Mike Jones (motocross rider)

Michael Jones, (born February 28, 1966 in Export, Pennsylvania) is an American freestyle motocross competitor, with over 35 years of professional rider experience. He started his motorcycle racing career in 1972[1][2] aged 6.. Continuing to race up until his last Fastcross in Italy 2000, he became increasingly involved in the emerging sport of Freestyle Motocross, performing half-time jump shows at football games as early as 1987. He is attributed as being "one of the founding fathers of the sport of freestyle motocross", and became known as "Mad" Mike Jones after an Italian promoter described his stunts as "Mad" and "the name stuck".[3] He has appeared in numerous movies including Crusty Demons and Eight Legged Freaks, and also goes around North American schools to share about his experience.

Mike Jones
Personal information
Full nameMichael Jones
Nickname(s)"Mad" Mike Jones
NationalityAmerican
Born (1966-02-28) February 28, 1966
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Sport
SportFreestyle Motocross freeride

Career highlights

"Mad" Mike is the 1998 World Freestyle Motocross Champion. In 2001 he was the first ever to win the Red Bull X-Fighters competition.

X Games Medals

Winter X Games Medals
  • Winter X Games V - 2001 Vermont: Moto X Best Trick: Gold medal
  • Winter X Games VI - 2002 Aspen: Moto X Best Trick: Silver medal

Trick development

Jones is attributed to being co-inventor of the trick ‘kiss of death’ along with Ryan Leyba. The trick was developed by the two riders at Manny's yard in Elsinore. He went on to use this trick at Winter X Games Vermont, where Jones achieved a gold medal.[4] He also claims in an interview that he invented the 'Coffin', the no-handed landing, and various trick combinations including 'Kiss of death Indian' and 'Heal clicker nothing'.[5]

Arrest at Miami International Airport

Returning home from Costa Rica, Jones reportedly shoved a baggage cart at two airport employees carrying out maintenance work. He then proceeded to punch one of these employees in the face. Police arrived and ordered Jones to lie on the floor, he ignored this command charging at the police officers, and punched one of them. He was then reportedly tasered several times before being subdued.[6] Friends who spoke with Jones before he departed for Miami described him as acting strangely, and Jones' wife stated that the incident was due a bipolar disorder. He was later charged with battery, assault and resisting arrest with violence, and was held on a $12,500 bond.[7]

Media appearances
  • Disturbing the Peace (1997)
  • Children of a Metal God Trilogy (1998)
  • Surviving Extreme Sports (2001)
  • Global Addiction (2002)
  • Freekstyle (2002)
  • Crusty Demons 8 (2003)
  • Ski to the Max (2004)
  • Mad Mikes Mayhem (2005)
  • Fall Out 2 (2006)
  • Crusty Demons XII: Dirty Dozen (2006)
  • MotoXmania (2008)

Music

Mike also likes Nu- and alternative metal. He has released the compilation album Mad Mike Presents: Mototrax, Vol. 1.

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References
  1. Dirt rider online: http://www.dirtrider.com/community/staff-blogs/tonight-s-show-ricky-carmichael-mad-mike-jones-other-pit-pass-radio-guests
  2. http://racerxonline.com/2012/08/28/lh-tour-to-honor-jones-at-steel-city
  3. "Mad" Mike Jones profile - FMX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZByT6XYjI
  4. ‘Freestyle Motorcross 2: Air Sickness’ Garth Millan, MBI publishing, 2002.
  5. "Mad" Mike Jones profile - FMX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZByT6XYjI
  6. http://espn.go.com/action/fmx/news/story?id=5020951
  7. http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_673113.html
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