Motorsport: Flying Kiwi star of the Circus

Kiwi rider Levi Sherwood has created a stir on the freestyle motocross scene. Photo / Supplied

The "Red Bull Gives You Wings" campaign must have been the inspiration for the motorcycle X-Fighters series as the riders appear to be flying through the air, defying the laws of gravity.

This recent phenomenon of launching a motorcycle high into the air is even more contradictory now that a young Kiwi (also a flightless bird native to New Zealand) is flying high in the series.

New Zealander Levi Sherwood has raised a storm since he arrived on the freestyle motocross (FMX) scene. The master of aerial motorcycling, consummate showman and 17-time X Game medallist, Travis Pastrana, said: "Levi [Sherwood] is without doubt the most exciting young rider in the world right now.

"If he remains uninjured he could dominate the sport for years to come and I am so pumped to have him riding on my NZ tour [Nitro Circus is touring here in February 2011]."

Unfortunately Sherwood is recovering from injury having broken his wrist and badly breaking his right femur in an accident at the world FMX championships in Los Angeles, California, in September. But he is confident of making it back to full fitness in time for the live show next year.

"The leg's healing pretty good but it was broken pretty badly, so it's taking a while to get better," said Sherwood. "The wrist wasn't a major and is fine, and I should be back on the bike next month and getting back into it and be ready for Nitro when it comes around."

The 18-year-old from Palmerston North has shot to fame in recent years following his success on the international competition circuit. In a short time his tally includes a silver medal in FMX, at this year's X Games, and three Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour wins. His first win came on debut in Mexico last year and he grabbed another two wins in this year's competition.

Sherwood showed he's got what it takes to build a legacy in FMX when he went head-to-head with Pastrana at this year's X Games, in what was one of the closest battles in the event's history. Pastrana came out on top and took gold, leaving Sherwood to take a close-fought silver.

"Travis [Pastrana] and I get on pretty good outside competing but on the night he tries to get inside my head," said Sherwood.

"He's always been the one guy I've looked up to my whole life and I'd watch him every X Games and want him to win. It's kind of weird knowing that and actually riding with him now. It's something I haven't really taken in yet.

"It was weird the first time looking across at him having watched him on TV and now about to go head-to-head with him," said Sherwood.

A motorcycle isn't designed to fly through the air but the FMX riders seem to be able to get them to extreme heights and with more than a modicum of control.

What puzzles most watchers of the sport is that these crazy men and their flying machines aren't concerned with hanging on for dear life, but are doing enough gymnastics to warrant a gold medal at the Olympics.

"You kind of get used to flying through the air. It's like riding a bike on the road; you don't how you're balancing but you are and you are kind of able to control it in the air. Like if you're too high you hit the back brake and that will drop the front end.

"If your nose is too low you give it a quick squirt of throttle and that'll pick the front end up. Also, if you do it as much as we have it sort of becomes second nature.

"You know as soon as you take off from the ramp if you're going to crash or where you're going to land ," said Sherwood.

It sounds like Kiwi fans of FMX and even the plain curious are set for a treat next year when the circus comes to town.

The Big Show

* February 5: Auckland, North Harbour Stadium

* February 9: Wellington, Westpac Stadium

* February 12: Hamilton, Waikato Stadium

* February 16: Christchurch, AMI Stadium

* February 19: Dunedin, Carisbrook Stadium