Michael Jones (born February 28, 1966) is an American freestyle motocross competitor with over 35 years of professional rider experience. He started his motorcycle racing career in 1972Dirt rider online: http://www.dirtrider.com/community/staff-blogs/tonight-s-show-ricky-carmichael-mad-mike-jones-other-pit-pass-radio-guests aged six. 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"."Mad" Mike Jones profile - FMX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZByT6XYjI 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.
Early life Jones was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 28, 1966.
Career "Mad" Mike is the 1998 World Freestyle Motocross Champion. In 2001, he was the first ever to win the Red Bull X-Fighters competition. "Mad" Mike is the 4 time German Supercross Champion.
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. 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 "Heel Clicker Nothing".
Media appearances Disturbing the Peace (1997) Children of a Metal God Trilogy (1998) Surviving Extreme Sports (2001) MX Superfly (2002) Global Addiction (2002) Freekstyle (2002) Crusty Demons 8 (2003) Freestyle MetalX (2003) Ski to the Max (2004) Mad Mikes Mayhem (2005) Fall Out 2 (2006) Crusty Demons XII: Dirty Dozen (2006) MotoXmania (2008) Mythbusters: Sharkus Maximus (2011)
Career results
X Games + GOLD (1) SILVER (1) BRONZE (0) YEAR X GAMES EVENTS RANK MEDAL 1999 Summer X Games V Moto X Freestyle 4th 2000 Summer X Games VI Moto X Step Up 5th 2000 Summer X Games VI Moto X Freestyle 5th 2001 Winter X Games V Moto X Big Air 1st 2001 Summer X Games VII Moto X Freestyle 5th 2001 Summer X Games VII Moto X Step Up 12th 2001 Summer X Games VII Moto X Big Air 4th 2002 Winter X Games VI Moto X Big Air 2nd 2002 Summer X Games VIII Moto X Freestyle 2002 Summer X Games VIII Moto X Big Air 10th 2003 Summer X Games IX Moto X Big Air 12th
Gravity Games + YEAR GRAVITY GAMES LOCATION EVENTS RANK MEDAL 2000 Gravity Games II Providence, RI MTX Freestyle 7th 2001 Gravity Games III Providence, RI MTX Freestyle 10th
Other events
1999 Vans Triple Crown of Freestyle Motocross: 3rd 2000 Australian X Games - Freestyle: 1st 2001 Red Bull X-Fighters - Freestyle: 1st (Valencia, Spain) 2002 Red Bull X-Fighters - Freestyle: 2nd (Madrid, Spain)
References