2006: The Year in FMX
Nov 24 2006 / Los Angeles, CA
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Travis Pastrana Does The Double
Not that there was ever any question as to whether Travis Pastrana was the man, but if there was Pastrana laid them to rest after landing the first-ever double backflip in competition in August of this year at X Games 12 in Los Angeles. During the FMX best trick contest, he arranged to have the launch ramp pushed back a little farther so he could do something "special" for the crowd. Rumors had been swirling, so everyone knew what was coming. Nonetheless, the crowd wasn't prepared for the ridiculously big trick when he actually landed it. Needless to say, Pastrana won the best trick contest... and his 3rd X Games gold medal... and the Rally Car race. The boy's unstoppable.
Travis talks about why he did his double backflip
Travis talks about the emotional journey with his mother leading up the double backflip
See photos of Travis Pastrana's Double Backflip
Travis Pastrana Takes Over The World
Speaking of Rally Car racing... Travis Pastrana apparently got bored with winning so many FMX events and needed a new challenge. Enter Rally Car racing... which he's also really good at. He won the rally event at X Games 12 and recently became the youngest American rally car champion in history when he and his Subaru teammate, Christian Edstrom, secured the 2006 Rally America Championship at the Lake Superior rally race in Michigan. As fellow FMX rider Robbie Maddison says, "now he can go be the best in the world at rallying." Pastrana is not completely retired from FMX, but plans to focus on rallying in his bright future… and possibly world domination shortly thereafter.
Watch video of Travis Pastrana at the Dew Tour Vans Invitational 2006
Ricky Carmichael Crosses Over To NASCAR
Since we’re having a conversation about sport crossovers, we can’t leave out one of the biggest nuggets of news in the Motocross world to leak out this year. Ricky “I’ll crush anybody in my path” Carmichael has been talking about leaving Supercross for NASCAR for years. But, this year he made it official. At a press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Ricky Carmichael made an announcement that he will join the MB2 Motorsports NASCAR team. He was quoted as saying, "It's been a long process, and maybe some people thought it was just a bunch of stuff going around," said Carmichael about finalizing his NASCAR plans. "This is something that's a dream of mine, a fantastic challenge, and I'm very optimistic going into it." Good luck RC.
Nate Adams Reigns Supreme
With Travis Pastrana out of the way in the FMX world half way through the 2006 season, Nate Adams was the obvious heir to TP’s ethereal throne. It was generally known that Adams and Pastrana had no love for each other, so to say that Adams was relieved is probably an understatement. Adams received his nickname “The Destroyer” for being the only rider to really have a chance at beating Pastrana in competition. Adams wasted no time after Pastrana left FMX by winning the LG Action Sports World Championships in Pomona, CA and the overall Dew Tour title. Rising FMX star Jeremy Lusk said of Nate’s dominance, “Now that no one’s there to push Nate at his level, he’ll probably just chill for a while and let us catch up.”
Watch video of Nate Adams doing a Cordova backflip in San Jose
Photos of Nate Adams in Action
Mike Mason Destroys "The Destroyer"
Jeremy Lusk made that last statement about Nate Adams’ dominance at the final leg of the Dew Tour in Orlando—just hours before Mike Mason stepped up to the plate and hit a veritable home run. Mason won his first-ever major freestyle motocross event by taking the top spot at the final round of the Dew Action Sports Tour—beating out a pissed off Nate Adams. (Adams did go on to win the overall season title, though.) There were rumors that the judges were responsible for Mason’s win (see Twitch’s blog), but regardless, Mason had an incredible performance that places him near the top of the list for major title contenders from now on.
FMX Field Decimated By Injuries
FMX is dangerous, M-kay? While this year’s injuries weren’t necessarily a high point in the season, they did play a very important role in changing the face of the FMX lineup at every contest. Every year there are dozens of serious injuries. But, 2006 was particularly brutal in the injury department. The first big crash of the year belonged to Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg at the Dew Tour in Louisville, Kentucky last June when he launched himself 30 feet in the air and bailed off his bike. He fell out of the sky and landed directly on his feet breaking both legs. He was stuck in a wheelchair until October. Kenny Bartram was the other major contender who crashed big this year. During a practice session at X Games he came up short on a 115-foot jump breaking his wrist, at least one rib, and separating his shoulder. He recently got his casts taken off too, so he should ready to go for 2007.
Watch Kenny Bartram's video profile
Metzger Breaks Backflip World Record
Metzger is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in FMX. Without him FMX would not exist in the way we know it today. Metzger is constantly pushing the sport, breaking records and expanding the boundaries of what is possible on bike. And on May 4 of this year he did it again. Metzger broke the world record for longest motorcycle backflip by flying 125 feet over the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. For the jump, Metzger had a special 20-foot tall take-off and landing built. It was a huge show with thousands of spectators on hand to witness the incredible leap. Following the jump, Metzger was awarded a World Record Certificate for the longest backflip ever recorded on a dirt bike. Nice job, Metz.
“Scary” Mary Perkins 1st Female To Join Crusty Demons
Kiwi girl, “Scary” Mary Perkins made freestyle motocross history after becoming the first female in the world to join the world-renowned Crusty Demons FMX team. Twenty three year-old Perkins was invited to ride with the infamous motocross extremists after a huge season in which she set a world record for the longest jump by a woman on – a death defying 159ft. Perkins is the first female FMX rider in the world to ride in shows the caliber of Crusty Demons. "It's a huge opportunity for me with international recognition. It will be a great follow-up to my world record last year and keep the momentum going," she said.
Mat Rebeaud Wins Red Bull X Fighters in Mexico City
Mat Rebeaud, the FMX phenom from Switzerland, added his name to a distinguished list of FMX stars when he claimed victory at Red Bull X-Fighters in Mexico City on March 31 earlier this year. The 23 year-old from Payerne in Switzerland pulled out every variation from his rather large bag of tricks at the FMX contest that drew serious competition from around the world. When standing on the podium he said it was "the most beautiful day of my life," after winning his first big international competition. He joins a group of winners including Travis Pastrana, Nate Adams, Ronnie Renner, Kenny Bartram, Edgar Torronteral and Mike Jones.
FMX Becomes A Mainstay In Vegas
Las Vegas has long been the backdrop for all kinds of world record attempts. After all, nothing creates a big show like a record attempt at a casino. People gambling with their lives goes hand in hand with people gambling with their life-savings. This fact has not been lost on FMX riders. That’s why Kicker celebrated their 5th annual Big Air Bash in Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino the first week of November. Travis Pastrana, Kenny Bartram, Mike Mason, Tommy Clowers, Brian Deegan and other showed up for a big air jam and to party in true Vegas style. The Kicker Big Air Bash is sure to be a mainstay on the strip for some time to come.
Watch video from the 2006 Kicker Big Air Bash
Photos from Kicker Big Air Bash 2006
