Posted on 12/31/2007 8:49:17 PM PST by hole_n_one
It will be the jump of Robbie Maddison's life.
The Aussie freestyle motocross star will attempt to jump the length of a football field in the middle of Las Vegas tomorrow and shatter the current Guinness World Record.
The 26-year-old from Kiama, on NSW's south coast, hopes to jump nearly 110 metres in the air and fulfil his lifelong dream.
"It's been a goal of mine to set the official longest distance jump and the other is to jump the length of a football field," Maddison told ninemsn from Las Vegas.
"I'm pretty confident I've got this one and that I'll have the record for longest jump as mine."
"Maddo" will approach the ramp at speeds of nearly 153km/h and will only be in the air for a mere 4 seconds during the planned jump.
He has been training at his southern California property for the past few months and has already surpassed 100 metres during practice runs.
"The best training I could have is just a life of riding bikes since I was four year old," Maddison said.
"Every spare minute of my life I've been on a two-wheel machine and that's given me the confidence that I have now.
"I started practicing at 200 feet and we've worked it back slow and I've already done a jump of 100 meters the other night."
Nor does the life-threatening nature of the jump seem to worry Maddison.
"The wind is pretty much my biggest enemy and I've been praying for perfect conditions," he said.
"The way I leave the ramp is a calculated manoeuvre and it's a dangerous gig, but believe it or not I can still correct the bike."
Maddison will stage his death-defying stunt as part of New Year's Eve celebrations at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, with other daredevils and music stars performing throughout the night.
Maddo already holds two world records — the longest jump on a 125cc motorcycle at 67 metres and the longest jump with a trick at 75 metres.
He is dedicating the jump to his idol — Evel Knievel, who died on November 30, aged 69, after suffering with pulmonary fibrosis, commonly known as a scarring of the lungs.
"I want to do this for the man who inspired me and everything I do," he said.
"100 per cent of this is for him and I've invited his family here and he's the man of honour."
Evel Knievel attempted a similar jump 40 years ago to the day by sending his motorbike 46 metres over the fountains at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
Knievel didn't land the jump and spent more than a month unconscious in hospital.
Maddison insists he is not fazed. "It doesn't worry me, I've watched his jumps and its 100 per cent different," he said.
"I'm fully confident and I know it's weird, but I think times have changed and the outcome will change."
He jumped it again.
Bravo, the guy has guts!!!!
For those of you who would know: what kind of power does this guy’s bike have versus the bikes Evel Knievel was using in his heyday? Actually, forget the comparison; what I’m asking is, are these sort of records broken more due to improving technology or the stuntman’s skill?
I just saw this stunt in Ghost Rider. That was a cool movie!
Great screen captures...an amazing stunt.....
A Football Field is a LOOOONG JUMP....
suspension & brake technolgy are vasting improved from the 80’s to now.
it would be like comparing 1972 Dolphins to the current Patriots team.today’s players are stonger, faster, bigger.
Actually, what made Evel Knievel’s jump at Caesars Palace in 1967 so insane was that he did it with what amounted to a modified road bike. Today’s long jumps are usually done with essentially modified motorcross bikes, which have much longer suspension travel and better brakes.
and a CR500 is a lot lighter.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.