Australian Robbie Maddison has broken the world motorcycle jumping record, soaring 322 feet, 7.5 inches (98.34 metres) at the Rio All-Suite Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.Maddison, 26, from Kiama on the NSW South Coast is a member of the Crusty Demons stunt troupe.
Facing a slight headwind, the freestyle motocross star made a second jump, but went only 320 feet (97.5 metres) on that attempt.
"I'm just starting to realize what I did," Maddison said. "Conditions weren't in my favor with the wind."
Maddison broke the Guinness World Records-certified mark of 277.6 feet (84.6 metres) set by Trigger Gumm in 2005 in Australia, and the non-certified mark of 310.4 feet (94.6 metres) set by Ryan Capes in the US, also in 2005.
During practice Sunday night, Maddison jumped 350 feet (106.68 metres). It was unclear if that jump would be certified as the record.
"We had terrific conditions," Maddison said of the practice jump.
On Monday night, Maddison landed in perfect control on both attempts, sailing over a drawn-in football field and coming down on a large dirt landing area.
He was asked how far he thinks he can jump.
"Four hundred feet," Maddison said. "I know I'm definitely going to do it."
The jump was broadcast live in the US as part of ESPN's New Years Eve coverage.
Maddison dedicated the jump to his idol Evil Knievel who died at the start of December aged 69, after years suffering from diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Although he had never met the legendary stuntman, Maddison made the trek to Montana for Knievel's funeral last month.
Maddison says his aim has always been to jump the length of a football field and the 300-feet (91.44 metres) mark has an American football field covered.
Maddison was to share top-billing with New Zealand-born stunt driver Rhys Millen, who was to perform the first ever successful 360-degree backflip in an off road truck.
However, Millen crashed during practice last week, leaving him with three broken vertebrae in his neck and two compressed and broken vertebrae is his back.
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