Read about Robbie Maddison's 12/31/08 stunt here (with video!)
Robbie Maddison Sets New World Distance Record
Jan 02 2008 / Las Vegas, NV
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After his first jump, Maddison appeared to be disappointed that he missed his goal of around 360 feet and took off to make a second jump. He cleanly landed that jump but failed to eclipse the record-breaking mark a second time.
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What made the jump even more amazing was the fact that earlier in 2007 Maddison broke his right leg while competing at the Red Bull X Fighters contest and he didn't event start riding in earnest until early December to train.
The "Experiment" was originally scheduled to feature the first-ever flip of an off-road vehicle by Rhys Millen, but he was injured training for the jump on December 24. ESPN showed the footage of Millen's crash for the first time during the live broadcast, and what apparently happened was during a test jump Millen's ramp malfunctioned and his off-road vehicle overshot the protective set of cardboard boxes that were set up to cushion the landing of the vehicle. Millen broke three vertebrae in the accident.
Red Bull didn't replace Millen in the night's festivities, but other athletes were interviewed, including Moto masters Brian Deegan and Mike Metzger and Red Bull super snowboarder/skateboarder Shaun White.
Evel Knievel was remembered many times through the night, not only because he passed away last month at the age of 69, but also because he attempted the world-famous jump at Ceasar's Palace 40 years ago to the night of Maddison's jump. That jump, which was only 151 feet, was unsuccessful and footage of his terrible crash has been seen thousands of times since.
Maddison said he had spoken to Knievel's family and that he was "honored to be able to do this and represent him."
WHAT'S NEXT?
Maddison's next chance to beat the mark will come March 29th when he faces Seth Enslow and Capes at the Crusty Demons Night of World Records for the Guinness World Record title in Melbourne, Australia.
The Aussie rider looks ready to follow in the footsteps of Knievel, his idol.
"This is just the start of it all and from here on in I plan to do similar things and come up with some creative jumps and draw some big crowds," the 26-year-old said.
"We want to jump over some unique things in the future - there are definitely plans on the table to go and jump things that have never been jumped before."
"If I could put together jumps and draw the attention with the magnitude Evel Knievel did with his that would definitely be a goal of mine."
MORE INFO
Here's the official press release from Red Bull about the jump:
AUSTRALIAN RULES
Maddo Breaks World Record on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas
Maddo Breaks World Record on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada (January 1, 2008) – Australian motocross superstar Robbie Maddison literally leapt into the pages of the Guinness Book of World Records by jumping his motorcycle 322 feet 7½ inches over the length of a regulation football field to shatter the previous record of 277 feet at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The jump was the first-ever Red Bull Experiment, which involves world-class athletes attempting world-first athletic achievements.
Telecast live on ESPN’s New Year, No Limits program shortly after the ball dropped in Times Square signifying 2008, Maddison hit the take-off ramp at 94 miles per hour on his Honda CR 500, reaching a height of more than 60
feet, and soared into history.
“I came here to jump a football field,” said Maddison. “Conditions weren’t perfect, but I’m happy with the result. Yesterday in rehearsal, I went 350 feet and I knew 360 feet was achievable. We did all we could, but the winds
played a bigger factor than we planned. But this is called the Red Bull Experiment, and we didn’t know what the outcome would be. I just want to thank everyone that made this jump possible and a big thanks to all the fans who came out to support me. This is just the beginning.”
A who’s who of action and motorsports superstars cheered Maddo on, including Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden, Olympic gold medalist Amanda Beard and the family of the late Evel Knievel, to whom Maddison dedicated his world record-breaking feat.
Maddison, who hails from the town of Kiama, two hours south of Sydney, has achieved tremendous success in the freestyle motocross world and is also the owner of two additional world records – for the longest jump on a 125cc motorcycle (221 feet) and the longest jump with a trick (246 feet).
Other notable guests in attendance included five-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Mick Doohan, AMA Superbike racers Ben and Eric Bostrom, freestyle motocrossers Tommy Clowers, Mike Metzger and Ronnie Faisst, former motocross racer Ernesto Fonseca, X Games BMX Big Air gold medalist Kevin Robinson, skateboard legend Danny Way, big wave surf legend Ross Clarke Jones, snowboard superstar Travis Rice, NASCAR driver Scott Speed and skateboarder Jake Brown.
