Motorsport: Leaping Levi headliner at festival of motorcycling

X Games star Levi Sherwood. Photo / Photosport.nz

X Games star Levi Sherwood will make a rare appearance on home soil at the MotoFest festival at Hampton Downs early next month.

The 26-year-old Kiwi will headline the country's biggest motorcycle event on March 3-4 where he will run three daily displays alongside fellow freestyle motocross riders Caleb Delacy and Nick Franklin.

"It is a huge motorcycle event and it seems the best of the best will be there whether it is road racing or dirt bike racing - Shayne King, Josh Coppins, Ben Townley, Aaron Slight and a bunch of other guys are going to be there," Sherwood said.

"Caleb, Nick and I will be doing three shows a day and doing everything that you would see on television.

"We will be mingling during the day and doing signings as well."

Sherwood has generated a massive worldwide following after his success as part of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour, his X Games and Nitro Circus exploits.

He has been back in New Zealand over summer working on his plans for 2018.

"I wasn't going to do any more events before I head back to the States in May but then this popped up and I couldn't turn it down," Sherwood explained.

"It will certainly be the last chance I will have in a little while."

Sherwood stunned the motocross world last year when he landed the first double backflip but unfortunately that isn't possible at shows yet.

"Not at this round - it is a bit of a shame," the Palmerston North product said. "I would love to develop a landing where I could do it at shows because that is what people want to see. The landing I'm doing it on needs to be a lot steeper.

"Otherwise we'll be doing everything else we normally do."

The Mike Pero MotoFest will serve as the third round of the New Zealand Superbike Championship as well as featuring international stars such as Randy Mamola, Slight and Graeme Crosby in what is a festival featuring all types of motorcycling competition.

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