Drift Battle 3: Motorcycle vs. Car

Now we finally have an answer to the age-old question, who drifts better – cars or bikes? And the winner is… well, we won’t spoil the video for you – only to say that a police desert buggy doesn’t seem like completely fair competition!

New Alpinestars MX boot range

Alpinestars has unveiled its new Tech 10 boots, in what could be a direct response to the Fox’s new Instinct boot line.

As well as being lower profile and lighter than previous incarnations, the new Tech 10 boasts enhanced shin blade protection and a more secure buckle system. The outcome is a more flexible boot which better protects against hyperextension, and which should require less adjusting once out on a bike.

Astars work for years researching and developing these bad-boys, so it’s unlikely the changes are a knee-jerk reaction to the guys in California, but it’s good to see no-one’s resting on their achievements – and if you want a pair of pro-level boots you’ve got more options than ever.

One of the best things to see is the technical breakthroughs working their way down the range into the mid and even entry level boots. The Tech 7’s have seen an update alongside the 10’s and share a lot of the advancements including the new buckle system and a reduced weight and profile. Even the Tech 3’s now use a bonded sole and offer better protection and flexibility than ever for a new rider.

Check out the full range for yourself at FreestyleXtreme.com

Nasty Crashes at the GP

FsX was at the MX GP in Matterley Basin which ended up being host to a few of the season’s heaviest crashes, and to be honest it’s left us a little shaken.

Tim Gajser was lucky to make it out in one piece after landing hard while in fifth and having 24 riders pass just inches from his head. His bike tumbled into a crowded group of spectators, resulting in a few injuries but thankfully nothing critical.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Josh Waterman planted hard after struggling to keep hold of the bike after his shock blew out on him resulting in what looked like a failed superman. He was rushed to hospital with a cracked skull broken jaw and broken shoulder blades.

Earlier on, Dean Ferris slightly over-shot a jump and couldn’t stick the landing – taking him off the track and straight through a FOX advertising board. Unbelievably Dean popped straight back up and went on to kill it in the first race of the day.

It just goes to show how dangerous MX can be and we’re happy to report that all involved are doing well after the weekend’s crashes. We wish them all a speedy recovery.

Backflip World Record at Masters of Dirt

Wow. Just… wow. This is one of the craziest things we’ve seen during our ten years here at FsX.

When Jimmy Blaze trashed his buggy in practice last weekend, the Masters of Dirt crew scramble to plan a fitting replacement for the Sunday crowd. The outcome? 41 FMX riders in a train, hitting continuous backflips and setting a new world record in the process.

George from Masters of Dirt is an absolute legend for pulling this off and has put a trip to one of his Vienna shows right at the top of the FsX bucket list.

Moto GP Brno

Another week, another GP, another dominant performance from Marc Marquez.

Keeping the momentum from last weekend’s victory in Indianapolis, Marquez rode in second behind Lorenzo for most of the race, occasionally swapping position before making his final pass with only four laps to go.

The victory earns Marquez yet another slice of history, as he becomes the first rookie ever to claim five victories in his debut season.

Elsewhere Valentino Rossi battled with Alvaro Bautista for much of the race before nabbing fourth, while Danni Pedrosa took Lorenzo late on to earn second.

The results mean that Marquez will go in to the final race of the season in first on 213 points, 26 ahead of Pedrosa and 44 ahead of Lorenzo.

British MXGP from MATTERLEY BASIN

Overcast weather couldn’t detract from the sense of occasion at Matterley Basin last weekend, as a new MXGP champion was crowned and British riders had their best showing in a decade.

Tony Cairoli took the points he needed to wrap up the season’s championship on the day (despite the best efforts of Clement Desalle), but it was homegrown talent who stole the headlines. Jake Nicholls took second in MX2 while Natalie Kane won the women’s race and Conrad Mewse finished first in the World Juniors division.

With the likes of Evegeny Bobryshev and Dean Ferris also putting in huge races, Matterley Basin will go down as one of the rave meets of the season. And we, for one, can’t wait to have everyone back next year!

How Not to Drive in Russia

Today we bring you a polite notice of how not to overtake in Russia, or anywhere for that matter.

