Jeremy Lusk tribute planned for Saturday at X Games

The late Jeremy Lusk, the 2008 X Games gold medalist in the Moto X Freestyle competition, will be honored during a brief ceremony Saturday afternoon at the Home Depot Center.

Lusk, a Metal Mulisha team rider who was beloved throughout the FMX community, died this past February after a crash at a competition in Costa Rica.

The ceremony for the fallen freestyle motocross star will occur before the 4:30 p.m. start of the Moto X Super X men's final.

The ceremony will include words from FMX icon and Metal Mulisha co-founder Brian Deegan, a Navy fly-over and a moment of applause as one of Lusk's favorite songs plays (said to be a Skid Row tune).

Also, FMX rider Kyle Loza's cousin will sing the national anthem. The Moto X Freestyle final is at 7 p.m.

To see an L.A. Times video filmed at Deegan's training facility, click here.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Jeremy Lusk courtesy of Metal Mulisha

Ronnie Renner launches 63 feet above ground on motorcycle, sets record

You have to hand it to Red Bull-sponsored motorcycle riders for continuing to astonish fans with their remarkable achievements, and to the makers of the energy drink for adeptly using these athletes to maintain high visibility.

Two weeks ago, Robbie Maddison performed a back flip across the 100-foot gap of London's fabled Tower Bridge.

On Saturday at Chicago's Butler Field at Grant Park, with the city's skyline as a backdrop, Ronnie Renner launched himself 63 feet, 5 inches above ground, eclipsing the world record he set last year.

“It’s been crazy. I’m so pumped to have done it,” Renner said afterward. “What a killer vibe! All these people coming out to see me and they were psyched. I could hear the crowd cheering.”

Guinness World Records certified Renner’s highest jump, which was officially measured from the top of the 22-foot quarterpipe wall as 41 feet, 5 inches from the top of the ramp. That placed him 63 feet, 5 inches above ground, which from a motorcycle seat must present a daunting perspective.

-- Pete Thomas 

Photo sequence of Renner's record-setting jump by Garth Milan / Red Bull

 

Tony Hawk returns to X Games as skateboard analyst

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk will be returning to the X Games.

Hawk will be part of the telecast team once again as analyst for all five men's skateboard events, including the inaugural Big Air Rail Jam competition.

"I'm excited to take part in this year's X Games," said Hawk. "The level of riding improves each year, so I can't wait to see what the new events bring in terms of innovation."

Hawk last worked the broadcast booth for ESPN in 2007.

Joining host Sal Masekela at the 15th annual competition, Hawk will be commentating beginning with coverage of the Skateboard Big Air event at Staples Center on July 30.

"It will be a blast to join Sal in commentating all of the skate competitions as well," added Hawk.

X Games 15 will be held July 30-Aug. 2 in Los Angeles and will feature some of the best action sports athletes competing in skateboard, Moto X, BMX Freestyle and Rally Car racing. ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will be airing 20 hours of live coverage.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Sal Masekela, left, and Tony Hawk  at X Games XI. Credit: Matt Morning / Shazamm/ESPN

Robbie Maddison back flips over 100-foot gap on London's Tower Bridge

Robbie Maddison is one of the craziest freestyle motocross riders on the planet, and in the wee morning hours in London he touched down safely after jumping the raised Tower Bridge's gap over the Thames River in London.

The Australian became the first in history to accomplish the feat, but what does that say? It's not as though people are waking up figuring how to jump the 100-foot gap of an iconic bridge.

Then again, maybe they do. After all, Maddison had already negotiated the world's longest motorcycle jump (350 feet), and the highest vertical "step-up" at the Las Vegas replica of Arc de Triomphe, which was followed by a drop of more than 85 feet to a landing ramp below.

"People say I'm crazy, but I just want to push the boundaries of my sport and my body to the limit and I love taking on these huge challenges," said Maddison, who is sponsored by Red Bull. "It was an incredible feeling to fly between the two towers and over the Thames."

Maddison will return to London on Aug. 22 to participate in the final stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2009 at Battersea Power Station. He won the Calgary stop of the series in May. The 2009 Red Bull X-Fighters Texas event will air Sunday (July 19) at 10::30 a.m. on ABC.

Hope you enjoy the video.

-- Pete Thomas

Video courtesy of Red Bull USA

X Games party Thursday at L.A. Live

The X Games are having a party and everyone's invited.

