About Freestyle Motocross

 

History of Freestyle Motocross

The Backflip was once considered the "holy grail of FMX" motorcycle jumping.. It was a trick that most motorcycle/motocross 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 motocross riders attempting the trick into water off a modified ramp. Also it had be done many times on BMX bikes, and FMX motocross riders were using tricks from BMX riders, such as when Travis Pastrana performed a Indian Air, originally from TJ Lavin, a BMXer.

In 2000, Carey Hart attempted and landed the first ever motorcycle backflip on full size motocross bike off a modified dirt landing ramp at the Gravity Games 2000. 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. Many motorcycle/motocross riders started to attempt it themselves, such as Travis Pastrana, who attempted the backflip of a Step Up jump at Summer X Games Freestyle. He bailed off in mid flight, breaking his foot.


In 2001, Caleb Wyatt successfully 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 motocross setup, off a ramp to dirt setup. Carey Hart attempted the backflip again at Summer X Games in 2001, during the Moto X Best Trick motorcycle competition, but bailed off the bike 45 feet in the air.
2002 saw the backflip taken to X Games glory. Travis Pastrana and Mike Metzger were both capable doing flips off ramps. Kenny Bartram was still learning flips, doing them off the backsides of dirt landings, much like Hart in the 2000 Gravity Games. The unthinkable had become reality; a backflip was now common place in freestlye competition. Mike Metzger had archieved a back-to-back backflips, which won him Freestyle Gold, at Summer X Games 7.

Many riders had done the amazing feat of a motorcycle backflip, with this came many variations in 2003. Regular FMX motocross tricks were being used in backdlips such as 'No Footers', 'HeelClickers', and 'One Handed' Backflips. IT was then when the backflip wasn't a one trick wonder, it had become as trick that could be used over longer distances, but had more danger than any other stunt before it.


2003 - 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 FMX motorcycle 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 the FMX motorcycle X Games 12 in Los Angeles, he became the first motorcycle rider to land a double backflip in competition. This trick which many riders considered impossible to do on a motorcycle had now been completed on a dirt set-up almost perfectly. He also vowed to never do it again.
2007 Early 2007 saw the emergence of footage of rider Scott Murray performing a number of double backflips successfully, to a foam pit/ramp setup, where a large piece of foam was place over the end of a foam pit, on which he landed many double backflips. Later that year Murray attempted the double backflip at X Games but was unsuccessful and crashing upon landing.
After the crash at X Games, Scott Murray, tried again, successfully landing the trick at a Supercross motorcycle event in Italy. Now he performs them regularly at the 2008 Crusty Demons FMX motorcycle tours, though he had a crash at Canberra, Australia, during a as how.

Rider Gear
FMX riders typically use much of the same riding gear as MX motorcycle racers. This includes a quality motorcycle helmet, goggles, gloves, boots, jersey and MX pants. They may supplement this with elbow and knee pads. Riders may also choose to wear 'body armor' to protect the chest and legs when performing the most dangerous of tricks, as did Travis Pastrana when performing his double backflips. A neck brace may also be worn if rider are concerned about neck injuries or are attempting dangerous tricks.

Motorcycle Modifications
Riders use modified motocross bikes with after market parts to lower weight and improve performance. Riders will often shave down the motorcycle seat foam to give a wider range of motion and grip on the seat. Also used are steering stabilizers, which help keep the bars straight when letting go of the handle bars when performing backflips. Many riders will also shorten the width of the handle bars, to make it easier to put the legs around the bars, like such tricks as the 'heelclicker' or 'rodeo'. Excess cables, such as brakes and clutch cables are usually redirected away from the bars, to avoid riders getting their boots caught on the bike. The engine and mechanical details of a FMX motorcycle are fairly stock, not needing the fine tuning of a racing bike. Common motorcycle modifications are new exhaust pipes to lower the noise of the motorcycle. This helps there to be less noise when events are held in closed arenas. These motorcycle/motocross riders may also choose to have 'lever' on their handlebars to help then when performing 'Kiss Of Death Backflips.' A 'lever' is usually a metal plate or pipe coming off the motorcycle handle bars, and going in front of the riders wrist or lower arm to stop the rider from rotating during the flips, but letting the motorcycle continue to move.

Non-Bike or Rider Equipment
One major component of Freestyle motocross is the foam pit. These vary in size, but is usually a rectangular box, filled with shredded or cubed foam, and FMX riders jump from a ramp practicing more of the dangerous tricks such as Backflip variations and prototype tricks such as Body Varials and 360s. Ramps are usually made out of metal, as this keep the 'lips' of the ramp consistent, and then a dirt landing, unless the event has limited resources, which is when truck or trailers have landings built on them. However when freeriding, the rider jumps from dirt to dirt.