Thankfully nobody in the crash was seriously injured, but you have to ask… what on earth was that rider thinking?! Stay safe people!

MXGP of Belgium

With Jeffrey Herlings now uncatchable in the FIM World MX2 series it seemed that all was pretty much said and done. Yet an injury to the runaway champion that will see him miss this season’s final two races has left the field wide open for somebody to make a statement.

In his absence, Dean Ferris won his first ever GP victory in MX2 and moved within touching distance of a top three Championship finish. With Herlings out, it will be interesting to see who steps up to end the season on a high in this class.

Meanwhile in MX1, hometown rider Clement Desalle won on the day to take him within 90 points of championship leader Tony Cairoli, who managed only second.

With only 2 races remaining in the season it’s going to take a miracle from Desalle (or a disaster from Cairoli) for the lead to change hands but at least we should get one more week of solid racing.

Dougie Lampkin Hits Red Bull Harescramble

GoPro has just released an awesome video of Dougie Lampkin attempting one of the hardest enduro races on the planet, the legendary Red Bull Harescramble in Eisenerz, Austria.

Around 1800 riders start the race but only around 15 ever make it through the grueling quarry, and now we can see why. How Lampkin even made it through that initial water section beyond us, let alone survive the fall into that crevasse and keep on riding.

So, anyone fancy it?

Motocross of Nations Preview

The 2013 Motocross of Nations may be a month away but things are already shaping up something fierce.

Teams are slowly coming together, with host nation Germany looking particularly strong with a team that includes Ken Roczen, Max Nagal and Dennis Ullrich.

However it is the French who are being touted among the early favourites for a podium finish, with a line up that features Gautier Paulin and Jordi Tixier.

Team USA were left scrabbling last week when it was announced that Ryan Villopoto would miss the event through leg surgery, but with Justin Barcia taking his spot alongside Ryan Dungey and Eli Tomac – they could well be the team to beat.

Likewise the Dutch team is still struggling to fill their spots after star man Jeffrey Herlings pulled out due to a broken shoulder blade.

With so many new stars coming through and injuries opening spots to talented youngsters, this should be a great year for the MXN. We’ll be reporting news of the course and final team line ups in coming weeks, so keep your eyes on FSX.

McGrath’s Crib

All-round legend Jeremy McGrath is the latest to show off his house in the Dirt Shark video series. Despite being a little in love with his kitchen and closet, the video does get around to McGrath’s sick bike collection and giant horde of trophies.

So, who wants to party with McGrath?

Inside the Outdoors

The Moto: Inside the Outdoors - Episode 05 a Motocross video by Oakley

The series that reveals the real lives of MX riders continues this week with a portrait on Coleen and Davi Millsaps, one of the most successful mother/son teams in amateur history.

It’s a surprisingly emotional episode, as we learn about the struggles that parents must endure when helping their child through amateur seasons that cost upwards of $100,000.

We think it’s a must watch for any MX fan, if only to counter-balance the glitzy world of parties, models and photo shoots that are regularly touted on the pro circuit.

Indianapolis GP

Marc Marquez dominated the Indianapolis GP last weekend: winning every session he took part in.

After a poor start from pole position, falling behind Lorenzo and Pedrosa, it wasn’t until the 13th lap that Marquez regained the lead. But when he did, there was no looking back.

With Lorenzo and Pedrosa still feeling the effects of injured collarbones, Marquez rode a tough, cutting race to finish a full 3.5 seconds ahead of the competition. Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi finished a respectable fourth after taking Karl Crutchlow in a stunning battle on the final lap. There was also a good scrap for 8th as Bradley Smith nipped inside the 2 dueling Ducatis on the last corner

Heading in to next weekend’s Grand Prix at Brno, Marquez leads the series on 188 points, 21 ahead of second place Pedrosa on 167. Reigning World Champion Lorenzo now sits 35 points behind the leader on 153.

Herlings to Miss MX of Nations

Last week we reported the unfortunate news that Ryan Villopoto will miss the MX of Nations after it was ruled he must undergo leg surgery.

