Robbie Maddison's driving ambition and sheer talent have earned him an enviable list of accomplishments. He’s won the past three King Of The Coast competitions in Australia, topped Freerider magazine’s peer poll, won the Valencia FMX and San Sebastian FMX in Spain and won at Melbourne EXPO. Most recently, he showed the world that it is possible for a motorcyclist to jump the length of a football field.

Robbie Maddison achieved this great feat on his Honda CR 500 on New Year's Eve at Red Bull Experiment, jumping 98 metres, at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. “I’ve ridden dirt bikes for over 20 years – this is what I do!” said Maddison. “All the success and injuries over the years have moulded me into someone who wants to achieve the biggest feat on a motorcycle ever.”

"No room for feelings.."

The world record was his. Not many people know what it's like to fly through the air on a motorbike. Maddison does his best to explain to his earth-bound spectators:

"You don’t feel anything because you’re concentrating one hundred per cent on the job. First, there’s the run-up at 160 km/h. Then, in the air, you’ve got to keep the machine as still as possible. From the crest, which was at about 18 metres, you focus on the planned landing place. There’s no room for feelings or thoughts. It sounds stupid, but I can’t remember any of my practice jumps at all," he explained.

Red Bull X-Fighters 2008

Maddison's greatest desire is to take home the championship title at the Red Bull X-Fighters 2008. He is currently placed fourth after competing in Mexico and Rio de Janeiro. In the upcoming events in the USA, Germany and, finally, Spain, Maddison will do battle with Mat Rebeaud, Jeremy Stenberg and Dany Torres, who currently sit in first, second and third places respectively.

"I want the world to see the best Robbie Maddison there ever was! I spent half a year preparing for this, lived healthily, trained heaps. That’s why I’m in the best form ever," said Maddison.

Flo Hagena
Robbie Maddison, Mat Rebeaud, Jeremy Stenberg at Red Bull X-Fighters, Rio de Janeiro
Garth Milan
Maddo at Red Bull Experiment