Tricks
Rotation Tricks.
Backflip A trick first performed by Carey Hart, once the Holy Grail of Motocross, now is a very common motorcycle trick having many variants. It involves the rider rotating the motorcycle backwards until they have done one full rotation. Variants of this trick include any of the regular tricks, whilst doing a backflip. When naming the trick, the regular trick, for example a Can-Can, is said followed by Backflip. E.g. Can-Can Backflip.
Double Backflip Once thought to be impossible, it was performed first by Travis Pastrana, once at Spokane, Washington when filming for Travis and the Nitro Circus 3 and again at Summer X Games 12, Moto X Best Trick. It involves a rider doing two backflips during a jump. This tricks requires the rider to go twice as high and twice as far to achieve these rotations. Other notable people who have attempted this trick include Scott Murray, who crashed attempting it at Summer X Games 13 Moto X Best Trick, but later achieved it at an Italy supercross Event. He also performed the stunt at various Crusty Demons tours.
360 (Mulisha Twist) Perhaps the hardest trick to identify, because of its name. It is when the rider spins the bike 360 degrees. It was first performed by Brian Deegan, leader of the Metal Mulisha, hence its other name. Some believe Deegan had performed an Off-Axis Backflip or 360 Backflip because of its noticeable vertical rotation. Many riders have attempted this trick, only a couple riders have done a variant of this trick which include Nate Adams (Nac-Nac), Travis Pastrana (One Handed) and Blake Bilko Williams (HeelClicker).
Underflip When the rider does a backflip, but moves the bike perpendicular to the ramp when upside down. Created by Norwegian rider Ailo Gaup, it is one of the newer Flip Tricks. Notable riders that have performed this trick include Mat Rebeaud, who did a motorcycle Nac-Nac Underflip at Summer X Games 12 Moto X Best Trick
WhipFlip When the rider does a Whip during a backflip, not to be confused with an Underflip, as a underflip is moving the bike perpendicular to the ramp as soon as the rider leaves the ramp, where as a Whip can be performed at any time during a Whipflip.
Barrel - Similar to the airplane stunt 'Barrel' (no evidence of being performed by anyone, attempted by Mad 'Mike' Jones at X Games Moto X Best Trick, 2003) consists of the rider moving the bike 360 degrees horizontally, not to be confused with an Underflip.
Frontflip - Only attempted into water or foam pit. Consists of the rider pushing forward on the bike, rotating it verticalled frontwards then landing it.
Transfer - (not a rotation trick) By displacing body weight over the bike and using gyro movement of the wheels the rider makes the bike fly on a curve trajectory, thereby transferring the bike to another landing spot. Often used when motorcycle freeriding to curve to a landing.


