Autoblog

See this paralyzed motocross rider's inspiring story

Zach Bowman — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Motorcycle

A little perspective goes a long way. While it's easy to get bogged down in the multitude of minor hurdles that constitute the daily grind, it's important to remember there are those out there with genuine struggles. Take Darius Glover, for instance. At seven years old, he figured out he wanted to become a professional motocross rider and proceeded to dive full bore into the sport. But an accident when he was 15 left the rider paralyzed from the waist down. While doctors were busy telling him he'd never walk again, much less ride, Glover had made up his mind not to let something as silly as a disability slow him down.

With the encouragement of a few loyal friends and plenty of hard work, Glover is back to riding some four years later. And by "riding" we mean competing in some of the sport's most demanding events. You can check out his story in the video below for yourself.

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See this paralyzed motocross rider's inspiring story originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Nitro Circus and Gavin Godfrey roll the Eureka Casino motocross-style

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle, Humor

To promote being in Mesquite, Nevada during the Mesquite Off-Road Weekend, Nitro Circus sent co-founder ~~Tanner~~ Gavin Godfrey on a gambling spree through the Eureka Casino. Not exactly playing the penny slots, however, Godfrey takes a tour of the hotel and casino from the saddle of his motocross bike.

It's a good time, and the intro is priceless. You can watch him lay down chips and rubber in the video below.

Continue reading Watch Nitro Circus and Gavin Godfrey roll the Eureka Casino motocross-style

Watch Nitro Circus and Gavin Godfrey roll the Eureka Casino motocross-style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Robbie Maddison practice two-wheel hoonage in an aircraft graveyard

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle

The worlds of motocross and rallycross are already quite intertwined, so DC Shoes has apparently decided to go a little further by putting together a Gymkhana-style event for dirtbikes. For this video, Australian stunt motorcycle rider Robbie Maddison is let loose inside of an airplane graveyard making for some interesting, fun-to-watch stunts.

Maddison starts off by tackling some whoops made out of external wing fuel tanks, and the action just gets better from there as he uses planes and various plane parts. (Note: Although the entire video is almost 11 minutes in length, it takes about two minutes for the action to get started and there are almost four minutes of credits at the end).

It isn't clear if DC Shoes plans on creating a series like it has with Ken Block and Gymkhana, but we sure wouldn't mind seeing this kind of action on a regular basis. Check it out for yourself in the video posted below.

Continue reading Watch Robbie Maddison practice two-wheel hoonage in an aircraft graveyard

Watch Robbie Maddison practice two-wheel hoonage in an aircraft graveyard originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scout Troopers trade in their speeder bikes for motocross action

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Humor

In all six Star Wars movies, George Lucas never showed us the hangar bay in the Death Star where the motocross bikes were kept. We have to thank YouTube user FreakinRad for locating Scout Troopers criss-crossing some planetary desert on said motocross bikes - along with some troopers of the Storm variety, a Jawa and a Tusken Raider.

So if you like your rebel searches to come with whips and heelclickers, there's a video for you below. We just hope it doesn't give Lucas any ideas...

Continue reading Scout Troopers trade in their speeder bikes for motocross action

Scout Troopers trade in their speeder bikes for motocross action originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch as a motorcycle rides on top of the world

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle, Off-Road

It takes guts to ride a motocross bike. Tuned practically to the point of blowing themselves to bits, every pound stripped away so that only the bare necessities are left and sitting on top of a foot-plus of suspension travel, it takes a deft hand to tame these race machines.

Which makes the feat you'll see in the video after the break all the more amazing. It's one thing to strap on your gear and head out to the relatively safe confines of an off-road track. It's something completely else to ride a singletrack trail at the top of a mountain ridgeline.

Judging from the perspective of the rider, which is where the camera has been thoughtfully mounted, a single mistake could send this daredevil plummeting to the ground, where serious injury or even death seem inevitable. And yet there seems to be no tension whatsoever from the rider. We've got to say, we're impressed. See what we're talking about after the break.

Continue reading Watch as a motorcycle rides on top of the world

Watch as a motorcycle rides on top of the world originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James Stewart and Red Bull hit the Motocross track in slow-mo

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Off-Road

Following up on the two-wheeled slow-motion theme in 2012, Red Bull is highlighting two-time motocross champion James Stewart and his factory Yamaha race bike. We've already seen a couple of Honda-mounted MotoGP riders at 1,000 frames per second, so it only seems appropriate to see what super slow motion looks like on the dirt.

Bubba makes it look easy when viewed frame-by-frame at these speeds, but, as anyone who's ever thrown a leg over a motocross bike's saddle some 40-inches above the ground will tell you, there's nothing easy about it. Whether skimming the top of the whoops, railing through a tight turn or flying through the air like an acrobat on wheels, we're simply in awe of Stewart's abilities aboard his dark blue steed.

We highly suggest you click past the break to watch the video, it's well worth your time.

Continue reading James Stewart and Red Bull hit the Motocross track in slow-mo

James Stewart and Red Bull hit the Motocross track in slow-mo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Red Bull Donkey Cross combines dirtbikes and asses

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Europe, Videos

Red Bull presents the 2011 Donkey Cross - Click above to watch video after the jump

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to cross the challenging world of motocross and walking donkeys? No? Neither have we. Red Bull, however, feels the two should be combined into one event. The result is Donkey Cross, and it recently took place in the hills of Makrinitsa, Greece.

