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* 1 Evolution of the backflip
2 Equipment
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* 2.1 Rider gear
2.2 Motorcycle modifications
2.3 Non-bike or rider equipment
3 Notable riders
4 References
5 External links
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Variation on the sport of motocross
This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by
verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements
consisting only of original research should be removed. (September
2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
[500px-Maikel_Melero_-_Exhibici%C3%B3n_Freestyle_GP_Cami%C3%B3n_de_Espa
%C3%B1a_2013_-_01.jpg] Freestyle rider at an exhibition in Spain
Freestyle motocross (also known as FMX) is a variation on the sport of
motocross in which motorcycle riders attempt to impress judges with
jumps and stunts.
The two main types of freestyle events are:
* Big air (also known as "best trick"), in which each rider gets two
jumps -- usually covering more than 75 ft (22.8 m) -- from a
dirt-covered ramp.^[1]^[2] A panel of judges evaluates the style,
trick difficulty, and originality and produces a score on a
100-point scale. Each rider's highest single-jump score is
compared; top score wins.
* Freestyle motocross, the older of the two events, in which riders
perform two routines, each lasting between 90 seconds and 14
minutes, on a course consisting of multiple jumps of varying
lengths and angles that generally occupy one to two acres (.4 to .8
hectares). Like big air, a panel of judges assigns each contestant
a score based on a 100-point scale, looking for difficult tricks
and variations over jumps.
Notable freestyle motocross events include Red Bull X-Fighters, NIGHT
of the JUMPs, the X Games, Gravity Games, Big-X, Moto-X Freestyle
National Championship, and Dew Action Sports Tour. Freeriding is the
original form of freestyle motocross which started in the hills of
southern California; due to professional racers such as Jeremy McGrath
and Phil Lawrence "play riding" in the hills of reche canyon. It has no
structure, and is traditionally done on public land. Riders form
natural jumps and drop-offs to execute their tricks on. Some freeriders
prefer to jump on sand dunes. In many ways, freeriding requires more
skill and mental ability. Notable freeriding locations include Ocotillo
Wells, Glamis Dunes and Beaumont in California, and Caineville, in
Utah.
Evolution of the backflip
[edit]
[250px-Motorcycle.jpg] A One-Handed Hart Attack performed by Ailo Gaup
The backflip was once considered all but impossible, the "holy grail of
FMX". Freestyle riders began contemplating it after the 1998 film
"Children of a Metal God" showed riders attempting the trick into
water. Also it had been done many times on BMX bikes, and FMX riders
were using tricks from BMX riders, such as when Travis Pastrana
performed an Indian Air, originally from Mat Hoffman, a BMXer.
In 1991, Jose Yanez became the first person to backflip a motocross
bike. He practiced for it by flipping his motorcycle into the Salt
River, just as he had done with his BMX bike. He would kill the engine
on his 80cc motorcycle just before he hit the water to prevent damage
to the bike. Yanez performed the world's first ramp-to-ramp motocross
backflip on an 80cc motorcycle in October 1991 on an 8' tall box jump
he built himself in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Jose's next motocross
backflip attempt, this time for The National Enquirer, resulted in a
crash that kept Jose off motorcycles and bicycles for two years due to
an injured knee.
In 1993, Bob Kohl was the second person to perform the backflip on a
motocross bike. The bike was a 1993 Honda Cr80. He was a professional
BMX rider who had performed the trick regularly on a bicycle. He
continued to exhibit the trick until a crash in 1995 left him with
serious injuries.
In 2000, Carey Hart attempted the first backflip on a full-size
motocross bike off a modified dirt landing ramp at the Gravity Games
2000. The landing was less than perfect, and Hart crashed immediately
after. But Freestyle Motocross was forever changed. Many people started
to attempt it, such as Travis Pastrana, who attempted the backflip off
a Step Up jump at Summer X Games Freestyle. He bailed off mid-flight,
breaking his foot. The trick was still not attempted on a normal FMX
setup, off a ramp-to-dirt setup. Hart attempted the backflip again at
Summer X Games in 2001, during the Moto X Best Trick competition, but
bailed off the bike 45 feet (14 m) in the air, seriously injuring
himself.
In 2002, Caleb Wyatt was the first person to land a backflip on a large
motorcycle, on April 25, 2002, at the Rogue Valley Motocross track
(RVMX). This backflip was performed over a mulch pile of grass
clippings, leaves, and bark collected during maintenance of the RVMX
track. Wyatt constructed a quarter-pipe ramp with the take-off
completely vertical shoved into the pile of mulch.
2002 brought the backflip to X Games glory. Travis Pastrana and Mike
Metzger were both capable doing flips off ramps. Kenny Bartram was
still learning flips, doing them off the backsides of dirt landings,
much like Hart in the 2000 Gravity Games. The unthinkable had become
reality; a backflip was now common in freestyle competition. Mike
Metzger had achieved a back-to-back backflip, which won him Freestyle
Gold at Summer X Games 8. When the Gravity Games came along, riders
were doing variations in their backflips, wowing the crowd and the
judges, who didn't know how to score the riders.
In 2003, regular tricks were being used in backflips such as 'No
Footers', 'HeelClickers', and 'One Handed' Backflips.