The X Games 15 Quinceañera party will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday at L.A. Live to herald the opening of ticket sales for the 15th annual X Games.

The street celebration will feature appearances and autograph sessions by numerous athletes, including MotoX stars Todd Potter, Ronnie Faisst and Kyle Loza plus Olympic silver medalist and Winter X Games Snowboarder X gold medalist Lindsey Jacobellis.

There will also be a skateboard street demonstration by X Games boarders Paul Rodriguez Jr., Terry Kennedy, Amy Caron and Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins.

Attendees can check out the world's largest skateboard, which is more than 36 feet long, and also get an opportunity to design their own skate deck.

Correlating with the Quinceañera theme, vendors will be offering churros, tacos and burritos for sale, plus  a mariachi band will perform.

X Games 15 will be held July 30-Aug. 2 in Los Angeles and will feature some of the hottest global athletes competing in MotoX, BMX Freestyle, Rally car racing and other events.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Chad Kagy on his way to another medal at last year's BMX Vert competition. Credit: Pete Demos/ESPN Images/Shazamm

Red Bull X-Fighters freestyle motocross tour hits Texas this Saturday

Above is a promo video for the Red Bull X-Fighters freestyle motocross tour, which comes to Texas Saturday, June 27.

The third stop in the five-round global series, this will be the only X-Fighters event held in the U.S. this year. After Texas, riders move on to Leg 4 in Madrid on July 16 and 17 and then London for the Aug. 22 finale.

Those invited to compete include previous X-Fighters winners Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg, Mat Rebeaud, Robbie Maddison and Danny Torres.

Stenberg recently had his motorcycles stolen from his Temecula home and there has been no news as to if they have been recovered, so he may be riding some different bikes.

Also, newcomer Levi Sherwood, winner in Mexico City, had a bad landing during a training session last week and will not be able to ride. His replacement will be Metal Mulisha rider Jeff "Ox" Kargola. Sherwood should be back in time for Madrid.

With the riders coming out of the bull chutes at the historic Fort Worth stockyards in head-to-head competition featuring jumps of 75 to 115 feet, this should be an exciting event.

Enjoy the video.

-- Kelly Burgess

Video courtesy of Red Bull Motorsports

Supercross champ James Stewart to hold fan Ride Day in Riverside

Supercross champion James "Bubba" Stewart will spend most of Saturday riding and mingling with fans during what is simply called Ride Day at Milestone MX Park in Riverside.

The event is from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be no formal autograph session or any real structure. It's merely a day set aside by the 2009 AMA SX champion to allow fans a chance to get to know him personally.

"During race season, we're busy. There's not much time," said Stewart, who will make his X Games debut later this summer. "I thought it would be cool to have a whole day where my fans and I can ride together and have some fun. I know a lot of them love to ride too.

"This event is open to everyone, whether they want to ride or just watch, so I'm hopeful a lot of people will come out and see me."

The park has a capacity limit so early arrival might be key to actually getting in.

In keeping with the theme, lunch will be served by Chuy's Mexican restaurant of Temecula, owned by Steve Barlow. Barlow is a pro racer in The Off-Road Championship (TORC) series and a Red Bull Racing Team owner. Stewart is among many Red Bull-sponsored riders.

Ride Day is free to Milestone Park members but there's a $10 spectator fee for nonmembers.

--Pete Thomas

Photo: James Stewart catches air. Credit: Red Bull

Jeremy 'Twitch' Stenberg has FMX bikes stolen; Mulisha seeks your help

Breaking news in the freestyle motocross universe: Thieves have broken into the Temecula home of FMX superstar Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg and stolen his bikes and those of Metal Mulisha teammate Taka Takayuki Higashino on Thursday night.

The Mulisha lists the items on its website:

--Twitch's YZ250 Freestyle Contest Bike
--Twitch’s 450
--Twitch’s 250F
--Twitch’s 110
--Twitch’s 50
--Taka’s YZ250 Freestyle Contest Bike
--All of Twitch’s old helmets (If you read his etnies interview then you know how much those mean to him.)
--All riding gear

The Mulisha states: "If you did this please return the bikes … we have investigators on the case right now. If you have any information about who may have done this please email us at metalmulishaclothing@gmail.com, or use the contact form, with any info you have.

"If you see some really nice bikes that look like Twitch's or Taka’s on Craigs List, eBay, etc., let us know. Please, only serious leads so we’re not chasing our tails. If you provide info leading to the recovery of the bikes we will give you a ton of Metal Mulisha gear and hook you up with passes to X Games to hang out with the Mulisha."

