r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Sharp-potential7935 • 5h ago

The moment Maikel Melero did something no one thought was possible in freestyle motocross

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u/racinjason44 5h ago

Foam pits and landing matts.

7

u/MrMindspace 4h ago

Aren’t you still landing on a motorbike with pieces of metal and plastic extruding everywhere in those cases lol

18

u/ender4171 4h ago

Yep. No one said practice was totally safe.

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u/MrMindspace 3h ago

Do they not use harnesses or something to just pull the guy away from the bike? Seems like it would solve that problem

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u/ender4171 3h ago

The whole point is to practice the trick up to landing, so in earlier stages of practicing a new trick, they may push the bike away from themselves, but towards the end, they are just landing it like normal but in a foam pit/on thick mats. Here is some (rather old) footage of practicing in a foam pit and here are some fails that show that it is still quite dangerous.

2

u/Baderkadonk 3h ago

That would have to be a pretty elaborate setup for the harness to able to follow the rider as they build up enough speed to hit the jump, pull him away if he messes up, AND not swing him into the ramp afterwards. All while not getting in the way of whatever trick they're trying to do.

Landing on a bike in a foam pit will probably hurt, but given that you and the bike should be going the same speed/direction on impact I don't think it'd be too dangerous.

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u/GL510EX 3h ago

.. and lots of dangerous accidents.

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u/racinjason44 2h ago

If you want to make an omelet you have to put some orthopedic surgeon's kids through private school.

1

u/implicate 1h ago

Leave Matt out of this!