Mike Jones (motocross rider)

Mike Jones

Personal information
Full name	Michael Jones
Nickname	"Mad" Mike Jones
Born	(1966-02-28) February 28, 1966 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	182 lb (83 kg)
Spouse	Christine Jones
Children	1
Sport
Sport	Freestyle motocross (FMX), Freeride Mountain biking
Event(s)	X Games, Gravity Games, Red Bull X-Fighters
Medal record Winter X Games Representing United States 2001 Vermont Moto X Big Air 2002 Aspen Moto X Big Air

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 1972 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". 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 highlights

"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.

Trick development

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 "Heal Clicker Nothing".

Media appearances

• Disturbing the Peace (1997)
• Children of a Metal God Trilogy (1998)
• Surviving Extreme Sports (2001)
• 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)

Music

Jones likes nu- and alternative metal. He has released the compilation album Mad Mike Presents: Mototrax, Vol. 1.

Events

• 2000 Australian X Games - Moto X Freestyle: 1st
• 2001 Red Bull X-Fighters - Freestyle: 1st (Valencia, Spain)
• 2002 Red Bull X-Fighters - Freestyle: 2nd (Madrid, Spain)

X Games competition history

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 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	14th
2001	Summer X Games VII	Moto X Big Air
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, Rhode Island	Moto X Freestyle	7th
2001	Gravity Games III	Providence, Rhode Island	Moto X Freestyle	10th