Mike Metzger, at 31 years old has accomplished many things that most people would say were impossible to do on a motorcycle. After 28 years of riding dirt bikes, Mike has become an icon amongst his peers, as well as many devoted fans throughout the world. Known as "The Godfather of Freestyle Moto X", Mike has been credited with starting what is now known all over the world, the Sport of Freestyle Moto X (viewed by millions on ESPN's X Games, NBC's Gravity Games, & NBC's Dew Tour), as well as bringing The Back-flip into competition.
Mike is known for innovating many new tricks and ideas into the sport and is the main reason it is where it is today. In 2002, Mike surprised the world with back flipping his dirt bike over 80 feet, which not only won him 2 Gold medals that year as well as a silver medal in Step Up contest, but even more important gained him X Games Elite, Athlete of the Year Award (shared with only a handful of others such as Tony Hawk, Dave Mirra, & Matt Hoffman to list a few) and found himself on Ripley's Believe it or Not for being the first person to back flip back to back. In fact it was such a big moment in sports history that ABC's Wide World of Sports used the TV footage as the highlight of the show.
That was the fuel that set Freestyle Moto X blazing and made it mainstream. Not long after the X Games 2002, Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Ca. decided to bring Freestyle Moto X into their park (along with a few other extreme sports) and presented Mike with a medal for doing the impossible. Mike has since been on numerous Television commercials, shows on a vast array of networks, and even in movies. He has also been in many mainstream magazines and on a handful of covers as well. Mikes popularity expanded rapidly and still continues to do so. Mike Metzger has now become a household name around the globe; Mike will continue pushing the envelope and help the motorcycle industry in many different ways. Mike has recently launched a new company, Factory Freestyle, and will be designing and manufacturing after market motorcycle parts specifically for Freestyle Moto X and will continue being a recognized face on televisions everywhere. Mike's skill, image, charisma and ability to win, makes him the major draw for motocross events worldwide.
In May 2006, in front of Millions watching LIVE around the world on ESPN, Mike Metzger did the "Impossible". Timed with the release of Mission Impossible the movie, Mike jumped the Caesars Palace fountains in Las Vegas in front of more than 15,000 fans and Millions around the world watching, hoping he could pull it off. Mike not only completed this Historic World Record Breaking Jump but he smashed his own goal by landing 125' and also performing a Back-flip as if to show off his talent while on center stage. Mike pushed the limit that day and challenged others to follow in his footsteps as he always had in the past, building the sport to what it is today, always going Big.
| Born: | November 19, 1975 |
| Age: | 32 yrs. |
| Children: | 1 Daughter (Michaela), and 1 Son (Myrie) |
| Resides: | Wildomar, CA |
| Birthplace: | Huntington Beach, CA |
| Height/Weight: | 5'10/160 lbs. |
| Current Bike: | Kawasaki 250 |
| Riding: | 28 yrs. |
| Riding Professional: | 15 yrs. |
| Hobbies: | Riding anything with 2 wheels, painting of all Trades, any other type of art, camping, tricking out and building bikes, and devoting his spare time to his family. |
| Business: | Mike has recently started Factory Freestyle, A company dedicated to making the Worlds Best Freestyle Products and Team. The Team participated in all the NBC Dew Tour Events (7 all over the US), and of course The X Games 12 in LA, the LG Event in Pomona, Ca., and many other ramp to ramp demos across the US. Factory Freestyle will also continue to promote MotoX competitions, and music festivals for all the fans to enjoy! |
Career Highlights & Events
| 1998 | IFMA Champion | |
| 1999 | IFMA Champion | |
| Vans Triple Crown Champion | ||
| 2000 | Gravity Games Silver Medalist | |
| 2001 | Munich, Germany NEA Award Best MotoX Overall | |
| 2002 | Gravity Games Silver Medalist | |
| X Games Freestyle Competition Gold Medalist | ||
| X Games Big Air Gold Medalist | ||
| X Games Step Up Gold Medalist | ||
| X Games 2002 Athlete of the Year | ||
| 2003 | Winter X Games FMX Big Air Gold Medalist | |
| Jumped the Golden Gate Bridge at Disney's California Adventure | ||
| Cameo/Stunt double for Cameron Diaz in Charlies Angels 2 | ||
| 2004 | Winter X Games Silver Medalist | |
| Brought Super Moto into The X Games | ||
| AMA Supermoto Irwindale Raceway 3rd Place | ||
| 2005 | Announced X Games (Broken Foot) | |
| 2006 | Set World Record 125' Back-flip over the Caesars Palace fountains | |
| Filmed The Great Biker Buildoff on Discovery Channel/His bike won | ||
| Promoted the first Factory Freestyle MotoX & Music Festival/ & won | ||
| Rebuilt His Foam Pit since the other one went up in flames | ||
| Put together his own Factory Freestyle team | ||
| Designed his very own Freestyle Triple Clamp | ||
| Started his CORR off road racing career |
Video/Movie Appearances
|
|
Television Appearances
|
|
Magazine publications/Pictures/Interviews
- Dirt Rider 3 covers/several issues w/interviews, pics, & ads
- Transworld MotoX several issues w/interviews, pics, & ads
- Racer X Cover, several issues w/interviews, pics, & ads
- Cycle news several issues
- Moto Verte (French mag) several covers & issues
- MotoX (German Mag) several covers & issues
- MX Machine several issues & 1 cover
- Wide Open several covers & issues
- ESPN The magazine 3 issues w/interview
- Rolling Stone Magazine a couple times
- Spin 1 cover of the fall fashion mag, and a couple issues
- FHM magazine a couple times
- Teen People
- Cosmopolitan
- Freerider, Australian magazine several covers & issues
- Stuff Magazine
- Many Japanese Magazines
- Several catalogs (Oakley Cover)
Books
- History Makers-Extreme Athletes (Cover & entire chapter)
- American Motocross Volume 1 & 2
- Freestyle MotoX by Garth Milan
- Being extreme by Bill Gutman & Shawn Frederick
Toys/Merchandise
- Jakks Pacific-Action Figure w/ replica bike
- Collector Replica Mike Metzger motorcycle
- Mike Metzger Pajamas
Video Game
- EA Sports Freestyle
More Photos
