Stunt Wars, the largest stunt event in the world, has been steadily evolving during its eight years since inception. The latest iteration included a venue change from the tiny town of Lakeland to the outskirts of Orlando Speed World in Orlando, Florida. While the track got smaller, the crowds got larger and an estimated 6,000 screaming fans packed the oval.

7 Questions With Nick Brocha: 2008 XDL Individual Freestyle Champion

Walter Sprout waits for the smoke to clear during the AMA Dragbike Pro Street round at Valdosta. Unfortunately his motor blew after the run and he forfeited the finals.

The Super Streetbike/ECTA Top Speed Challenge is just around the corner (Sept 27-28th) at Maxton, North Carolina. Everybody seems to claim riding at 200 mph anyway, so instead of bragging about some unverified speed to your buddies, take a lane at Maxton's Monster Mile and show everyone how fast you and your bike really are. Class rules are simple and can be found at the ECTA webpage (www.ecta-lsr.com).

STUNT WARS
ROAD AMERICA, WISCONSIN
A new points series breathes life into the stunt scene.

Dan Jackson, known for his superlative circle wheelie skills, doesn't let the weather bring him down at the Starboyz Stuntfest in Ohio.

Nick Brocha won first place for Sickest Trick during the 2007 XDL Championship finals in Long Beach, California with his striptease called "Vegas Circles". Rumor has it he collected the prize money in $1 bills.

Since 2007, Stunt Wars has traded in its bad-boy image of local chaos to become a legitimate competition hosting a professional showcase. Stunt Wars 2008 carried on that standard and forever laid to rest the mayhem of previous years. The event has matured into the premier stunt competition in the United States and attracts fans, riders and media from around the world.

The British Superbike Championship just wouldn't be the same without Johnny Rea showing off at Cadwell Park. His HM Plant-sponsored Honda CBR1000RR sails over 'The Mountain' lap after lap, much to the crowd's amazement.

The XDL stunt riding championship finished up its 2006 season in April at the Scores gentlemen's club in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event featured winners from the West Coast qualifier going head-to-head with the East Coast qualifiers. Additional measures were made to allow a last-chance qualifier for any riders unable to make the previous two events.

Once veteran sportbike drag racer Barry Henson has his eye set on something, he will go to any length to get it. For years, Henson has wanted to see the Pro Street Bike racers given an opportunity to run at large, NHRA-sanctioned drag-racing events. At the same time, Henson-an AMA/Prostar champion racer-has also possessed an intense desire to add a coveted NHRA "Wally" award (the famous "driver-with-a-tire" trophy named after NHRA founder Wally Parks and awarded to winners of NHRA national and divisional events) to his personal trophy shelf. Henson saw both wishes come to fruition at the NHRA Sport Compact Fall Nationals at Englishtown Raceway Park in New Jersey, where he rose to the top of a record-setting Pro Street Bike field.

Stunt Wars was one of the first competitions to showcase and reward talented riders who had previously performed only for friends. The early and somewhat experimental shows left a lot to be desired, though. Judging consisted of a few guys with pen and paper in hand rating their peers. The raw and dirty tone of the competition was reflected in the venue and felt more like Grudge Races than Formula One.

Spectating at a sporting event can be hard work if the venue isn't in top form, and this year's Stunt Wars remedied many of the previous problems.

Give Me A Y!

The quest for our inaugural Super Streetbike Top Speed Shootout was a simple one-to find the fastest streetbikes in America, as measured in top speed achieved on a standing-start, one-mile racecourse. As the only magazine on the newsstand that gives coverage to extreme high-performance sportbikes, we hear plenty of outrageous claims on this subject. Hang around our online message board (or e-mail in-box) for any length of time, and you'll swear that every liter bike rider hits 200 mph on the way to work each morning and the nitrous or turbo guys regularly blitz their local expressways at a velocity roughly equal to the cruising speed of a Learjet.

It's a funny thing, seeing your friends grow up. When Ohio's Starboyz, the original bad boyz of stunting, threw their first Stunt Fest at Thompson Dragway outside of Cleveland, Ohio, way back in 2001, it was a chaotic affair remembered more for its legendary pre-event (and midevent, and after-event...) parties than for anything even resembling professional organization. Five years is a long time in the stunt-riding world, though, and apparently it was more than long enough for the Starboyz and their signature Stunt Fest to come of age. The fifth-annual Stunt Fest '06 looked absolutely nothing like the first running, and with industry supporters like Joe Rocket, Chicago Cycle and Maxxis Tires contributing to the unprecedented $40,000 prize package that drew the top stunters from around the nation (not to mention, 5000 spectators on the final event day), Stunt Fest '06 was a quality production all the way. We'd still hesitate to call the Starboyz responsible or even mature adults (we're almost sure they'd consider that an insult!), but when it comes to getting down to business and putting on a first-class, professional stunt event, they've definitely shown that they know how to get it done.

