metz

[paddo]

sorry if theres already a thread about this i dont think there is but yeh.

anyone hav more info than what is in freerider about 'the godfather' ?
he tried to flip 75 foot off and onto floating barges and broke his back/
anyone got more info or pics maybe ??

wats everyones thoughts on this. thatd be a gnarly as jump. sux he stacked tho hes a champ.

[BUCHOLTZ_FMX]

I doubt it would have been the fact that they were floating that he stacked it. Im pretty sure he would have test jumped it a number of times before flipping it...

But then again.. maybe it was just a once off thing he was gunna flip for a first jump for a show?

[paddo]

yeh it wouldnt hav been that they were floating they were tied together.

[z_fiddy]

found this on factoryfreestyle.com.. all bout the jump n crash




Last Wednesday (01/17/2007) while filming for an upcoming episode of Stunt Junkies, Mike crashed attempting a 75ft back flip from one barge to another in the Queen Mary harbor. The idea was that two barges, one 100ft and the other 110ft would be anchored in the harbor. One ramp with a take-off ramp and the other with a landing ramp. Although the distance is standard, there are several factors which are unpredictable. Because the barges are floating, it is impossible to keep them from moving. So as other boats go by, they cause wakes that cause the barges to go up and down. Another unknown is the amount of weight from Mike, the Bike and all the force going off the ramp causes. It would seem that a few hundred pounds would not make that much of a difference. Although it is un-proven, it is highly likely that the weight and the force of the bike as it is going up the ramp in 2nd gear could cause the barge to move.

We do have photos of the actual jump but we are unable to post them until after the show airs. However, here is what I can tell you. Mike hit the ramp as he has done thousands of times. Up until actually going off the ramp, Mike was not nervous one bit. However, as he was going off the ramp, he indicated to me that something did not feel right, almost as if the ramp threw him much higher than normal. So when Mike came around, he was way too high and way to far out. His back tire hit at the bottom of the ramp and his front tire hit the flat bottom. I was in a boat just to the right of the take-off ramp and due to the height of the barges (12 ft), I did not see him crash.

After the crash, the medics tended to him and but it was very hard to move him as he was in so much pain. It took roughly 25 minutes until they were able to move him.

After getting him to the hospital and doing x-rays, they discovered that he had crushed his L4 vertebrate. Mike had also experienced loss of feeling in his legs. This is probably where people speculated that Mike was going to be paralyzed. After the diagnosis and the Dr's recommended surgery, Mike wanted to get a 2nd opinion from a specialist. As it turns out, he did in fact need surgery.

So today I went down to the hospital to visit him and get the scoop and here is the real deal. On Saturday, Mike had surgery on his back. They placed two titanium rods in between L2 and L3. They also took a piece of his hip to fix the L4. I am not a Dr. so I won't try to explain how that works. Today they actually worked on getting him walking. He has a special back brace that he will need to wear for at least 3 months. Considering the circumstances, Mike is in good spirits but can't wait to get out of the hospital. At the earliest he will be able to go home on Wednesday depending upon his progress.

[fiddy_ridder_89]

****in hell thats a hectic crash i can imagine him going off the upramp and the front of the boat lifting from a wake and kicking him alot higher then ususal.......poor guy hope he recovers quik

[wes426]

yeh no good to hear hes hurt hope he has a good recovery

[paddo]

oww sounds like a bit of carnage. poor bloke hope he recovers fast and 100%. good luck to him.

[collimi]

man that would of hurt. hope he still has full mobility with his legs and hope he gets a speedy recovery

[KORUPT-FMX]

O GOD NO! not metz!!! seems breaking u back is becoming a popular injury in the fmx scene, ive herd of many lately! he will be bak! going bigger and better than all!!!!

[zach991]

actually, im not sure if he will be back.....i was reading on freestylemtx that he is looking to join nascar. that means ricky carmichael and metz would have made the switch to 4 wheels

[KORUPT-FMX]

actually, im not sure if he will be back.....i was reading on freestylemtx that he is looking to join nascar. that means ricky carmichael and metz would have made the switch to 4 wheels

i dont wanna hear that! ill believe it when i see it!

[zach991]

i dont want to hear that either.....i used to think he was the only fmx rider out there!! haha those were the days......

[Shift Assault]

Noo. not metz. Hope he gets use of his legs back!

[scott_855]

damn thats not good to hear about that, i never thought about how much just a little wake would affect someting like that until i read just then

[cam_229]

Charmichael is racing NASCAR.

Metz has been seen talking with team boses and is activly pursuing oportunities in NASCAR.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s race team JR Motorsports has signed Jeremy McGrath to a developmental driver contract for this season.

Chad Reed has done some V8 Supercar testing with the Larry Perkins race team over here and has expressed interest in the racing the V8's.

Looks like car racing is becoming a trend in aging MXer's, and a viable retirement option.

[FMXmitch69751]

never good to hear that someones broken there back .. heell be back .. HOPEFULLYY!!

Mitch

[KORUPT-FMX]

metz always said i love what i do and i want to be doing this for the rest of my life, he wont leave the game! dont follow suit! hes the godfather for a reason!

[bear_beckett]

O GOD NO! not metz!!! seems breaking u back is becoming a popular injury in the fmx scene, ive herd of many lately! he will be bak! going bigger and better than all!!!!
ur spot on there mate. dan parson , luke cole , pastrana , dan hall , steve , matt cole i think did his on his kx, and me. easyily the most painfull thing ive ever experienced... and the scaryest!
i hope he doesnt give up fmx.. i love his old school riding :p
Bear

[KORUPT-FMX]

theres more than that man, haha heaps more! bayard and sturdy just to start

[~#499~]

hey check this out. this mite be mcgraths ride in nascar

http://www.monsterenergy.com/pictures/news/1374.jpg

[mcrkrew]

hes the godfather for a reason!

I think we'll be seeing him flipping ridiculous gaps for a little while longer. I was a huge fan of metzger before i even got my leg over a bike and when i heard he broke his back with out further word i shat the gear to say the least haha