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Freestyle Motocross (also known as FMX or Moto-X) is a recent variation on the sport of motocross. It concentrates not on speed or racing, but on the acrobatic ability of the rider in the air. Riders perform stunts over jumps ranging from 8-150 feet in length (24-45 meters). The two main types of freestyle events are Big Air and Freestyle Motocross.
Big Air (also known as Best Trick) is a best-of-three competition in which each contestant is allowed three attempts at the same jump. The best trick or variation of the three attempts gives the rider his score. The event is judged by a panel of ten judges scoring on a 100 point scale, judging for the style, level of trick difficulty, best use of the course. The rider with the highest single score wins the competition. The jump is usually over 100 feet (30 meters) in length). Big Air requires a rider who is capable of channeling all his intensity into a single maneuver.
Freestyle Motocross is the older of the two disciplines. Riders compete in a series of two routines of 90 seconds to two minutes in length on a freestyle course. The course consists of multiple jumps of varying lengths and angles, and is usually one to two acres in area (.4 to .8 hectres). Like Big Air, a panel of judges assigns each contestant a score based on a 100 point scale. In order to please the judges, riders must have the ability to execute difficult tricks and employ a number of variations over different jumps. Notable Freestyle motocross events include the X-Games, Gravity Games,Moto-X Freestyle National Championship, and Dew Action Sports Tour
Freeriding is the original freestyle motocross. It has no structure, and is traditionally done on public land. Riders look for natural jumps and drop-offs to execute their tricks on. Some freeriders prefer to jump using sand dunes. In many ways, freeriding requires more skill and mental ability. Notable freeriding locations include Ocotillo Wells and Glamis Dunes in California, Beaumont, Texas, and Cainville, Utah. You should be prepared to get dirty if you are trying this your self.
Equipment
FMX riders typically use much of the same riding gear as MX racers. This includes a helmet, goggles, gloves, boots, jersey and MX pants. They may supplement this with additional gear like elbow and knee pads for added protection.
The bikes are motocross bikes modified specifically for FMX use. Along with standard suspension and motor tuning the bikes will also have many aftermarket parts to lower weight and improve performance. Riders will often shave down the seat foam to give a wider range of motion for their bodies and cut the rear fender so that it's not in the way when doing tricks. This can give the bikes a distinct look from standard racing bikes. Some riders even attach handles to their bikes in various places to aid with tricks, Travis Pastrana was one of the first to do this during the X-Games.
Tricks
Freestyle motocross employs many tricks of varying difficulty.
- The nac-nac, invented by supercross star Jeremy McGrath, is one of the original FMX tricks. It is executed by dismounting the motorcycle while in the air.
- The heel clicker is another elementary FMX trick. It consists of the rider clicking his heels together over the handlebars while in the air.
- The kiss-of-death, where the rider moves his body straight up and his motorcycle straight down, is one of the more difficult tricks.
- The most controversial trick is the backflip first attempted by Carey Hart in 2000.
- Perhaps the most difficult of all tricks is the Body Varial, also called the Carolla after its inventor Chuck Carothers.
- Another difficult trick is The 360 A.K.A Mulisha Twist, a complete full spin first landed by Brian Deegan in the 2003 X Games Freestyle MotoX competition.
- The double backflip was completed by Travis Pastrana. The trick has never been pulled in a competition before.
- The lazy-boy was invented by none other than, Travis Pastrana. The trick has been pulled by many freestyle motocross riders, and is often used in competition.
- Most freestyle motocross riders can do bacfklip with variations, all listed below.
Famous Freestyle Motocrossers
- Travis Pastrana - first to land backflip in competition and ride off successfully. Also the first ever land a double backflip.
- Mike Metzger, called the Godfather
- Brian Deegan - the leader of the group of freestyle motocross riders, the "Metal Mulisha."
- Ronnie Faisst
- Caleb Wyatt - first to ever successfully land a backflip on a 250cc dirt bike
- "Mad Mike" Jones
- Nate Adams - perhaps the only person to beat Travis Pastrana in freestyle competition. (Has beaten Pastrana 3 times).(Gravity Games, X Games, and at The Dew Action Sports Tour.) Both Gravity Games and X Games was because of Pastrana crashing
- Jim Mcneil
- Carey Hart - first ever to do a backflip on a 250cc dirtbike in competition.
- Ailo Gaup - A famous freestyle motocross rider from Norway who sold fish to get his dirt bike
- Kenny Bartram - the first ever to land a Side Saddle Backflip and is great friends with Travis Pastrana
- Ronnie Renner - Usually known for his amazing whips, making them look like a 360.
- Adam Jones - first to ever land a Cordova Backflip
- Bob Khol - first to ever land backflip on an 80cc dirt bike (currently rides BMX)
- Tyler King - TRICK MAKER and leader of "the Dead King Society"
- Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg
- Colin "Scummy" Morrison
- Blake "Bilko" Williams - first to land cliffhanger backflip to dirt
External links
- FMX.com - official site of the Freestyle Motocross Series
- FreestyleMX.com - fan-based freestyle motocross website
- http://www.MikeMetzger.com -Mike Metzger's Official Website
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"Freestyle Motocross"