Freestyle Motocross

Freestyle Motocross rider Joe stein Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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 three jumps — usually covering more than 60 feet — from a dirt-covered ramp. A panel of 10 judges evaluates the style, trick difficulty, and use of the course, 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 disciplines. Riders perform two routines, 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 hectres). 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

A One-Handed Hart Attack performed by Ailo Gaup

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 on 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.

The Holy Grail of FMX

The Backflip was once considered the "holy grail of FMX". It was a trick that most riders considered impossible and was considered more appropriate in video games than real life. Speculation of the possibility began with the Motocross film "Children of a Metal God" featuring riders attempting the trick into water off a modified ramp.

In 2000, Carey Hart attempted the first ever backflip on full size motocross bike off a modified dirt landing ramp. The landing was less than perfect with Carey crashing immediately after. Speculation in the motocross community following, with many people claiming he completed the trick and others claiming he merely attempted it. Regardless of the outcome, Freestyle Motocross was forever changed.

In 2001, Greg Chrin successful landed a backflip onto a mulch pile at Rogue Valley Motocross track. While becoming the first man ever to ride away the trick was still not attempted on a normal fmx setup of 7-80ft ramp to dirt.

2002 saw the backflip taken to X games glory. Travis Pastrana, Mike Metzger and Kenny Bartram were all capable off competitions ramps. The unthinkable had become reality; a backflip was now common place in freestlye competition.

2002-2005 These years saw the development of the trick, with many variations including cliffhangers, cordovas etc. As well as the disputed 360's which some consider only off-axis flips. The backflip was perfected over large distances including over 100 feet.

2006 Early 2006 saw footage emerge of Travis Pastrana Completing a double backflip on a 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. This trick which many considered impossible had now been completed on a dirt set-up almost perfectly.

2007 Early 2007 saw the emergence of footage of rider Scott Murray performing a number of double backflips successfully. Later that year Murray attempted the double backflip at X Games but was unsuccessful and crashing upon landing.

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 elbow and knee pads.

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.

Tricks

Freestyle motorcross in Taiwan

Freestyle motocross employs many tricks of varying difficulty.

The trick with the most variants is the “Backflip”, first attempted by Carey Hart in 2000.

- Backflip Cordova
- Backflip Heel Clicker
- Backflip Hart Attack
- Backflip Lazyboy
- Backflip Nac-Nac
- Backflip Nac-Nac to Heel Clicker
- Backflip Nac-Nac to Heel Clicker to No Hander Lander
- Backflip No Footer
- Backflip No Footed Nac-Nac
- Backflip No Hander
- Backflip No Handed Lander
- Backflip and let the bike go and try to land (suicide)
- Backflip One Hander
- Backflip One-Handed Can-Can
- Backflip One-Handed Nac-Nac
- Backflip Saran Wrap
- Backflip Superman Seat Grab
- Backflip Superman Seat Grab Indian Air
- Backflip Superman
- Backflip Superman Indian Air
- Backflip Ruler
- Backflip Cliffhanger
- Backflip Whip
- Backflip Whip No-Footer
- Backflip Whip No-Footer to One-Hander Lander
- Backflip Creamer
- Backflip Sexafide
- Backflip Super Chang Air
- Kamakazie flip(named by todd potter but bilko was the first to land to dirt) also known as tsunami flip
- 360 Backflip or Barrel Roll
- Corkscrew - Never attempted, the rider and bike turn sideways in the air and rotate 360 degrees to form a corkscrew.
- Frontflip - Only attempted while practicing into foam pits, some people see this trick as impossible to achieve
Perhaps the most difficult trick is the “Body Varial,” also called the “Carolla” after its inventor Chuck Carothers.
The Body Varial has also been done by Kyle Loza, but in a different manner than the "Carolla".
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 first completed in competition by Travis Pastrana at the 2006 X Games.
Double Grab
Fender Grab
Hart Attack Invented by Carey Hart
The “Heel Clicker” is another elementary FMX trick. It consists of the rider clicking his heels together over the handlebars while in the air.
London Bridge ( Feet On Handles Hands Grabbing On To Seat)
Holy Grab
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.
Ladder to Lazy-Boy was invented by 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 then pulling them out by taking his hands of the bars. He then 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.
CatWalk
Nine o'clock knock (or 12 o'clock knock). This involves the body in a "9 o'clock" position, more difficult 12 o'clock where the body is near the 12 position.
No Footer
No Footed Can
No Hander
No Hander One Footer
No Foot Nac-Nac
Nothing
Rock Solid
Fabhop or Indian Barhop
Rodeo Air
Stale Fish Fender Grab
Stale Fish Heel Clicker
Ruler
Cordova
Sidewinder
Stale Fish Saran Wrap
Star Fish (Extended Bar Hop)
Suicide Can
Superman
Superman Indian Air (Indian Air)
Superman Seat Grab
Superman Seat Grab Indian Air (Seat Grab Indy)
Surfer
Topside No Footed Can - (known as the switchblade)
Tsunami
The Whip
Turntable
Superman Nut Grab
Candy Bar
fenderkiss
double can can
Volt
Carolla
Ruler Flip (Only been performed by Blake "Bilko" Williams)

Types Of Landings

No Hander Lander (First landed by Mike Jones)
One Handed Lander
Sterlizer (First landed by Clifford Adoptante also know as the Flyin Hawaiian; also notably used by Trevor Vines)
Side Saddle Lander (First landed by Brian Deegan moto x)
Standard Lander ( standing up on pegs )
Blind Jerry ( cover eyes with both hands )
Stoppie Lander
Candybar Lander
Can Can Lander
nothing lander(when you bail off the bike)

One foot lander barhop lander

Wheelie lander? (by travis)

Famous Freestyle Motocrossers

External links

[2]- Proline Skates

Ryan Leyba