Robbie Maddison will be returning to the HydroGarden Weston Beach Race this year to compete again in one of the toughest and most bonkers off-road events in the UK on October 19-21. Most recently known for his water-riding efforts in ‘Pipe Dream’ and ‘Pipe Dream 2’ that have amassed over 25 million YouTube views, Maddison is a world-famous freestyle competitor, stunt rider, world record holder and all-round badass on a bike. The Australian has kept to his word to schedule in a trip to the UK to race around the Weston-Super-Mare course again having been unable to attend in 2017 due to surgery.
In 2016 with little preparation ‘Maddo’ took on the grueling three-hour HydroGarden Weston Beach Race for the first time. Having hardly ridden motocross or enduro for years, it was a tough ask for the Aussie rider who came through to finish in an impressive 46thposition. This year Maddison wants to better that, and now having gotten a real understanding of the format for this special race, and while working hard to recover from the much-needed surgery at the end of last year, the 35-year-old dirtbike star will definitely be one to watch.
Maddison, who has been considered as a modern-day Evel Knievel, became a household name having backflipped over Tower Bridge in London, jumped up and off the Arc de Triomphe in front of Paris Las Vegas, jumped a motorcycle off a ski jump, and rode the waves of Tahiti in ‘Pipe Dream’, which amassed worldwide recognition.
The Australian, who resides in the USA, started out as a motocross and supercross rider, but went on to test his limits as a Freestyle motocross rider where he won numerous X Games medals and X Fighters trophies. In more recent years he’s had the envious job of being a James Bond stunt double, he’s worked with Vin Diesel on the XXX movie, holds the distance record for riding on water, the world motorcycle jumping record, and has jumped the Corinth Canal in Greece. It’s a breathtaking string of accolades for a super-friendly, approachable, passionate motorcyclist who embraced the possibility to get amongst his British fans at the HydroGarden Weston Beach Race and can’t wait to be back.
Robbie Maddison
“I’m excited to be coming back to the HydroGarden Weston Beach Race again in 2018, especially as I know what I’m in for this time. I was bummed that I couldn’t do it last year as we’d hoped, but I’m training physically and it will be great to be back; it’s such a gnarly race. I really loved the atmosphere, and the riding was a lot of fun too. I hadn’t raced in over 15 years when I competed in 16, so to make the distance in the top 50 was a massive highlight for me. It’s a refreshing reminder that I’m not too bad at riding my bike! This year I plan to try and do a little endurance riding beforehand, so when I show up to the gate I’m not just rolling the dice again. I also will make a few changes to the bike, so I don’t lose so much time on the straightaway. Preparation is key, so I’m going to try and be a bit more ready for it this time round, but I really can’t wait.”
Gareth Hockey – Director of RHL Activities
“It was very special in 2016 to have Robbie involved with the HydroGarden Weston Beach Race, and despite being almost unable to walk after the race due to some extreme cramp, it was great to see how much he had loved racing and straight away he was talking about coming back. We are passionate about our sport at RHL Activities, so for me personally to have a guy here who is also so passionate about dirtbikes and pushing the limits is a magical thing. His skills on a bike are incredible, but he also loves being around the fans and this is a huge asset to the event. We can’t wait for October now.”
For more information and entry into the race visit www.rhlactivities.com