Thirty riders from around the world converged in eastern Greece. The difficult terrain was the perfect place for the skilled two-wheelers to exercise their talents. We're still not sure why the donkeys are involved, but no matter. There is video from the event and it's waiting for you after the jump.

[Source: Red Bull, YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Red Bull Donkey Cross combines dirtbikes and asses

Video: Red Bull Donkey Cross combines dirtbikes and asses originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mark Monea's new Carry On front flip will warp your mind

Zach Bowman — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Australia, Motorcycle

Mark Monea pulls off the Carry On - Click above to watch video after the jump

We typically file motocross tricks somewhere between complete insanity and diabolical madness in the Dewey Decimal system that rules our minds, but we're going to need to work up an all-new category for Mark Monea's new stunt. The Australian has been working on a variation of the motorcycle front flip called the Carry On, and after four weeks of plopping himself bike-and-all into the foam pit, he finally took the trick to terra firma.

While ridiculously-skilled individuals have been pulling off front flips on bikes for the better part of two years now, Monea decided that going topsy-turvy face first was child's play. So, he added a little bit of spice to the equation by throwing in a 360-degree flat spin in on top of the front flip.

If you're having trouble wrapping your mind around the mechanics of such a feat, join the club. Fortunately, Monea and his crew were kind enough to record the whole shindig for prosperity and our twisted enjoyment. Hit the jump to check it out.

[Source: Hell For Leather]

Continue reading Video: Mark Monea's new Carry On front flip will warp your mind

Video: Mark Monea's new Carry On front flip will warp your mind originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Writing on the Wall: Yamaha raising funds for alternative engine development

Devon Brozek — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Earnings/Financials, Motorcycle, Electric

Yamaha Gen-Ryu concept bike

In traditional Yamaha fashion, the company announced a move that may finally allow it to stake a claim as the first big player in the breakout electric motorcycle category. By putting the For Sale Sign on 63.25 million corporate stock shares, the tuning fork company hopes to raise an impressive 812 million dollars that it will dedicate to a highly charged electric and hybrid engine development plan across both their two-wheeled (motorcycle and electric bicycle) as well as aquatic (boat and outboard motor) product lines. We have seen many concepts and indications of Yamaha's intent, but very little follow through up to this point.

The plan seems to be part of a healing process following 2009 in which the company posted losses north of $2.3 billion. Yes folks, we said billion... ouch! Yamaha, a company that traditionally has been eager to carve its own path in the powersports segment, hopes new fuel efficient and electric designs will lead to increased popularity in developing markets that have an ever-growing importance to manufacturers industry wide. We are left holding our breaths as to when these developments will make their way into the U.S. That will, no doubt, be largely dependent upon our buying trends. In addition, the company has also pledged to make all of its offerings more competitive throughout its lineup.

Most importantly, this means we will see some much needed diversity in the development of electric motorcycles. This from the company that brought us the fist modern four-stroke motocross bikes, as well as snowmobiles. We will eagerly look forward to Yamaha's new offerings, and the following jolt that it could mean for the company as a whole. Now, to figure out how to commute in the bicycle lane on our shiny new Yamaha electric motorcycle.

[Source: Reuters]

Writing on the Wall: Yamaha raising funds for alternative engine development originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Holy Schnikes! Pastrana and Block at it again

Dan Roth — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:34:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos

Click above to view video after the jump

Already a certifiably insane pair, Travis Pastrana and Ken Block have upped the nuttiness yet again. Going after the money shot for the cover of RacerX Magazine, an Impreza and a MotoX bike took to the wild blue yonder in search of photographic gold. We think they managed, and we'd repeat the jumps over and over whether or not the perfect shot was already on the memory card, just like the airborne teammates. Hit the jump to watch video.

[Source: 0-60]

Continue reading VIDEO: Holy Schnikes! Pastrana and Block at it again

VIDEO: Holy Schnikes! Pastrana and Block at it again originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dunlop Driver's Cup: Qualifying begins

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Once a year, drivers gather in a central location to test their skills in a myriad of motorized conveyances. The Dunlop Drivers Cup isn't just a day or two of on-track driving. Nor is it limited to four-wheeled vehicles. It's a five day long event that encompasses autocross, road racing, off-road driving, motocross and an ATV trek.

Drivers are selected for both their behind the wheel/handlebar skills, but also their physical prowess and the qualifying begins this September 11th. The winner of the stateside event will then move on to the Dunlop Drivers Cup World Finals sometime in 2007, where they'll compete in events across six different continents, with the final event being held in Africa.

A profile of some of the finalists can be found here, here and here, which are all definitely worth the read, especially for anyone considering entering in the 2007 event. We wish them all the best of luck on their upcoming journey and hope that Team USA trounces whomever they come up against abroad.

More information about the Cup and registration for next year's event can be found at Dunlop's website.

Click on through for some photos from last years event.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Continue reading Dunlop Driver's Cup: Qualifying begins

Dunlop Driver's Cup: Qualifying begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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