Freestyle motocross

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Figure: Superman Seatgrab
"Rock solid" figure

Freestyle Motocross, or FMX for short , developed from motocross . Originally, in motocross competitions, in addition to the actual races, competitions were held to entertain the spectators, which the driver with his machine achieved the best or most beautiful whip (see below). Soon riders began to focus only on this competition, gradually making FMX the sport in its own right.

At the FMX, the riders jump over ski jumps ("kickers") with slightly modified motocross machines . In the few seconds between take-off and landing, they sometimes perform very daring maneuvers in the air. Depending on the competition, a single jump or a series of jumps in a given time will be assessed by the referees , the judges. The driver with the highest rating wins.

The world's best and most successful drivers include Travis Pastrana (US), Nate Adams (US), Mike Metzger (US), Ronnie Renner (US), Mathieu Rebeaud (CH), Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg (US), Dany Torres ( ESP) and Ailo Gaup (NOR). The most successful German drivers are Sebastian (Busty) "Airwastl" Wolter , Hannes "NSA" Ackermann and Fabian (Fab) Bauersachs .

The most important competitions in FMX are the X-Games , the Red Bull X-Fighters and the Night-of-the-Jumps series.

Used motorcycles

Most riders jump on 250cc 2-stroke motorcycles. These have the best power to weight ratio. Some riders use 125 cc bikes, which have better handling, but not as good acceleration. The run-up distance to the ramps in the FMX arena contests is usually relatively short, so that one has problems with a 125 cc machine in reaching the required speed to jump over the ramps. At FMX events mainly motorcycles from the manufacturers KTM, Yamaha and Kawasaki, but also from Honda and Suzuki, are used. In 2009, Kain Saul performed a backflip for the first time with a heavy Harley-Davidson XR1200.

Usual changes to the machines

  • Attaching handles (because of the backflip) or cutting openings on the side plastic parts below the bench. Used to hold on to special tricks (Seatgrab tricks). Some riders also stick skateboard griptape to the open struts of the rear frame for additional control and safety during the jumps.
  • Landing Changes - The shock absorbers must be set for hard landings to cushion the landing on very high or long jumps.
  • Shortening the tail (rear fender) - This is to give the rider more space to do their tricks. However, some drivers have since decided not to make this change.
  • Widening of the footrests - Allows the driver to stand more securely during the tricks and help when returning to the footrests for "no-footed" tricks. In addition, the forces that occur during landing are better distributed over the foot.
  • High handlebars without a central strut so that you don't get stuck on the central strut when doing tricks like "Barhop" or "Shaolin".
  • Flat bench for more freedom of movement. A flat bench can e.g. B. can be achieved by trimming / grinding the seat foam.

Description of some tricks

Some of the names of the tricks come from the BMX sector. When choosing a name / assigning new tricks, a driver who shows him first without falling has traditionally a decisive influence. To be the first to present a new trick to the public is the great goal of every Freestyle MX'er.

