Motocross superstar Robbie Maddison opened 2008 by leaping into the pages of the Guinness Book of World Records with a stunning distance record in Las Vegas.
The Australian jumped his motorcycle over 322 feet 7½ inches - more than the length of a regulation American football field - to shatter the previous record of 277 feet at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Maddison's Honda CR 500 hit the take-off ramp at 94mph, and reached a height of more than 60 feet, as he soared into history, and added a third record to the two - for the longest jump on a 125cc motorcycle (221 feet) and the longest jump with a trick (246 feet) - he already owns.
"I came here to jump a football field," Maddison said, "Conditions weren't perfect, but I'm happy with the result. Yesterday, in rehearsal, I went 350 feet and I knew 360 feet was achievable. We did all we could, but the winds played a bigger factor than we planned.
"But this is called the
Red Bull Experiment, and we didn't know what the outcome would be. I just want to thank everyone that made this jump possible and a big thanks to all the fans who came out to support me. This is just the beginning."
The jump was the first-ever Red Bull Experiment, which involves world-class athletes attempting world-first athletic achievements, and was broadcast live on ESPN's
New Year, No Limits programme shortly after the ball dropped in Times Square to signify the start of 2008.
Despite the coverage, a who's who of action and motorsports superstars still turned out to cheer Maddison on, including Olympic gold medallist Shaun White, 2006
MotoGP world champion
Nicky Hayden, Olympic gold medallist Amanda Beard and the family of the late Evel Knievel, to whom Maddison dedicated his world record-breaking feat.
![Robbie Maddison leapt into history with a new distance record on New Year's Day in Las Vegas [pic credit: Justin/Red Bull]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/401735.jpg)
