German Freestyle Motocross Rider Clears a 9-Metre-High Motorway Barrier, Covering 40 Metres Through the Air at 74 km/h.
German freestyle motocross rider Luc Ackermann has completed a feat that would challenge even the sharpest physics student.
He jumped from one moving lorry to another, clearing a 9-metre-high motorway barrier with just half a second to spare. The achievement combined athletic skill, precise timing, and scientific calculation.
The 80/20 Snapshot:
The Jump: Luc Ackermann leapt 40 metres from one moving truck to another on his freestyle motocross bike, soaring over a 9-metre-high motorway barrier at 74 km/h.
Precision Timing: The take-off relied on fractions of a second; his brother, FMX pro Hannes Ackermann, signalled the exact moment for the jump.
Teamwork: Two truck drivers kept their 31-metre vehicles aligned 23 metres apart at constant speed, ensuring a safe landing zone.
Science in Action: Experts calculated speed, trajectory, and wind conditions to make the jump as safe as possible.
Emotional Release: Ackermann described the landing as an intense moment following days of critical preparation and meticulous planning: “To have that tension lifted was simply overwhelming. I really celebrated [afterwards].”
Deep Dive:
– On a motorway in North Rhine-Westphalia, in northwest Germany, Luc Ackermann accelerated his motorcycle to 54 km/h from the bed of a truck travelling at 20 km/h. With the combined momentum propelling him at 74 km/h, he launched into the air, performed a Tsunami Backflip, and landed safely on a second truck moving directly ahead – all while clearing a 9-metre-high height control barrier.
– The flight itself covered 40 metres, a gap of 23 metres between vehicles, and hinged on timing down to fractions of a second. The rider performed the jump without using a speedometer, relying purely on instinct and experience.
– “Precision and timing were especially important for this project, because if I didn’t take off at the right speed and at the right moment, I’d either crash into the sign or miss the landing,” Ackermann explains.
– His brother, FMX professional rider Hannes Ackermann, was on board the take-off truck and gave the crucial signal for the exact launch moment.
– “For this project, I had to place full trust in my team,” Ackermann said. That included truck drivers Franz Reinthaler and Walter “Bill” Kranawendter, who were tasked with keeping their 31-metre-long vehicles perfectly aligned, 23 metres apart, at a constant 20 km/h. Their coordination allowed Ackermann to focus entirely on the jump.
– Behind the spectacle was detailed scientific preparation. Thomas Stöggl, Head of Global Performance Innovation at the Athlete Performance Center in Thalgau, Austria, calculated every parameter – from the acceleration of the motorcycle to the speed of the trucks, the take-off angle, flight curve and even wind conditions – in order to make the jump as safe as possible.
– After the landing, Ackermann admitted the emotional release was immense. “The feeling after the jump was overwhelming because I realised it was just enough. [..] The preparations took several days, and there was a lot of tension. To have that tension lifted was simply overwhelming. I really celebrated and basically went half crazy.”
– The project has been likened to a complex equation carried out in real time: velocity, trajectory and aerodynamics combined into a single half-second decision. With the support of his team and the application of scientific accuracy, Ackermann translated calculation into athletic performance, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most exacting and fearless riders in freestyle motocross.
