The Crusty Demons, Australian-based performers of some of the most audacious motorbike stunts in history, are a few spanners short of a toolkit. Their spectacular live stunt shows are largely responsible for making the sport of freestyle motocross (FMX – basically the 250cc version of BMX ramping) popular all over the planet. The team – which includes seven of the top 10 FMX riders in the world – break world records as often as they break bones. Which is often.
‘I love motorbikes, I enjoy travelling and can’t think of a better job,’ says 25-year-old Luke Smith, a Brit who now lives in New Zealand and who has toured the world with the Crusties. On one memorable night in 2005 they set no less than six new world records, including an outrageous long-distance jump over 277 feet. In case you were wondering how long that is, it’s the distance from the goal line to the opposition’s penalty box at Wembley.
‘We’re aware of the dangers and you can never afford to become complacent – especially as we’ve all come a cropper at some point,’ says Aussie Joel Balchin, 29, whose worst fall was while attempting a Superman Backflip.
‘After taking the jump, I failed to get back on the bike in time to land it. I smacked head first into the dirt, fractured two vertebrae, broke three ribs and four toes. Luckily, I didn’t need any surgery, which was amazing considering the damage I did.’
‘You have to have the balls to do it,’ adds Luke. ‘I’ve done my back in twice and broken both ankles as well as my arm, knee, fingers and thumbs. I have a rod running from my forearm to my shoulder with six screws in it. In one of my ankles I have 18 screws and three plates, and there’s a pin and a plate in my left knee. When we travel I always set off the alarm at the airport as I go through the security scanner.’
It’s a demanding job, requiring immense stamina – both on the bike and at the bar. Luke goes to the gym four times a week, lift weights and watches what he eats. ‘It’s important not to bulk up too much,’ he says, ‘but you need to be strong enough to handle the bikes. The problem is we spend more time partying and drinking than biking,’ he says. ‘It can leave you feeling a bit worse for wear the next day. But you just have to get on with it.’ Surely no one can keep that up forever? ‘I’ll give up when I’m about 32… if I’m still in one piece,’ says Luke with a shrug. Then he pulls on his helmet and heads off to perform yet another death-defying stunt. Well, we hope it’s death-defying…
For more information on the Crusty Demons and to see them in action, visit www.crusty.com
World records held by the demons:
- Longest wheelie on a BMX: 255 feet, set by Trevor Porter
- Longest jump on a 500cc motorcycle: 277.5 feet, set by Trigger Gumm
- Longest jump on a quad bike: 149 feet, set by Jamie Barkla
- Longest jump on a pro mini-bike: 86.4 feet, set by Clint Debnir
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