2003-2005: These years saw the development of variations including
cliffhangers, cordovas etc. As well as the disputed 360s which some
consider only off-axis flips. The backflip was perfected over large
distances including over 100 feet (30 m). In 2005 at the very first Dew
Tour in Louisville, Kentucky, Travis Pastrana landed four backflips in
a row. At the Denver Dew Tour in 2006, Kenny Bartram was the first to
pull a one-handed takeoff backflip. In 2009 while filming for "Nitro
Circus", Pastrana completed a 120 feet (37 m) backflip as part of a
larger crossover jump, flipping over a number of riders below in the
process.
2006 brought footage of Travis Pastrana completing a double backflip on
an uphill/sand setup on his popular "Nitro Circus" Freestyle Motocross
movies. On August 4, 2006, at X Games 12 in Los Angeles, he became the
first rider to land a double backflip in competition. Having landed
another trick that many had considered impossible, he vowed never to do
it again.
2007 saw Scott Murray perform double backflips onto a large piece of
foam placed over the end of a foam pit. Later that year, Murray
attempted the double backflip at X Games but crashed upon landing. He
landed the trick at a Supercross event in Italy.
At the 2008 Summer X games Jim Dechamp tried a front flip and crashed,
breaking his back. Three months later during Nitro Circus season 1 on
MTV, Dechamp landed the front flip during the Guinness World Record
episode.
In early 2009, Metal Mulisha rider Jeremy Lusk attempted a Hart Attack
Indian Air Backflip. He under-rotated, and crashed, hitting his head on
the landing. On February 10, he was pronounced dead due to head and
spinal cord injuries.
At X Games 17, Jackson Strong nailed the first front flip on a dirt
bike during the best trick competition.
In early 2015, Nitro Circus rider Josh Sheehan landed the first triple
backflip, yet another trick deemed impossible by many, on a custom
ramp/dirt setup at Travis Pastrana's "Pastranaland" complex in
Maryland. He had previously practiced the trick onto a large air
cushion at the Maryland complex, using the same custom ramp built for
the stunt.
At the Nitro World Games in 2016, Greg Duffy landed the first double
front flip.
Equipment
[edit]
Rider gear
[edit]
FMX riders typically use much of the same riding gear as MX racers.
This includes a helmet, goggles, gloves, boots, jersey, neck brace,
chest protector, and MX pants. They may supplement this with elbow and
knee pads. Riders may also choose to wear 'body armour' to protect the
chest and legs when performing the most dangerous of tricks, as did
Travis Pastrana when performing his double backflips.
Motorcycle modifications
[edit]
Riders use modified motocross bikes with aftermarket parts to lower
weight and improve performance. Riders will often shave down the seat
foam to give a wider range of motion and better grip on the seat.
Steering stabilizers are also common and help keep the front tire
running straight when tricks requiring the rider to let go of the
handlebars are performed. Many riders will also shorten the width of
the handlebars, to make it easier to put the legs on the bars, like
such tricks as the 'heelclicker' or 'rodeo'. Excess cables, such as
brakes and clutch cables are usually redirected away from the bars, to
avoid riders getting their boots caught on the bike. The engine and
mechanical details of an FMX bike are fairly stock, not needing the
fine-tuning of a racing bike. Riders may also choose to have 'lever' on
their handlebars to help then when performing 'Kiss Of Death
Backflips.' A 'lever' is usually a metal plate or pipe coming off the
handlebars, and going in front of the riders wrist or lower arm to stop
the rider from rotating during the flips, but letting the bike continue
to move. Bikes have aftermarket performance pipes that give more power.
The bike must have very strong suspension and very high-quality tires.
Non-bike or rider equipment
[edit]
* One major component of Freestyle Motocross is the foam pit. These
vary in size but are usually a rectangular box filled with shredded
or cubed foam. The FMX rider will jump from a ramp, practising one
of the more dangerous or prototype tricks, and execute a safe
landing into the safe foam regardless of the actual landing
position.
* Ramps are usually made out of metal, as this keeps the 'lips' of
the ramp consistent.
* The landing ramp is normally constructed from dirt. If the event
has limited resources, landings ramps may be built on trucks or
trailers. When freeriding, however, the rider jumps from dirt to
dirt.
Notable riders
[edit]
This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this
section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may
be challenged and removed. (September 2023) (Learn how and when to
remove this message)
* Nate Adams
* Kenny Bartram
* Brian Deegan
* Caleb `SoBe Z' Nicks
* Seth Enslow
* Ronnie Faisst
* Carey Hart
* Taka Higashino
* Axell Hodges
* Mike "Mad Mike" Jones
* Andreu Lacondeguy
* Kyle Loza
* Jeremy Lusk
* Robbie Maddison
* Mike Metzger
* Clinton Moore
* Thomas Pages
* Travis Pastrana
* Colby Raha
* Mat Rebeaud
* Ethen Roberts
* Levi Sherwood
* Cam Sinclair
* Jeremy Stenberg
* Blake Williams
References
[edit]
1. ^ "FMX Tricktionary: Your ultimate guide to Freestyle Motocross
tricks". Red Bull. July 9, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
2. ^ "RONNIE RECORD: MOTOCROSS STAR RONNIE RENNER BREAKS BIG AIR WORLD
RECORD AT RED BULL HIGH RISE". Dirt Bike Magazine. August 3, 2009.
Retrieved September 14, 2023.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Freestyle Motocross.
* Official website of International Freestyle Motocross (World
Championship)
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Retrieved from
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* Dirt biking
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