Well, another week, another blow; as Stefan Everts revealed on Twitter that now Jeffrey Herlings will miss the event in Germany due to a broken shoulder blade.

We at FsX attend the MXN every year and gutted are that Herlings won’t be mixing it up with Dungey, Barcia and Cairoli. Love him or hate him he certainly knows how to keep things interesting. Everyone here wishes Herlings a swift recovery; we can’t wait to see you back next year!

Without Boundaries

A new episode of Without Boundaries has just hit the web and boy is it a good one.

This installment sees Twitch and the Shift crew head for the hills and absolutely murder some of the gnarliest terrain we’ve seen all year.

As if we needed any reminding, the boys show us why Shift is one of the hottest MX companies around today – and why we’re proud to be repping it.

And don’t forget that you can get all the Shift gear your heart desires here at the FsX shop.

Rob Adelberg’s Eye View

Being at most FMX events, we here at FSX thought we had a pretty good handle on how riders are feeling going in to a big event.

It was interested to see this short documentary with the Mulisha rider then, as he discusses his feelings going into the event and explains his motivation to keep pushing himself in this increasingly competitive sport.

With some exclusive footage from training as well as from the big event itself, this is an edit not too miss!

Smoothness Magazine

The latest Smoothness Magazine just dropped and is looking like another fine issue.

Covering all the action from X Games in Berlin with some stunning double spreads and a run down of the US freeriding scene, this is one of their strongest issues to date. Oh, and it’s free to read online! So go check it out today.

Training with Lance Coury

Some riders make their big trick runs look so effortless that we forget all the training that goes into them.

Despite all the videos of riders drinking, posing by scantily clad women and getting down to metal music – these guys are athletes and put in the weights, cardio and circuits to rival any traditional sportsman.

So we were stoked to see Lance Coury chatting openly about his professional training regime and all the hard work that goes into it. Check out the edit to see how Lance came around to the idea of crossfit training to up his FMX game, and how it’s changed his style.

Video High Fives with Trey Canard

Racer X Illustrated recently caught up with Trey Canard to discuss his improvement throughout the year and the team’s mid-season bike change.

Of course, they also caught Tray shredding his backyard course and practicing race starts – which he says has made the biggest difference to his game this year. So check the video and let us know what you think!

X-Games : A Different Perspective

While we can’t get enough of arena shots and best trick photos, sometimes it’s cool to get a taste
of the bigger picture at an event like X Games – just to see what all the fuss is about.

Luckily for us, Racer X has put together a badass gallery of all the parties, stunts, pit
crews and behind the scenes action that makes this event so unique.

We dare you to take a flick through and not want to be there. It’s impossible!

Jet Pilot Invitational

Round two of the Australian FMX Championships went down with the Jetpilot Invitational last weekend, and man did they create one of the sickest courses we’ve seen all year.

Joel Brown managed to hold off Matt Scubring for the win, but it was clear that all the riders were stoked on the course as the action was straight wild all day long.

Now, if only we could do something like this in Europe.  Any takers?

Wheelchairs on the MegaRamp

Extreme wheelchair athlete Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham recently stopped by Bob Burnquist’s “Dreamland” to skate the MegaRamp. No, you didn’t read that wrong… a wheelchair on the Megaramp.

Aaron took a few hard slams, chipped his teeth but just kept on getting back up. The dude must have some serious balls. So next time you’re too scared to try something, think back to this video… and do it!

Villopoto to Miss MX of Nations

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto says that surgery to repair a lingering ankle issue will rule him out of the Motocross of Nations in Germany later this month.

“It is always a tough decision to go in and have surgery. But just like my Monster Energy Kawasaki team works hard to give me the best bike possible, I have to make sure I’m at my best as well,” said Villopoto.

“The hardest part of this decision is the timing. I was really looking forward to racing the Motocross of Nations again this year, but I won't be fully prepared in time for MXoN and I don’t want to give less than 100% to Team USA. The MXoN is always a highlight of the season and it is an event that has helped to define my career.”

The question now begs, which rider should take Villopoto’s place in Team USA?

Maddo Whip Lessons

Wanna whip like a pro? Well who better to share his tips that Mr Styles for Miles, Robbie Maddison.

