MX, FMX legends jump motorcycles at White House lawn
You know an event is special when it gets some of the biggest names in motocross and freestyle motocross to dust off their gear and hit a ramp again.
Over the weekend, action sports icon Travis Pastrana and his Nitro Circus crew gathered an all-star lineup of motorcycle legends for a historic jump on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. Joining him were Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath, Brian Deegan, Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, and Keith Sayers, a group whose combined achievements helped shape modern motocross and freestyle motocross.
For younger fans, that’s the equivalent of assembling a dream team of motorcycle racing royalty. Carmichael is widely regarded as the greatest motocross racer of all time, while McGrath remains the undisputed “King of Supercross” with a record 72 premier-class victories. Pastrana, meanwhile, became one of the most recognizable names in action sports through motocross, freestyle motocross, rally racing, and Nitro Circus.
“I think the biggest thing is what this thing is about and celebrating 250 years of freedom and celebrating the United States. If you’ve followed my career, I have always been a massive supporter of this country and racing for this country. I have a ton of pride in it,” said MX legend, Ricky Carmichael.
Interestingly, the gathering almost never happened in its final form. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president, Dana White, initially invited Travis Pastrana to perform a dirt bike backflip on the South Lawn as part of the UFC Freedom 250 festivities at the White House. Rather than showing up alone, Pastrana reached out to some of the biggest names in motocross and freestyle motocross, turning a solo stunt into a reunion of motorcycle legends.
What makes the story even better is that several of the riders reportedly hadn’t hit a freestyle motocross ramp in years. To get everyone ready, Twitch organized practice sessions in Southern California, giving veterans like McGrath and Deegan a chance to shake off the rust and get airborne again. A bit rusty, yes, but the old magic was still there when it mattered.
The White House lawn has hosted presidents, world leaders, and state ceremonies. This time, it hosted a group of dirt bike legends sending it through the air in front of one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.
