How to Do a Motocross Corkscrew

Over the years, Freestyle Motocross has continually done the impossible. In the early years of Freestyle Motocross, riders performed tricks by turning and twisting their bodies around the bikes in the air. Next, riders started releasing the bike will both hands and feet to fly through the air. The Motocross Holy Grail was created when riders began to do the backflip. The next challenge may very well be a Corkscrew (a form of Barrel Roll), with variations.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Motocross bike
• Foam landing pit
• Protective gear

1. Warm up by jumping the bike a few times to get the feel of the ramp for the day.

2. Line up to the ramp and visualize what you will do to try the Corkscrew. Think about each step of the Corkscrew trick.

3. Accelerate the bike up to jump speed.

4. Hit the ramp like you are going to do a big tail whip.

5. Shift your weight to the side to continue the rotation created with the Tail Whip motion. Move your weight to your naturally dominant side, the one you favor when doing a Tail Whip. To learn more about how to do a Tail Whip, consult the forums at Dirt Rider One (see Resources below).

6. Push down on the peg on the side of the bike you want to turn over. At the same time, take pressure off the other side of the bike. For example, if you are throwing the tail to the right, push down on the left side.

7. Pull the handlebars toward you as you lean the bike over.

8. Keep your weight moving and hang onto the bike with the leg on the outside of the bike.

9. Sit down directly on the bike and limit the motion of the bike as it becomes upright again. You need to stop the flipping motion you started earlier.

10. Spot the landing as early as possible and land the bike.

11. Crawl out of the foam pit and make another run at the Corkscrew.

Tips & Warnings

• The flight of the bike for the Corkscrew should be different from the jumpers used for backflips. You want a longer flight time and flatter jump to get the rotation just right.
• You may have to practice the Corkscrew for months or even years before you start landing it properly in the foam pit.
• If you aren't an expert Motocross stunt rider, do not attempt a Corkscrew.
• You must have a huge foam pit to land in as you try to move the bike through a Corkscrew.
• If the bike lands on top of you, it is going to hurt a lot, even in a foam pit.

Resources

• Discussion of the Tail Whip at DirtRider.com

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