Body Variels.
Carolla A trick first performed by Chuck Carothers, where the rider does a superman, then spins their body around 360 degrees parallel to the bike. This trick has only been done once at Summer X Games 10 Moto X Best Trick.
Volt Another body variel, invented by Kyle Loza but attempted by Travis Pastrana, is when the rider moves above the seat and spins their body 360 degrees.
Body Flip Variel (Gregg's Flip Variel) - The motorcycle rider backflips only his body and then grabs the bike by the seat.
Regular Tricks
Can-Can When a motorcycle rider lifts their foot over the seat to the other side and moves it back again
CliffHanger When a motorcycle rider hooks their feet under the handlebars and then reaches up vertically. Other names include the Jackhammer or Christ Air, where the rider does different movements of their hands
Dead Body The motorcycle rider sticks their feet through the handle bars, then flattens out their back as if they were dead on the ground, a variant is when the rider spreads their legs apart, called at 'Dead Body Shaolin'
Coffin Similar to the Lazy Boy, except the  motorcycle rider doesnt extend their hands out, but still leans back, making their legs horizontal under the handlebars, as if they were in a coffin
Double Grab When the motorcycle rider uses both hands to grab the grab holes or seat and extend their body upwards
Fender Grab When the FMX motorcycle rider grabs the front or back fender with their hands
Hart Attack Named after its creator, Carey Hart, the rider puts one hand on the handle bars and the other on the grab hole and extends their body upwards
Helicopter - Hart Attack with Indian Air.
HeelClicker The motorcycle rider moves their legs above the handle bars and clicks the heels, whilst holding on to the bars. This motorcycle trick is perhaps the basic trick of FMX. 
Lazy-Boy When the motorcycle rider move their body flat on the bike, moving legs horizontal under the handle bars, and arms back, as if they where in a Lazy-Boy chair. It was invented by Travis Pastrana. A variant of this trick it when the rider put his hands on their motorcycle helmet, commonly done by Travis Pastrana.
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 motorcycle before landings. Variations include the 'Double McMetz' were the trick is performed twice in one jump.
Rock Solid When the motorcycle rider moves out from the seat, doing a double grab, then letting go of the bike, moving hands away, usually out to the sides of the bike, resembling a cross. Other names include 'Holy Man' as the rider resembles Jesus Christ on the cross.
One Handed SeatGrab - Where the motorcycle rider puts one hand on the handle bars and the other on the seat, extending legs horizontally, not to be confused with a 'Hart Attack
Ladder - The motorcycle rider changes hands whilst performing One Hand Grab.
Oxecutioner - One Hand Grab with the other hand grabbing rider's boot. When the right hand grabs the left boot or the left hand grabs the right boot the trick is called Cross-Oxecutioner.
Scorpion - Hart Attack with both arms stretched and curved over legs, resembling a scorpion.
Kiss of Death (KOD) When the rider moves their head towards the front fender, as if to kiss it, whilst bringing their legs upwards from the motorcycle. Invented by Mad Mike Jones
Tsunami When the motorcycle rider moves the bike and their body vertical, then curves their legs over, resembling a tsunami
Ruler When the rider moves the bike and their body vertical
SideWinder Involves the rider dismounting their bike and moving to one side, then running in the air, whilst not holding the handle bars. Also known as a CatWalk, named after Tommy TomCat Clowers. A variant of this trick called the Wilma, when a rider holds the handle bars with one hand and performs the trick, invented by Travis Pastrana
9 oclock Nac When the motorcycle rider moves their body to the oclock position extending out wards from the bike. Rider can go up to the 12 oclock position on occasions.
9 oclock Indian Air The motorcycle rider does a 9 oclock Nac then does an Indian Air scissor kicking their legs
Ninja Nac - No handed 9 o'clock Nac (no confirmation of anyone performing this trick)
Flatliner - Similar to the 9 o'clock Nac but the rider and the bike are stretched in one plane supposedly parallel to the ground.
Side Grab - FMX motorcycle rider is stretched in a line and positioned perpendicular to the bike holding the bike by the seat with both his hands.
No Footer Can-Can (NFCC) - When the motorcycle rider lifts above the bike, and moves both feet to one side of the bike over the seat, body is bent, heels looking down or backward.
Double Can-Can When the motorcycle rider lifts above the bike, and moves both feet to one side of the bike over the seat, and stretches in a line with his heels looking up (somthing in between 9 o'clock Nac and Side Grab).
Pendulum - No Footer Can-Can to one side, then to the other.
Disco Can When the rider lets go of one the handlebars and points his index finger in the sky, whilst performing a No Footer Can-Can
Suicide Can When the rider lets go of the handlebars whilst performing a No Footer Can-Can
SwitchBlade - Almost Bar Hop, but both legs are positioned on the left or on the right, but not over the bar.
Candy Bar When a rider moves one leg between the handlebars and back again
Saran Wrap When a motorcycle rider does a Candy Bar, but moves the leg out to the side of the bike, letting go of one hand. The reverse of this is called a Reverse Saran Wrap
Nac-Nac - Invented by supercross/motocross star Jeremy McGrath, involves the motorcycle rider moving their leg over the bike, extending that leg out, while keeping the other leg on the foot peg.
No Footer When the motorcycle rider moves their legs outwards from the bike, dismounting their legs from the foot pegs
No Hander When the FMX motorcycle rider lets go of the handle bars
Cordova When the motorcycle rider hooks their boots under the handle bars and arcs their back to the font of the bike, whilst holding onto the handlebars with their hands. The rider may also put hands onto seat instead of handle bars
Stripper When the motorcycle rider performs a Cordova and extends one leg out from the bike
Rodeo When the motorcycle rider perform a one handed HeelClicker and moves the other hand in circles above their head, as if they were riding a bull in a rodeo
Decade Air - When the motorcycle rider revolves himself 360 about the fork axis over the bar (the bike flies straight).
Nothing When a rider performs a No Hander and No Footer at the same time
Super Can When the motorcycle rider does No Footer Can-Can but points their feet upwards.
Superman When the motorcycle rider moves their feet out parallel to and above the bike
Indian Air When a rider performs a Superman but does an Indian Air, scissor kicks their legs
Superman Seat Grab When a motorcycle rider does a Superman, but uses one hand to hold onto the seat or grab holes instead of the handlebars
Superman Seat Grab Indian Air When a motorcycle rider performs a Superman Seat Grab but does an Indian Air, scissor kicks their legs
Stalefish When the motorcycle rider sticks one leg between the handlebars and the other leg on the other side of the arm. A Variant of this trick is when the motorcycle rider clicks their heels, called a Stalefish HeelClicker. A FMX motorcycle rider may also perform a Saran Wrap whilst returning to remount the bike, which is be called a Stalefish Saran Wrap
Bar Hop When the rider moves both feet between and through the handle bars
Turntable When the motorcycle rider does a Bar Hop, then moves both feet to one side, letting go of one hand, then remounting the bike.
Shaolin - Bar Hop with legs pointing sideways.
Whip When the motorcycle rider moves the bike perpendicular to the ramp. That style of whip is called a turndown, whilst other styles move the bike flat
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
Wheelie Lander

Text from unidentified sources