London/GBR/Early Morning FMX Spectacular on London Landmark

From Global-Newsroom

Tower Bridge Plays Host to Daredevil Moto-X Jump

Freestyle motocross star Robbie Maddison (AUS) brought London to life last night as he performed a spectacular jump over the open Tower Bridge in the British capital. The 27-year-old Australian took to the air at 2:55 oclock local time and soared an incredible 22 metres over the Thames.

LONDON (GBR). Sunday night saw Maddison become the first rider in history to take on Tower Bridge on an FMX bike. The Australian used the famous London landmark as a take-off and landing ramp as he cleared the gap above the Thames after the bridge had been opened to let ships through. With an approach speed of approximately 75km/h, Maddison took off from the north side of the bridge, performing a Backflip 22 metres above the Thames, before completing a hard but safe landing in front of the south tower of one of the worlds most famous sights.

Maddison: I have been thinking about this jump for years. Over the last few months we've taken a really close look at each area of Tower Bridge. This time we were only on it for a few minutes, so everything had to be exactly right first time we only had one chance to do it. It was an incredible feeling to fly between the two towers and over the Thames.

The spectacular stunt in the British capital is the latest on the Australians incredible CV that includes jumping the equivalent of an American football pitch (106.9 metres) in 2008, or ringing in the New Year in 2009 with a huge 25.5-metre step-up jump onto the roof of the Arc de Triomphe Hotel in Las Vegas.

Maddison will return to London on 22 August to take part in the final stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2009 in Battersea Power Station.

Photos by Andy Schaad and Joerg Mitter for Global-Newsroom.com