Longest motorcycle jump-world record set by Robbie
Maddison
[Jan 2] LAS VEGAS, NV,USA--Australian motocross superstar Robbie
Maddison set the new world record for the longest motorcycle
ramp jump by jumping his motorcycle 322 feet 7-1/2 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.
Photocredit:
Christian Pondella/Red Bull Photofiles (enlarge
photo)
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.
Previous
world record for the Longest Motorcycle ramp jump:
Trigger Gumm (USA) jumped 277ft. 4 in. (84.5m)
on a Honda CR500 at the Queensland Raceway, Ipswich, Queensland,
Australia, on May 14, 2005.
Record breaker profile video: Robbie
Maddison (1 of 3)
Video:FMX training with Robbie
Maddison (Part 2 of 3)
FMX w/ Robbie Maddison and Metal Mulisha
(Part 3 of 3)