In this video from Red Bull, Maddo lets us in on how to seat bounce whip and even opposite whip. So, check the video, grab your bike and start whipping like a boss.

Indianapolis GP

Between injuries, bikes issues and Valentino Rossi’s return to podium topping form, this year’s GP has already been one of the most exciting – and unpredictable – in recent memory.

Now the Indianopolis GP rolls around this weekend and despite his shoulder not having fully recovered, Dani Pedrosa is looking to make it two wins in a row at the fabled speedway.

Elsewhere, Ben Spies will also be returning from injury after the summer break while rookie Marc Marquez has admitted he feels a little pressure having won twice at Indianapolis in Moto2.

And that’s not all! While we’ll all be enjoying the coverage this coming weekend from the comfort of our homes, you could win tickets to watch the British GP in person this September.

All you have to do is buy any product from Alpinestars through FSX before this Sunday the 18th of August and you’ll be entered in to the prize draw. We look forward to seeing you there!

Tyler Bereman's DC Edit

In celebration of his first X-Games invite, DC has released a stunning edit of their pro rider Tyler Bereman shredding dirt at Zaca Station and the famous Castillo Ranch.

The uphill whips were particularly sick, and those giant look backs … forget about it! We can't wait to see more from this young rider and what he'll bring to the sport. Ride on!

GoPro Taken to New Levels

Riders at the 2013 Dunlop Autoby Cup in Gymkhana took GoPro filming to a whole new level last week by mounting the camera on a 360 degree, rotating balance beam.

We think the ride looks like something straight out of a computer game, and rattling mic aside would love to see other bike sports filmed this way. But what about you? Are there any sports you'd like to see filmed this way? Let us know!

FIM World Motocross MX Championship for Jeff Herlings

The FIM World MX2 series was tied up last weekend with 3 events left to run. After blistering races in the Czech Republic, only one name was left on every body's lips.

Jeffrey Herlings won both MX2 motos on the day to cement his place at the top of the overall standings, and walk away with his second FIM MX2 world title.

At just 18, the young rider from Geldrop has already clinched 30 overall race victories to become the most successful Dutch MX rider of all time.

“Everything is going so fast. Three years ago I took part in my first Grand Prix and now I have already won 30 Grand Prix, two MX2 World Titles and I’ve been on the podium so many times,” said Herlings. “It is an amazing feeling, but maybe only when I’ll be older I’ll realise what I have accomplished.”

FSX Fast 10 with Evgeny Bobryshev

This week, Honda rider and all-round MX1 speed demon Evgeny Bobryshev is sitting the FSX Fast 10, where athletes from across bike sports get thrown 10 quick fire questions.

And it seems that Evgeny writes as quick as he races, because he flew through these questions in about 30 seconds flat!

1. Do you remember the first time you rode a bike?

I was 7 years old. I got a present from my dad and it was a Kawasaki kx60. My first time out with the bike was next to my house and I fell three times!

2. Who has been the biggest influence on your riding style or career?

My father. He used to race too, he brought me to the sport and gave me all his skills.

3. How seriously do you take training?

I think sometimes too much, but it's the way you have to be in a professional sport.

4. What´s been the biggest high in your career so far?

My GP victory in 2011.

5. And your biggest low?

The neck injury I got in 2011. I lost 3 places in the classification of world championship.

6. Who is your favourite rider to watch at the moment?

Villopoto has a good style.

7. Which rider do you think has the fastest bike in the paddock?

I have no idea.

8. If you could compete in any other sport, which would it be?

Probably road bike or maybe car racing as I've done that in the past.

9. Bike sports like MX and FMX have exploded in the last few years. Do you think they'll ever be as big as F1 or Moto GP?

Maybe in the long way away future. It's growing, but slowly.

10. What are you hopes in the next few years for your career?

Just to stay without injury and keep winning.

Insane Double Loop

At X-Games 2012, Hotwheels built the most insane six story double vertical loop for Tanner Foust and Greg Tracy to drive. The stunt put them in to the Guinness World Record books, and pushed the boundaries of what can be done in both racing sports and course design.