This represents a major setback for the riders, with the X Games and other events just around the corner. Hopefully, the bikes will be recovered and justice will be served.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Jeremy Stenberg performs a backflip at the Panasonic Open Dew Tour event in 2006. Credit: Bo Bridges

Jeremy Lusk Legacy Foundation gala, poker tournament tonight

The shock that reverberated throughout and beyond the global freestyle motocross community after Jeremy Lusk died days after sustaining head injuries during an early-February crash has ebbed and life, as they say, goes on.

But tonight it goes on in the beloved Lusk's memory.

The Lusk Legacy Foundation's Gala and Poker Tournament is tonight from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, and if you cannot attend the star-studded event it will be broadcast live for two hours beginning at 7 p.m.

Those scheduled to attend include FMX stars Brian Deegan, Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg, Taka Higashino, Robbie Maddison and many others. Also slated to participate: skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, supercross pros Donny Hansen and Rick Johnson and snowboarder Keir Dillon.

Celebrities from film, fashion, music and TV also are expected to show. Tickets are $150 per person and $300 for the poker buy-in (grand prize is 10% of the total buy-in). Five-star dining and live music (San Diego's Dynamite Walls) are included.

Proceeds will support the Lusk foundation, which will strive to improve FMX safety on the pro and recreational level. For more information, check out the Metal Mulisha website.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Jeremy Lusk. Credit: Metal Mulisha

Jeremy Lusk Foundation keeps memory alive and helps FMX move more safely forward

The period of mourning may not have ended but the Metal Mulisha has been pressing forward since the falling of one of its stars, freestyle motocross rider Jeremy Lusk, who died Feb. 9 as a result of injuries suffered during a crash in Costa Rica.

On Wednesday, the Jeremy Lusk Tribute Exhibit will open at the San Diego Hall of Champions at 2131 Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park. The San Diego-born rider's bike, gear and trophies will be on display. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Lusk Legacy Foundation is accepting donations and has numerous items for sale, including a Jeremy Lusk action print signed by the Temecula-based Mulisha.

The foundation will attempt to achieve a higher standard of safety at freestyle motocross events and "embodies positive values, such as courage, individualism and family."

It "recognizes the value of an involved membership and seeks to encourage that involvement with accurate and transparent communication."

Last among its core values: "The Jeremy Lusk Foundation embraces the values of which it was founded upon in recognition of Jeremy Lusk -- friendship, camaraderie, enthusiasm for each other and the spirit of freestyle motocross."

Lusk was 24. He'd recently become a Christian and had the words "In God's Hands" tattooed across his chest. You can buy T-shirts stamped with those very words from the foundation and Mulisha websites. The $25 cost, Lusk's thousands of fans will agree, is money well spent.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Metal Mulisha

Jeremy Lusk NASCAR ticket auctions ending soon

 

The Metal Mulisha website is listing some auction items, offering fans the opportunity to bid on ticket packages to the NASCAR races this weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

Packages include admission, infield terrace parking, access to a VIP terrace suite, an opportunity to meet Metal Mulisha riders plus caps and other assorted goodies. Bidding closes Friday at 3 p.m.

In addition to the auction items, there are also 100 single general admission packages being sold on the site.

All proceeds will go to the Jeremy Lusk Trust fund.

Lusk died last week as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash at a competition in Costa Rica.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo credit: Metal Mulisha

Jeremy Lusk, in remembrance, said to be 'more alive than ever' in heaven

That was a touching service in remembrance and honor of Jeremy Lusk, wasn't it?

Lusk died last Tuesday as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash, and was said during Monday's eulogy to have proceeded directly to heaven and is now "more alive than he ever has been."

I don't know about that, but it might be true and believing it's true probably helps ease the pain swelling inside those closest to him.

Lusk was a Christian and, as many have called him, a "bad-ass" star of the dangerous but thrill-filled and close-knit freestyle motocross universe.

Just days before he died, Lusk had the words "In God's Hands" tattooed across his chest.

The Temecula rider was a cherished member of the Metal Mulisha family and a loving husband who leaves behind a lovely wife and many relatives who remain devastated.

Perhaps Monday's highly emotional funeral service helped deliver some measure of closure. But it'll be a long spell before the pain subsides and they -- especially Jeremy's wife and parents -- can get on happily with their lives.