Travis Pastrana is a leader in MotoX and Rally Car. He dominated at X Games 12 (with the 1st double back flip) Here's a quick profile on Travis Pastrana.
It isn't surprising that Travis Pastrana was named X Games 12's most outstanding athlete. He set an exhausting pace in X Games 12, competing in four events and taking home three gold medals. Travis has earned a solid reputation in the world of motocross, and now in Rally Car as well. He has an infectious enthusiasm for his sport and is willing to try just about anything. He was once quoted as saying, "I've got the willingness and the stupidity to try anything. If I think it's even remotely possible, I'll do it."
It all started with a 50cc engine... Travis was born October 8, 1983 and began riding motorcycles four years later. He seemed to have a natural inclination to all things related to motocross. In 1999 Travis turned pro. Although he was a strong competitor, Travis had a rough start on the pro racing circuit. He was a strong rider but racked up an extensive injury list and spent a lot of time "getting back to 100%".
Although Travis seems to excel at freestyle motocross, he began with racing. At 14, Travis became the youngest World Freestyle Motocross Champion. Travis, who always sports the number 199 on his cars and bikes, is recognized as being the first to try many tricks. He practices in a pit (a built up pit filled with foam padding) at his Maryland home. Although the pit is a safer way to practice, it isn't without risk (Travis's mom broke her neck on a trick into the pit). While there is a lot of planning involved in each trick, Travis says that "the bottom line is that you trust your gut and you go for it."
Summer X Games '06 On August 4, 2006 Travis went for it. On his second run during the X Games 12 MotoX Best Trick competition, Travis became the first person to pull a double back-flip in competition. While the execution and landing seemed too seamless to put off as a one-time event, Travis promised his mom he would never do it again.
At the 2006 Summer X Games, Travis also competed in the debut of Rally Car racing. After trailing Colin McCrae by ½ second, Travis took the gold when McCrae flipped his car coming into the finish.
Two wheels or four? What is in the future for Travis Pastrana? Rally Car racing definitely seems to be the safest option. The roll cage on rally cars would offer some protection for the injury prone Travis. On the last day of X Games 12, Travis- the man who pulled the double back flip and won gold in MotoX freestyle- tripped over a cord in the MotoX staging area and injured his knee.
Whether he's riding MotoX or Rally, even if he never does the double again, Travis is bound to remain a fan favorite for years to come.