Well now the team have release a short documentary into how, and why, they pulled off the stunt. It raises some interesting questions, such as what are the limits of our imagination and why should we stop thinking like kids after growing up. And if that means double loops on racing tracks... we're all in!

Big Man Drift Trikes

We've been following the rise of Drift Trikes over the last year, watching crews of guys hurtling down massive hills while taking u-turns with miles of style. But until now, unless you've custom built your own, you've had to be a pretty regular sized person to fit into one of these insane machines.

Well no longer, because High Roller has brought out the first range of Drift Trikes for the high and mighty. The new models can fit riders up to six foot six, and still have all the agility and style of regular trikes.

So now there's no excuse for not getting your drift on. Happy riding!

Go Pro on-board Nate Adams' Winning Run

At X-Games LA the Speed and Style competition saw a fierce battle between Nate Adams and Blake Williams, that eventually saw Adams take gold.

As if the live footage of the race wasn't sick enough, GoPro has just realised its headcam edit of the run. Now you can see just how hard these guys were riding, and why the Speed and Style division is always a crowd favourite for its brutal battles.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

X-Games LA 2013

If you missed any of the action be sure to hit up our Facebook and ESPN's own page for video coverage of all the events. Spoilers ahead!

It was a bittersweet X-Games this year, as amid all the new tricks and old favourites we had to wave goodbye to LA as a host city.

There was of course plenty of action to take our minds off the City of Angels though, not least in the Moto X Speed and Style. The hybrid course - with its tight corners, rhythm lane, and one massive leap for riders to pull tricks on- proved to be a challenge for all riders, but Nate Adams led the day and finally beat Blake Williams in the final run to capture his first gold.

Over in the freestyle, Taka Hishigano built on his recent Osaka X Fighters victory to take gold after a sick run that included both the Rock Solid backflip and a double grab backflip. Meanwhile it was the veteran Ronnie Renner who dominated in step up, taking his KTM over 38.6 feet and blowing all other competition out of the water on way to his sixth gold.

The surprise shout for most exciting event of the Moto X disciplines was the Moto X Racing. A 20 lap race around a mini supercross-style course doesn't necessarily sound like a recipe for edge-of-your-seat entertainment but the men's final in particular was fiercely contested. After some confusion for Chad Reed at the start, Josh Hill led Justin Brayton in a break away from the pack. Chris Blose and Reed eventually got close to the two leaders but after 19 laps of trying, Brayton finally made a pass on Hill that stuck.

Despite favourite Twitch leading much of the Best Whip contest , a couple of giant whips from Josh Hansen catapulted the former Supercross racer to gold in the closing minutes. Seriously, this one has to be seen to be believed. Perhaps the biggest news from the audience-voted whip contest was the bronze medal around Vicki Golden's neck. As the first woman to compete against the guys she held her own despite being on a less powerful bike. We'll probably never see men and women shoulder-to-shoulder in a race but does this open the door for a bit more equality in freestyle?

In the rally arena Toomas Heikkinen took gold in the supercar  division ahead of Tanner Foust and Sverre Isachsen in second and third respectively. The final LA X Games was the first showing of a new competition as Gymkhana Grid came to town. All eyes were on Ken Block but after 2 flawless runs from Liam Doran he was left watching from the stands after the first round of heats. Doran was stopped in the semi-finals by Tanner Foust who went on to beat Patrik Sandell in the final and claim his 4th career X Games gold.

If there were any signs of the new multi-leg X-games format taking its toll on riders, we certainly didn't see it. This is an exciting new era for X-Games that is sure to draw bigger and more varied crowds than every before, and we can't wait until next year.

The Adams Family

We’ve been checking back over a few of our favourite edits from last year, and stumbled across this gem from Deft and Nate Adams.

The video shows Nate just one day before his X Games title defense in LA, as he runs through a few of the moves he wants to throw down and perfects his bike setup.

Don’t forget that we’ve all the Deft gloves you could possibly need here at FSX, so come take a look today!

X-Games Preperation with Brett Cue

Brett Cue || Riding at Maddo's from WhiskeyThrottleTV on Vimeo.

An awesome edit featuring top riders preparing for X-Games just dropped, and man do they seem ready to go.

