Robbie Maddison
| Robert William Maddison | |
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Robbie Maddison at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix Celebrity Challenge
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| Born | 14 July 1981 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | Robbie Maddison, Maddo |
| Occupation | Motorbike rider |
| Known for | World record length motorcycle jump, surfing on a dirt bike |
| Website | http://www.robbiemaddison.com |
Robert William 'Robbie' Maddison (born 14 July 1981) is an Australian motorbike stunt rider. Nicknamed 'Maddo', he is from the town of Kiama, New South Wales.
Born in Caringbah, Maddison grew up in Kiama Downs, and developed his passion for riding by competing in national motocross and supercross events.
He completed Year 10 at Kiama High School and took up an electrical apprenticeship. He continued learning freestyle tricks (FMX) and after mastering the skills he entered his first amateur event and won both the amateur and the pro event at Bachus Marsh, Victoria.
In early 2004 he won Gold at the X Games held at Australia's Wonderland after completing 13 back flips. This increased Australia's awareness of their new world beater.
In May 2005, the Crusty Demons gave Robbie the opportunity to break two world records on his motorbike. 125cc distance Guinness world record- 221feet 250cc distance world record with a trick- 246 feet (75 m) superman seat grab.
After this he went on to win numerous international FMX events around the world and has been recognized as one of the best FMX riders of all time. Maddo's motto: "Face your fears - live your dreams"
On 31 December 2007, (on the 40th anniversary of Evel Knievel jumping the fountains at Caesars Palace), live on ESPN, Maddison broke the world motorcycle jumping record, travelling 98.34m on a motorbike. He repeated the event immediately afterward, successfully landing the jump, as his fiancee Amy looked on. His second attempt, however, did not go as far as the first jump; he was not injured in either jump.
On 29 March 2008, he broke his own world record twice during the Crusty Demons Night Of World Records show in Melbourne, Australia. During his first jump he travelled 316 feet (96.32 m) and landed on the safety zone nearly hitting the front of the landing ramp. On his second attempt he broke the world record by travelling 342 feet 7 inches (104.42 m) this time he landed hard on his back tyre and was not satisfied by the jump, so he decided to jump once more. On his third jump he again broke the world record, this time with 106.98m (350.98 feet) into a perfect landing.
On 1 January 2009, live on ESPN in front of a world audience, Maddison successfully jumped 96 feet (29 m) up onto the Arc de Triomphe in front of Paris Las Vegas and then descended a 80-foot (24 m) drop off the monument to return safely to ground level. Robbie said after the jump that he may have broken his hand and had a gash to the bone in the webbing of his left hand.
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Wikipedia