This is the moment a daredevil motocross rider jumps between two moving trucks, not only backflipping between the HGVs but also clearing a motorway gantry at the same time.
But the bonkers stunt performed by professional freestyle motocrosser Luc Ackermann almost goes horribly wrong.
The feat is the latest in a back catalogue of high-octane stunts masterminded by Red Bull and its team of sponsored athletes.
Described the terrifying leap, it said it was ‘as much a scientific achievement as a display of Ackermann’s skill and instinct’.
From the bed of a truck moving at 12mph, the 27-year-old from Mühlhausen in Germany accelerates his KTM motorcycle to 54mph before launching off a ramp into the air at a combined speed of 46mph.
Mid-flight, Ackermann then performs a jaw-dropping ‘Tsunami Backflip’ while clearing a nine-metre-high barrier like motorists in England typically see when driving along a smart motorway. The jump spanned 40 metres, with a 23-metre gap between the two moving HGVs.
With his brother, fellow freestyle motocross rider Hannes, onboard the take-off truck to give the critical signal for the exact moment to launch – which crucially depended on precise timing within a window of just half a second – the trick almost takes a shocking turn for the worse.
The footage shows Ackermann being hit by a gust of wind, which appears to push him off-course while flying through the air upside down, landing perilously close to the side of the second truck’s trailer.
This is the moment a daredevil motocross rider jumps between two moving trucks, not only backflipping between the HGVs but also clearing a motorway gantry at the same time. But the ‘meticulously planned’ trick stunt doesn’t go entirely to plan…
The Red Bull Bridge Traverse is the first ever attempt to jump between two moving vehicles, let alone over a motorway gantry
Despite the hair-raising landing, Red Bull says the world’s first ‘Bridge Traverse’ between two moving trucks was ‘meticulously planned and calculated to ensure maximum safety’.
Thomas Stöggl, head of global performance innovation at the company’s Athlete Performance Centre in Thalgau, Austria, reportedly analysed ‘every detail’ of the stunt.
He measured the motorcycle’s acceleration and the trucks’ speeds, the take-off angle, the flight trajectory and wind conditions, Red Bull says.
‘This detailed preparation turned what may have appeared to be a high-risk stunt to the casual observer, into what was in fact a controlled and calculated operation,’ the energy drink maker claimed.
Having watched the footage, we’re not entirely convinced…
‘The project has been likened to solving a live physics equation, where velocity, trajectory and aerodynamics had to align perfectly in a split-second decision – a breathtaking mix of science and skill,’ it added.
Yet there’s no question that a gust of wind blows Luc off course as his motorcycle is pushed sideways during the backflip and he almost collides with the raised side of the second truck’s landing ramp as a result.
From the bed of a truck moving at 12mph, the 27-year-old from Mühlhausen in Germany accelerates his KTM motorcycle to 54mph before launching off a ramp into the air at a combined speed of 46mph. Mid-flight, Ackermann then performs a jaw-dropping ‘Tsunami Backflip’ while clearing a nine-metre-high barrier like you would see on a UK smart motorway
Red Bull’s detailed video of the Bridge Traverse stunt, filmed using a drone, shows Ackermann being pushed off-course by the wind while he’s hanging upside down from his KTM motorcycle
As you can see from this angle, Ackermann’s jump trajectory shifts dramatically after performing the backflip…
This clip taken from the drone footage shows just how close Ackermann is to missing the second truck’s landing ramp, touching down on the absolute edge of the HGV…
The truck drivers were given the daunting task of keeping the 31-metre-long HGVs at a constant speed, dead straight and with a gap of 23 metres so that Luc could perform the jump on a German motorway in Aldenhoven.
To make matters more difficult, the Tsunami Backflip is one of the most complex and dangerous moves to perform.
Yet, Ackermann says it is ‘one of his favourite tricks’.
He explained: ‘I flip the bike upside down while holding onto the handlebars and basically hang underneath the bike in a straight line. The hardest part is rotating back on the bike before I land.’ Rather him than us!
He clears the motorway gantry by some three metres to ensure he wouldn’t make contact with the metal structure his legs while flying inverted clinging onto the KTM machine.
Despite the hair-raising landing, Red Bull says the world’s first ‘Bridge Traverse’ between two moving trucks was ‘meticulously planned and calculated to ensure maximum safety’
Thomas Stöggl (pictured right), head of global performance innovation at the company’s Athlete Performance Centre in Thalgau, Austria, reportedly analysed ‘every detail’ of the Ackermann’s stunt
The death-defying jump was conducted on a closed section of carriageway in Aldenhoven close to the Belgium border some 40 miles west of Dusseldorf
During practice runs, the stunt rider admitted: ‘Right now, the wind is kind of strong. So, on my first jump, the wind sent me so far to the side, so I was super scared’
Before taking on the death-defying attempt, Ackermann said: ‘Not only with the movement give me vertigo, I also need to be aware of crosswinds and I need to be 100 per cent accurate on my timing in order not to hit the sign.’
During practice runs, the stunt rider admitted: ‘Right now, the wind is kind of strong. So, on my first jump, the wind sent me so far to the side, so I was super scared.’
While the highway is closed in the direction Luc and the trucks are travelling, it appears the dual carriageway in the opposite direction is open as normal, with drivers capturing the incredible moment on their phones.
Though this will have been staged by Red Bull – a clear giveaway by the fortunate product placement in one of the brand’s social media clips below.
The jump spanned 40 metres, with a 23-metre gap between the two moving HGVs. Ackermann pictured high-fiving one of the truck drivers before taking on the hair-raising ‘Red Bull Bridge Traverse’ stunt in Aldenhoven, Germany
Ackermann says the Tsunami Backflip is ‘one of his favourite tricks’. He explained: ‘I flip the bike upside down while holding onto the handlebars and basically hang underneath the bike in a straight line. The hardest part is rotating back on the bike before I land’
After completing the stunt, Ackermann, 27, from Mühlhausen in Germany said he was ‘overwhelmed’ with emotion
‘The preparations took several days and there was so much tension. ‘To have that lifted was simply overwhelming. I really celebrated – I basically went half crazy,’ the daredevil commented
After successfully completing the incredible trick, Ackermann described the emotional release as ‘overwhelming’.
‘The feeling after the jump was incredible because I realised it was just enough,’ he said.
‘The preparations took several days and there was so much tension.
‘To have that lifted was simply overwhelming. I really celebrated – I basically went half crazy.’
When commenting on the involvement of the specially trained truck drivers – Franz Reinthaler and Walter Kranawendter – Ackermann added: ‘I have to have complete trust in my team for this project.’