There’s a lot of footage coming out of MDP Block at the moment, but these guys have style for days and can whip like no other.

FMX Course Design with Dane Herron

We all love watching our favourite riders tear up fresh courses, but what about  the time and thought that goes in to creating them?

Well Red Bull have offered a look behind the scenes with trackbuilder Dane Herron to see how he goes about designing the monster X-Fighter courses.

It’s amazing to see all the consideration that goes into the courses, from TV angles and live audience vision to line flow. “It’s all about giving back to the riders,” says Herron. “I started out as a rider and they’re why we’re all here.”

Preparing for X-Games with Todd Potter

Our good friend from the Mulisha, Todd Potter, has sat down with the guys from metalmulisha.com to discuss his consecutive medals in Moto X Best Whip and how he plans to rebound from not being invited to compete in the LA X-Games last year.

Check out the full interview below:

M/M: So what’s going on with you and X Games?

POTTER: I just got a late invite to Freestyle, which I am totally thankful for. The people at ESPN hooked it up last minute. As for Best Whip, it’s just kind of weird. It’s politics. I mean I three-peated gold right in a row and I’ve always medaled when I’ve entered, so it’s just kind of weird. Honestly, it’s all a popularity contest with politics strongly though, so it is what it is.

M/M: With a late invited to Freestyle, have you been doing anything to prepare?

POTTER: Even without X Games, I ride all of the time. I ride every day. I mean knowing before, I would have been a little more on my game, but I’m definitely not rusty because like I said, I ride all of the time. I just got off the X Fighters Tour. We just did our last spot in Spain, so you know I’m just loving life and loving riding, and I’ll be at X Games doing what I love to do.

M/M: Aside from riding on a daily bases, do you do any off of the bike training to improve your fitness for contests?

POTTER: Sometimes I go on bike rides and stuff, but lately I’ve just been busy with my new house. Just doing everything that comes along with home ownership. Trimming trees, doing irrigation, and all of that stuff. Moving was a big deal in itself, so I’ve just been doing all of that and getting my situation set up. I definitely want to start doing some more mountain bike rides here coming up though. I want to go out to Vail Lake and hit those trails up. We always ride them on dirt bikes, and I’d really like to go hit them on my mountain bike.

M/M: Being apart of the Mulisha, you get to train at some pretty sick Freestyle courses. Does having access to all of those different compounds help you get ready for big events like X Games?

POTTER: Yeah I was pretty fortunate early in my career. I linked up with Deegan and Fitz and all the guys with courses in SoCal, so it was pretty easy to ride. I’ve never really needed a place to ride after I got into it. I’ve been really fortunate and I feel lucky.

M/M: How was it riding out at Fitz’s house today with Wes and Buyten?

POTTER: It was great. Mike at MB1 Suspension changed my settings because I wanted them stiffer, so I was just getting used to the bike today, flowing around and doing some whips. I was just having fun, and I definitely enjoyed today.

Dirtshark at Potter’s Playground

The Dirt Shark Crew recently rolled out to Todd Potter's FMX Playground to capture some sick footage with Bilko and Taka.

In true Dirt Shark style, major hammers were thrown over giant doubles, hips and tabletops. Even while wearing wookie masks! Where are the crew going to pop up next? Who knows!

Dust Webseries

The final episode of Dust went out with a bang this week as Jey Rouanet and David Rinaldo took us around their favourite countryside courses.

Developed by Xtreme Video and Julien Dupont, Dust set out to highlight French Pro-Riders in motocross, freestyle and trial. The series has been a great insight into the new wave of French riders and we can’t wait to see how they do in upcoming competitions like X-Games. So check out the latest episode and let us know what you think!

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Millville

It’s been a long time coming, but James Stewart finally earned his first outdoor win of the season last weekend as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship passed through Millville.

Stewart took the lead early on, and despite strong chases from Justin Barcia and Trey Canard throughout the first Moto, neither could pass the 2008 450 Class Champion as he rode to victory.

Elsewhere, Ken Roczen made headlines for all the wrong reasons as he took a heavy crash in the opening laps. We’re glad he walked away from this one as it looked pretty nasty!