  • TP7 - backflip with 360 ° rotation. Was landed for the first time by Travis Pastrana at the end of 2009.
  • Front flip - a forward flip with the motorcycle. First shown by Jim DeChamp at the X-Games 2007. He showed it extended at Nitro Circus . Among others, it is jumped by Paris Rosen and Jacko Strong.
  • Backflip - backflip on a motorcycle. A backflip by Carey Hart was shown for the first time . However, this ended in a fall. Mike Metzger showed the first extended backflip.
  • Double Backflip - a double backflip on a motorcycle, shown for the first time by Travis Pastrana.
  • "Triple Backflip" - a triple backflip with the dirt bike, shown for the first time by Josh "Sheeny" Sheehan . He landed it in May 2015 in Travis Pastrana's “Pastranaland”.
  • Body Varial - The driver detaches himself from the machine, turns around his own vertical axis , grabs the machine again, sits up and lands. First landed by Chuck Carothers at the X-Games 2004.
  • Shoebox - The driver leaves the motorcycle and hooks his or her legs onto the cut-out side handles
  • Can can - the driver moves one leg forward to the other side of the tank and stretches it out.
  • Candybar - the driver swings one leg forward over the handlebars.
  • Heelclicker - The driver swings his legs past his arms over the handlebars until the feet touch.
  • Cordova - The hands stay on the handlebars, the feet wander under the handlebars and the driver pushes his entire upper body forward through the gap and leans his head backwards.
  • Nac nac - The driver swings one leg back over the bench.
  • Cliffhanger - The driver hooks his feet under the handlebars and stretches his body upwards
  • Coffin - The rider stretches his legs under the handlebars and lays his upper body on the bench with his hands on the handlebars.
  • Lazy boy (lazy boy) - The driver lets go of the handlebars, lies back with his arms straight and stretches his legs forward under the handlebars so that he lies horizontally on the machine.
  • Fender Kiss - The driver leans forward over the handlebars until, ideally, his helmet touches the front fender. With the "Kiss of Death" the legs are stretched upwards (cf. Tsunami).
  • "360 °" rotation. Since the motorcycle is stabilized by the turning wheels, a 360 ° can only be shown off axis.
  • Tsunami - The driver holds on to the handlebars. The machine swings down as he stretches his body up. Ideally, both form a vertical line.
  • Tsunami scorpion style - In the Tsunami scorpion style, the driver bends his knees so that his feet point in the direction of flight.
  • Flintstone ( Flint ) - The driver has both legs on one side of the machine and "runs" in the air beside her and takes up his hands off the handlebars. The name alludes to the car of the cartoon character Fred Feuerstein.
  • Indian Air - Similar trick to the Superman Seatgrab . With the difference that the driver throws his legs crosswise, ie left leg as far to the right as possible and vice versa.
  • Nothing - The driver separates himself completely from the machine for a short time and catches it again.
  • No footer - the driver takes both feet off the footrests.
  • No hander - the driver takes both hands off the handlebars.
  • One handed - the driver takes one hand off the handlebars.
  • Superman - The legs and upper body are stretched backwards while the hands remain on the handlebars.
  • Superman Seatgrab - extension of the Superman's. The driver hikes backwards during the exercise and usually only holds one hand in a specially designed recessed grip under the bench.
  • Rock solid - Similar trick as the Superman Seatgrab , but the driver spreads his arms to the side and hovers freely over the machine for a short time.
  • To one hand landing - the machine is landed with one hand.
  • To no hand landing - the machine is landed hands free.
  • Whip ( whip ) - The machine is rotated in the air to the side, so that it is transverse to the direction of flight.
  • Suicide Whip - a no-handed whip
  • Special Flip / Special Greg - The rider separates from the machine and does a back flip with his body. First performed on an MX machine by Tom Pages at the "X-Games" 2012. This trick was derived from the BMX scene in which it was first mastered by Greg Powell at a live performance of Nitro Circus.
Floor tricks
  • Wheelie : The driver pulls up the front wheel and rides on the rear wheel.
  • Stoppie : The driver brakes so that the rear wheel goes up.
  • Burnout : The machine stands still and the rear wheel spins.

There are many variations based on certain basic tricks. So z. B. a Superman Seatgrab (SSG) can be jumped as a double SSG (both hands reach into the grave holes). The double SSG, in turn, can be jumped as a rock solid (grab holes are briefly released, the rider hovers over the motorcycle).

You can also combine these different tricks. Recently very popular in FMX are the backflip combos like Backflip-Cordova (first shown by Adam Jones), Backflip Superman, Backflip Lazy Boy and the Heelclicker Backflip.

Web links

Commons : Freestyle Motocross  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ X-Games - Website: X Games. From: xgames.espn.go.com , accessed January 10, 2014 .
  2. ↑ Red Bull X-Fighters - Website: Red Bull X-Fighters. From: www.redbullxfighters.com , accessed January 10, 2014 .
  3. ↑ Night of the jumps - website: NIGHT of the JUMPs - Freestyle Motocross. From: www.nightofthejumps.com , accessed January 10, 2014 .
  4. ↑ a b c Freestyle Motocross - Website: Motocross Bikes. (No longer available online.) At: www.freestyle-motocross.net , archived from the original on September 27, 2014 ; accessed on January 10, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.freestyle-motocross.net
  5. ↑ Freestyle Motocross - Website: Freestyle Motocross Tricks. (No longer available online.) At: www.freestyle-motocross.net , archived from the original on February 28, 2014 ; accessed on January 10, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.freestyle-motocross.net
  6. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcx7c3PlFhQ