Think you've got a fast streetbike? Prove it! Join us at the Maxton Monster Mile on September 23-24, 2006, for our first-annual top speed shootout where we'll crown the fastest streetbikes in America! Organized in conjunction with the East Coast Timing Association at its world-famous top speed course in Maxton, North Carolina, our Top Speed Shootout will pit bikes in six separate classes against each other to see who posts the highest top speed on the ECTA's standing start, one-mile course. Bikes will be eligible to race in six classes: 600cc all motor; 600cc plus one power adder (nitrous, turbo or supercharger); 1000cc all motor; 1000cc plus one power adder; unlimited cc all-motor; and unlimited cc plus one power adder. All bikes must conform to ECTA safety rules, otherwise anything goes! In addition to the six classes outlined above, there will also be a target mph contest with an award going to the rider who breaks the timing beam closest to 150.000 mph, allowing virtually anyone with a sportbike to get involved in this contest. Winners will each receive an "ECTA/Super Streetbike Fastest Streetbike in America" riding jacket and, of course, the bragging rights that go along with owning one of the fastest bikes in the country. Visit our web site at www.superstreetbike.com for more information, or log on to www.ecta-lsr.com to view the complete Top Speed Shootout rules. We look forward to seeing you in Maxton next September!

Twelve top stunt riders throw down for their share of a $33,000 prize-includingblinged-out watches and a brand-new Kawasaki ZX-10R- at the second-annual Fresno event

From Troy Lee Designs: - Freestyler Mike The Godfather Metzger, speedway legend Billy The Bullet Hamill, and champion flat-tracker Johnny Showtime Murphree have added their names to the grid for the AMA Supermoto Championship Final, Troy Lee's Duel At The Docks Nov. 3-5 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

Spring has officially sprung, and it was the classic springtime themes of birth (the debut of Kawasaki's long-awaited ZX-14), renewal (the return of Top Fuel legend Larry McBride) and crossing the River Styx (retiring Kent Stotz's record-holding Blackbird Pro Street bike) that defined the AMA/Prostar motorcycle drag racing 2006 season opener at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Georgia.

It's that time of year again, when hordes of stunt riders and stunt fansfrom around the globe pack their suitcases and trailers and make the trek tothe small town of Lakeland, Florida for the annual Stuntwars event. The 2006running (held over the weekend of February 10-12) was a history-makingmoment, with three world champion stunters (A.C. Farias from Spain, ChristianPfeiffer from Germany and Hungary's Feri Potzner) making the trip to competealongside the best (and a few of the worst) stunt riders America has tooffer.

The event kicked off with open practice on Friday the 10th, when riderstraveling from the colder climates were blessed with near perfect, 70-degreetemperatures. The practice sessions were limited to competitors only thisyear, reducing the overcrowding that hampered the practice day time previousyears--appreciated by all, though the same can't be said for the crackdown on50cc pit bikes that kept them out of commission all weekend.

Saturday the 11th was set aside for qualifying, and the entire day wasneeded, as more than 100 riders attempting to qualify for the 20 open spotsfor Sunday's individual freestyle competition. Qualifying for this eventwrapped up just before clouds rolled in and a downpour began, forcingorganizers to cancel the rest of the day's events, including longest endoqualifying. The unseasonably cold, 40-degree temperatures that followed thestorm front, along with a brace of police with a low tolerance for insanity,put a bit of a damper on the after-dark antics that Stuntwars has becomefamous for. Mayhem still broke out occasionally, but for the most part itwas a calm, cold night.

The main events on Sunday got a late start, which didn't bode well for theday's packed schedule. Conditions were challenging to say the least, withovercast skies, 50-degree temps, a cold, dirty track and 30 mph wind guststhat combined to see even America's best struggle basic circles and stoppies.Poor organization and an inability to deal with arising situations (such asthe terrible conditions that made the longest endo contest particularlydangerous), coupled with a spate of crashes that left oil and antifreeze onthe track surface lead to delays, and by the time the sun set the longestendo contest was barely over and the highly anticipated team and sickesttrick competitions hadn't even begun. As the sun set, a failure in the tracklighting system caused the final two events to be moved to the far end ofthe track, in the shut-down area. By this time it was well after 7 pm, andthousands of spectators had left for the night. To say that thecompetitors (many who had traveled for dozens of hours and worked for weeksperfecting precisely choreographed team routines or particularly dangeroussick tricks) were disappointed with this situation was an understatement.

In the end, the riding at Stuntwars was brilliant. Christian Pfeiffer'swinning individual freestyle run (heck, all of the top five individual runs)were amazing and the Urban Streetbike Warrior/Black Sheep Squadron's Teamrun looked like something straight out of the Universal Studio's Theme Park,but the bottom line is that this "World Class" stunt event was greatlyhampered by third-world facilities and organization. If Stuntwars wants tomaintain it's reputation and build off of the momentum built up in 2006, tokeep attracting the best stunt talent from around the world, it needs anupdate to a deserving facility, riding surface and organizational structure.

Look forward to extensive coverage of Stuntwars 2006 in the June issue ofSuper Streetbike, in the meantime, enjoy these photos that we brought backwith us.

