thePULSERidin’ Dirty
Brody Wilson, Ramp 2 Ramp Freestyle Motocross Daredevil
by Kim Dunbar
Photos courtesy of Joe Brady, fmxillustrated.com
Brody Wilson is your average 21-year-old. He’s shy, determined, and has big career goals.
He’s also has balls. Brody Wilson is a freestyle motocross rider.
Let’s go back five years. Brody Wilson had started racing off-road motorcycles and dirt bikes in competitions across New England. Then, his ambitions evolved into taking his riding to the next level by trying some tricks and landing some jumps. After practicing for a while, Brody, with his father’s help, built a ramp in their backyard so that he could really get serious about freestyle motocross.
“I’m not crazy,” is Wilson’s response to those who question his career choice. “I do it every day and I feel pretty safe when I’m riding. It’s just fun. A major adrenaline rush,” he added.
The next question from curious onlookers is usually, “Why?” Twisting and turning 30 feet in the air on a bike seems like a pretty risky hobby. For this frequent question, Brody Wilson has a very simple answer: “I like jumping big,” he said. “I get to travel all around with good friends doing what I love, so why not?” Question asked, question answered!
Wilson’s travels and talent will take the Templeton native back to him home turf when the Ramp 2 Ramp Freestyle Motocross tour stops at the DCU Center in Worcester on January 5th and 6th. This will be the first time Wilson gets to compete in a motocross event in his home state. “I’m a lot more nervous than usual,” he said of the homecoming. “I’ll know more people in the audience so there will be more pressure to do well. When I’m in front of an audience of strangers, it doesn’t bother me too much if I mess up, but I don’t want to mess up in front of my friends and family,” he added.
Wilson’s track record is short but very impressive. Last winter in the 2006 IFMA Ramp It Up Series, Wilson landed 10 first place finishes out of a possible 12. His secret to success? “I just try to stay consistent, and nail my trick every time,” he said. But practice makes perfect. Wilson rides for at least an hour every day and hits the gym to lift weights and get in some cardio.
Wilson’s favorite trick is his backflip. He started practicing in February, but after dislocating his wrist had to take a five month break. After jumping into foam pits, he finally landed his trick on the ground. “It was just a great feeling of relief when it finally happened,” he confessed.
Wilson’s recent dislocated wrist is one of many injuries the young rider has experienced during his career ~ but he insists that if the injury isn’t too serious, getting right back up isn’t that bad. But if it is serious, like when he was 16 and suffered his first injury, a broken collarbone, taking time to mend is important. After sitting out a month and a half, he bounced back strong, needing only a week to pick up where he left off.
Photos courtesy of Joe Brady, fmxillustrated.com
Wilson said that the hardest part of the sport is the risk of injury, but that isn’t something he usually thinks about mid-air. “I like riding so much it’s all worth it,” he said.
Wilson’s advice to aspiring riders is to start out small. “Don’t go over your head, you’ll get hurt if you do it that way,” he warned. After all, Brody’s big career started off on a small ramp in his backyard.
If you want to catch Wilson and his tour-mates performing aerial acrobatics while clearing 70 foot gaps three stories in the air, get your tickets for Ramp 2 Ramp Freestyle Motocross now. Tickets are available at the DCU Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at 617-931-2000 or 617-228-6000, or online at ticketmaster.com.
