Motorcycle legends <br>Travis Pastrana #199 a.k.a the crazy flying man

Slight introduction

What you get is what you see in the title, a man who is genuinely great guy, funny and passionate who is also freakingly talented on two and in the last years four wheels.

Pastrana's acomplishments are really legendary: he became world freestyle MX (motocross) champion at age 14, five -time US amateur MX champion, two-time Canadian amateur mx champion. The youngest rider ever who represented the United States at the Motocross des Nations in France, 125cc pro national outdoor champion, 125cc East Supercross Series champion, and most succesful competitor in the history of X-Games freestyle MX.

The last couple of years he had been pretty amazing on four wheels, too, as he demonstrated in the Rally America Series. But despite the success stories the superstar has maintained a reputation of a total no-brainer who is just being himself - never ending stunts and tricks, shows, killer records, and a lot of stupidity into the whole thing.

Rising as a champion

Travis was born in Maryland in 1983, and by age 4 he was riding a mini Honda single-speed. Although he excelled in mountain biking (finishing first in dual slalom at US Junior Nationals) and his studies (graduating high school 3 years early), the young man found his calling in motocross, winning five Loretta Lynn National Amateur crowns beginning in 1992, plus a deuce of Canadian titles for good measure.

When the 14 year old won the world freestyle championship in 1998, he served notice of his versatility, but 1999 was even better. "I won the first pro race I have ever entered (125cc) and also won a gold medal in freestyle at the X-Games even though I was the youngest rider there" he said in an interview. He had other winnings later that year- 2 gold medals at the Gravity Games, his fifth national amateur title and he was honoured with the Horizon Award for best amateur motocross racer.

In 2000, Pastrana was fully concentrated on pro competition, and therefore becoming the 125cc national champion and taking three wins- including the East/West Supercross Season Shootout championship. Besides being the AMA rookie of the year, he was named to America's Motocross des Nations team and took a repeat freestyle gold at the Summer X-Games

As the millenium was moving on so did Pastrana's dominance. In 2001 alone he won the 125cc East supercross Series championship and was awarded Motocross Rider of the Year at the ESPN Action sports and Music Awards. By 2005, he had won a total of 5 Gold X-Games medals, 5 gold Gravity Games medals, and additional wins at events including the Dew Tour and Red Bull X-Fighters.

That just wasn't enough for the guy so he was seeking a broader stage. Number 199's charisma is never ending, he lets the drama of sport speak to itself. Also he is one of the friendliest, most reacheable athletes in the pro ranks.

But his career hasn't been such a fairy tale as you might think. Tackling a variety of contests has inflicted a mass of injuries. His worst- in 1998 - was a spinal trauma that had been reported only twice before in medical history, and Pastrana's recovery was so remarkable that is was documented on several television programs and channels. Characteristically, the sportsman looks on the bright side: "I had to learn to walk again, but in the meantime my dad got me a great wheelchair with full suspension. I had about three months of fun with that" he says.

In other words, nothing is going to keep this superstar from exploring every possibility, whether it's racing, freestyle, step-up, making videos, or even a new hobby- BASE jumping. At home in Maryland, Pastrana's landscape includes a freestyle park, a foam pool, a MX track, a supercross track, a BMX course, a rally car track, a rock-climbing wall, a mechanical bull, and a skatepark. "Not that I'm there all that much," he admits, "but my friends enjoy it, too ".

Travis seems to be on the road more than ever these days:

While he remains a dominating force in the world's top freestyle motocross contests, he also has a ne stunt/reality show on MTV called "Nitro Circus" featuring the famous Bam Margera, Johnny Knoxville and others from "Jackass" shows.

And on top of all there's rally car racing. After testing the waters in 2004, Pastrana embarked on his first full season in the Rally America Series in 2005 and landed on the overall podium three times, for a season finish of fourth in his class and fifth overall. Completely stoked, he returned for Team Subaru's Rally America effort in 2006, and became one of the youngest drivers ever to a Rally America Championship. Since he joined Subaru and broadened his skills and his perimeter he met another Legend Ken Block(the famous Gymkhana inventor) and both raced for the Team Subaru for some time. As they become friends they did many stunts together many videos together and even records. When Block left the Subaru team and joined the World Rally Championship and now is racing for Ford team, Pastrana is the main Subaru driver. There are rumours that he would also make it to the WRC but it's only rumours.

His current sponsors are Suzuki, RedBull North America, KICKER Audio, Smith Optics, Thor Motocross, Activision, Alpine Stars, Nixon, Ogio, DC Shoes, Michelin, Parts Unlimited

He also has a biography movie - "Pastrana: 199 lives"