Hot like the "Power Burner" on an electric stove. Hot like a plasma arc. Hot like AVN award-winning adult entertainer Gina Lynn (who happened to be one of the "celebrity guests" in attendance that weekend). These were just a few comparisons that came to mind during the inaugural Motorcycle Mayhem event in Fresno, California, where we saw the surface temperature of the blacktop in the stunt area climb to a shoe-melting 110 degrees. It was a scorcher.

"I was so nervous, but once I got out there it was absolutely awesome-the biggest adrenaline rush ever." That's how Dallas-based stunter Patrick Stephens describes the sensation of busting stunts in front of 46,000 screaming fans at Houston's Reliant Stadium during the first round of this year's International Freestyle Motocross Association tour. Stephens and the seven other stunters (Anthony D'Orsi, Kane Friesen, Ronnie "Hitman" Hurst, "Crazy" Dan Jackson, Warren James, Chris "Teach" McNeil and Grant Sunday) who faced off in Houston had a good reason to feel queasy, and it wasn't just the 92,000 eyeballs watching their every move. After five years of fighting for an opportunity to be part of a mainstream extreme sports event, street stunters got their chance in Houston. To some it seemed like the future of street freestyle rested on their shoulders, and these eight riders were absolutely determined not to screw it up. In the end, of course, they had nothing to worry about. Our boys put on a show to remember, blowing away all 46,000 fans-not to mention the Clear Channel bosses who control the IFMA tour-and finally thrusting stunting into the extreme sports mix.

Lakeland, Florida, was overrun by tens of thousands ofstuntriders and stunt fans over the weekend of February 11-13 as the best stunters from all over the US (including Hawaii!) turned the quiet city upside down during the 2005 Stuntwars competition.

Things kicked off on Friday the 11th on Lakeland Dragstrip's quarter mile as dozens of competitors (and stunt wannabes) gathered for the Friday practice session. Action was all over the place, ranging from amateur power wheelies to pro-level high-chair circles, as the local heroes attempted to mix it up with the pros. One-upmanship between the stunters without the pressure ofthousands of bleacher teachers like later in the weekend at the actual event meant that some of the hottest stunt action of the weekend happened at the practice spot.

Saturday was the qualifying portion of the event for individual freestyle, longest endo and no-handed wheelie events. Saturday's crowd attendance nearly matched that of Sunday's main event the previous year, so the placewas packed. Intense qualifying cut the field of riders from hundreds to a little more than 30, who all competed for a spot in Sunday's main events. The weather gods smiled on the crowd, with nearly perfect temperatureswelcomed by the many fans and riders who traveled from frozen states to Florida for the event.

Once the sun went down and the track cleared out, action in Lakeland really picked up--local Lakeland residents were hardly prepared for the wrath of thousands of alpha males that descended on their tranquil town and turned things upside down. Tree set on fire, parking lot bowling, rental cars jumped for distance, and ghost-riding water trucks were just a few of the "alleged" happenings on Saturday night, a bedlam that had Lakeland police scrambling though their cop manuals in search of new techniques for crowdcontrol. It got so bad a one point that anyone wearing a black t-shirt, hoodie, or baggy pants was pretty much barred from entering any Lakeland establishment.

Amazingly, nearly all the fans and riders (note that we said "nearly") made it back to the dragstrip the next morning for Sunday's main event. And what an event it was! Kyle Woods proved that he is pretty much the ValentinoRossi of the stunt world, blowing other riders into the weeds in nearly every judged event. Placing first in sickest trick and individual freestyle, Woods also ruled the no-handed wheelie contest, rolling right off the end ofthe dragstrip and all the way into the woods before falling off in the trees, effectively making the no-handed wheelie contest obsolete. After last year's disappointment Woods came to Stuntwars this year with something toprove, and proved it convincingly.

In contrast to prior years' events, West Coast riders definitely came on strong in 2005. Eric Hoenshell, Warren James, Darius Khashabi and Kane Friesen, all from west of the Rockies, rounded out the individual freestyle results.

Chris Nichols, Todd Colbert and Adam Chumita,better known as Team X-Treem, are the trio that organized this historic event, and deserve huge props for putting on a weekend that everyone will surely remember. Crowd attendance was record setting, with estimates that more than 10,000 spectators filed into the stands from 8:30 am to nearly 8:30 pm on Sunday when the competition finally came to a close. With every inch of grandstand covered by fans at Stuntwars 2005, it looks like this stunt season is off to a great start. Street freestyle has arrived.

Stay tuned for extended coverage of Stuntwars in the July issue of Super Streetbike, in the meantime, enjoy these photos.

Daytona International Speedway likes to advertise itself as the "World Center of Racing," but for one weekend this past October it was the World Center of Stunting as well when the famed Super Speedway hosted the Xtreme Sportbike Association's second national championships. The nation's premier practitioners of street freestyle brought their best moves to the Speedway that weekend, and after the tire smoke cleared it was Kansas City's Dan Jackson who walked out on top. As brilliant as Jackson's runs were, though, it's hardly fair to say he stole the show--with riders like Chris "Teach" McNeil, Thew Blankstrom, Anthony D'Orsi and Ronnie Hurst also throwin' down on pit road, there were sick tricks everywhere you turned. And we've got the pictures to prove it.