmoving dealer, is a sponsor of the South African edition of the Red Bull X-Fighters competition. It also supplied earthmoving machinery that was being used to build the arena and, following the event, demolish it and rehabilitate the Union Buildings grounds.

“Caterpillar approached Barloworld Equipment with the opportunity to work on this event on the back of the international relationship the company had with Red Bull in other X-Fighter events worldwide,” Barloworld Equipment sales and marketing director Shane Fitzpatrick explained during the site visit.

The scope of the work completed by Barloworld Equipment’s Cat rental store included track and ramp construction.

Clay used for the construction of the landing ramps was transported from a quarry about 30 km from the site. Fitzpatrick explained that when water was added to the clay, it achieved the ideal compaction required.

The highest landing ramp is about 4 m high.

About 10 300 t of clay were moved and shaped by the fleet of Cat machines, comprising Cat 950 GC and Cat 938K wheel loaders, a Cat 320D L hydraulic excavator and a Cat TH414C telehandler. Two additional machines were hired from Barloworld Equipment customers for the project, namely a Cat D4K track-type tractor and a Cat 277B multiterrain loader.

There was a strict environmental programme in place and Red Bull X-Fighters would work with the Department of Public Works to fully restore the Union Buildings site to its original condition when the competition was over.