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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 jumps and stunts ranging from 80-150 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 fourteen 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 Red Bull X-Fighters, the X-Games, Gravity Games, Big-X, 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 yourself.
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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.
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Tricks
Freestyle motocross employs many tricks of varying difficulty.
The most controversial trick is the “Backflip” first attempted by Carey Hart in 2000.
Backflip Nac-Nac to Heel Clicker
Backflip No Footed Nac-Nac (Landed by European Rider)
Backflip No Handed Lander
Backflip One-Handed Nac-Nac
Backflip Superman Indian Air (Also called Indian Air)
Backflip Superman Seat Grab
Backflip Superman Seat Grab Indian Air
Backflip Whip No-Footer to One-Hander Lander
Perhaps the most difficult of all tricks is the “Body Varial,” also called the “Carolla” after its inventor Chuck Carothers.
The 'Can-Can' is one of the simplest FMX tricks. It involves the rider taking one of his legs and sticking it out on the otherside of the bike in front of him.
The 'Cliffhanger' consists of the rider placing his feet on top of or underneath the handlebars and than reaching up towards the sky as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff. Variations of this include the 'Jackhammer' and the 'Christ Air'
The "Coffin/Dead Body" involves the rider sticking his legs between his arms and stretching back so he is laying flat above the bike, as if he were in a Coffin.
The “Double Backflip” was completed by Travis Pastrana. This trick was pulled off for the first time ever in competition during the 2006 X Games.
The “Heel Clicker” is another elementary FMX trick. It consists of the rider clicking his heels together over the handlebars while in the air.
Holy Man - (Superman no handed let go)
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 “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. It involves the rider lying flat on his back with his legs under the handlebars and his arms out behind him. It resembles a man lying down on a couch or Lazy-Boy chair, hence the name.
The 'McMetz' involves the rider lifting himself off the bike and taking his arms, placing them underneath the handlebars and than pulling them out by taking his hands of the bars. He than sits back down on the bike before landings. Variations include the 'Double McMetz' were the trick is performed twice in one jump.
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 “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.
Star Fish (Extended Bar Hop)
Superman Indian Air (Indian Air)
Topside No Footed Can - (known as the switchblade)
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Types Of Landings
No Hander Lander (First landed by Mike Jones)
Sterlizer (First landed by Clifford Adoptante also know as the Flyin Hawaiian)
Side Saddle Lander (First landed by Brian Deegan)
Standard lander ( standing up on pegs )
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Famous Freestyle Motocrossers
Travis Pastrana - . The first ever to land a double backflip (2006 X Games). Youngest rider to win a gold medal at age 15.
Mike Metzger, called the Godfather. First to master the backflip by pulling back to back flips in a comp. for being an innovator especially during pioneering of Freestyle Motocross.
Brian Deegan - the leader of the group of freestyle motocross riders, the "Metal Mulisha." First ever to do a 360(some say an off-axis backflip because it isn't as flat) in competition naming the trick the "Mulisha Twist". Also innovator especially during pioneering of Freestyle Motocross and is the most decorated Freestyle Motocross rider in X Games history with 10 total medals(3 Golds and 7 Bronzes)and is the only rider to compete in at least 1 event in every X Games.
"Mad Mike" Jones- Craziest guy on a motorbike. known for flipping over the handelbars and making the Kiss Of Death and the no handed lander
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 - first person to ever attempt Cordova Backflip in a foam pit.
Jeff "Ox" Kargola - Member of "Metal Mulisha" and first person to ever Superman Seat Grab (SSG) Backflip.
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 and a old car to get his dirt bike
Kenny Bartram - the first ever to land a Side Saddle Backflip and is great friends with Travis Pastrana. Nickname is "Cowboy" Kenny Bartram.
Ronnie Renner - Usually known for his amazing whips, making them look like a 360.
Adam Jones - first ever to land a Cordova Backflip
Bob Khol - first ever to land backflip on an 80cc dirt bike (currently rides BMX)
Tyler King - TRICK MAKER and leader of "the Dead King Society"
Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg- 1 of the youngest competitors to become successful, is crediited for his great style another part of the Metal Mulisha. 2-time X Games Best Trick Gold Medalist; holds the Guinness World Record for longest backflip on a dirt bike at 155ft.(previously held by Metzger who stole the record from Stenberg 3 months earlier).
Colin "Scummy" Morrison-part of the Metal Mulisha. Rides many demos(including the Vans Warped Tour) and appears in videos.
Mat Rebeaud - First to do a underflip in a competition.
Remi Bizouard - First to do a Hart Attack Backflip in competition.
Andre Villa - First to do a Barrel roll in Competition.
Jono Porter - First Australian to flip in competition and he helped make FMX so famous in Australia.
Tommy Clowers - Holds the record in Step-Up competion with a jump of 35ft.
Beau Bamburg - First and only to ever attempt Backflip Sterilizer.
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