Levi Sherwood

Last updated

Levi Sherwood
Levi Sherwood celebrates his victory.jpg
Red Bull X-Fighters World Series, 2010
Personal information
NicknameRubber Kid [1]
Nationality New Zealand
Born (1991-10-22) 22 October 1991 (age 33)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Education Palmerston North Boys' High School
Occupation Freestyle motocross rider
Years active2002-present
Other interests BMX, golf, remote control cars, snowboarding [2]
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
Sport Motocross
Freestyle motocross
Events
Medal record
Summer X Games
Representing Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Minneapolis Moto X Best Trick
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Minneapolis Moto X Freestyle
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2010 Los Angeles Moto X Freestyle
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2012 Los Angeles Moto X Freestyle
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2015 Austin Moto X QuarterPipe
Nitro World Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2016 Salt Lake City FMX
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Salt Lake City FMX
Updated on 19 July 2017

Levi Sherwood (born 22 October 1991) is a freestyle motocross rider from New Zealand, nicknamed "rubber kid". [3]

Contents

Early life

Sherwood was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, attending Palmerston North Boys' High School. [4] Starting out in motocross racing, he followed in the footsteps of his father Dave Sherwood, who was a professional speedway racer. Sherwood's love for speed and adrenaline translated into his move to freestyle motocross. He started riding motorbikes at the age of 4. At 12 years old he was invited to ride on the Crusty Demons Australasian tour, giving him a taste of professional freestyle. [5]

Career

2009

In March, Sherwood was in the United States negotiating a sponsorship deal with Red Bull when a rider withdrew from the X-Fighters series, backed by the drinks company. He was offered the unexpected chance to fill in. [6] At age 17, Sherwood competed in his first professional event and clinically beat the best riders in the world in front of 42,000, winning the opening round of the Red Bull X-Fighters in Mexico. [7] He rode a KX450F, the only four-stroke that had ever been seen in at the huge competition. He qualified fourth and had arguably the hardest run to the finals. In the quarterfinals he beat Norwegian legend André Villa, then shocked the world when he closed out 2008 defending champion Mat Rebeaud in the semifinals. Sherwood then met Japan's Eigo Sato in the finals, but Sato was simply no match. [8]

A starting place for the following Red Bull X-Fighters event in Canada followed. Despite not being able to repeat his debut win, Sherwood established himself as one of the top riders on the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2009 with solid performances and including another podium finish, coming second in England. [9]

2010

Sherwood won silver in the Moto X Freestyle final of the X Games XVI in Los Angeles. The field started with sixteen riders and carved back to the top four point scorers for three run final. Sherwood at the age of just 18 and the only New Zealander at the games, finished with 79 points from the best two scores of three rides, one point behind Travis Pastrana of the United States. Pastrana had locked up the gold before his final run when Sherwood was unable to catch up with his third round. [10]

His sixth place in the overall standings in 2009 got him qualified for the 2010 season, and Sherwood was one of the five guys to battle for the title that year. Everything seemed to work in Sherwood's favor with a win in Moscow, and another victory in London, but then he crashed badly at the ASA World Championships of FMX in Pomona, California. He found himself with a dislocated wrist and badly broken femur. [11] The injuries forced him out of the final battle in Italy and Sherwood watched the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour finale on television.

Later that year it was confirmed that Sherwood, would ride alongside FMX legend Travis Pastrana and the entire Nitro Circus crew for their huge one night only show at North Harbour Stadium on February 5, 2011. Thus being Sherwood's first ever Nitro Circus Live performances. [12]

Statistics

Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour

World TourEntrantMoto123456PointsPlace
2016 KTM KTM
250SX
Flag of Spain.svg XXXXX
4
2015 KTM KTM
250SX
Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of Greece.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of South Africa.svg Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg X1855th
Silver medal icon.svg8Silver medal icon.svg----
2014 KTM KTM
250SX
Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of Japan.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of South Africa.svg X2702nd
Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svg--
2013 KTM KTM
250SX
Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Japan.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of South Africa.svg 2255th
Bronze medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svg--56--
2012 KTM KTM
250SX
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Turkey.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg 3351st
Gold medal icon.svg7--Gold medal icon.svg6Gold medal icon.svg
2011 KTM KTM
250SX
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Flag of Brazil.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of Poland.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1807th
54------Silver medal icon.svg
2010 KTM KTM
250SX
Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of Egypt.svg Flag of Russia.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of England.svg Flag of Italy.svg 2904th
75Gold medal icon.svg5Gold medal icon.svg--
2009 Kawasaki Kawasaki
KX450F
Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of England.svg X2106th
Gold medal icon.svg7----Silver medal icon.svg

Nitro World Games

World Games FMX StadiaHost
FreestyleBest trick
2016 Nitro World GamesGold medal icon.svg-- Rice-Eccles Stadium Flag of the United States.svg Salt Lake City
2017 Nitro World GamesGold medal icon.svg-- Rice-Eccles Stadium Flag of the United States.svg Salt Lake City

References

  1. Red Bull biography of Levi Sherwood
  2. Alpinestars biography of Levi Sherwood
  3. Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2009 Calgary, in: Al-Bawaba; June 14, 2009 Sunday 9:42 AM EST
  4. "Levi Sherwood, a performer of high class". Stuff. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. "levi sherwood". ilabb. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  6. "Levi Sherwood's leap of faith". Stuff. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  7. "Rider kicks back at home". Stuff. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  8. "Kiwi teen stuns freestyle MX world". Stuff. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  9. "Video: See the Red Bull X-Fighters in action". Mirror. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  10. "Kiwi Levi Sherwood grabs X-Games silver". Stuff. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  11. "FMX Star, Levi Sherwood, Injured". Transmoto. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  12. "Sherwood Confirmed for Nitro Circus". Kiwi Rider. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2016.

Further reading

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Incumbent
TransWorld Motocross Awards: FMX Rookie of the Year
2009
Succeeded by
Incumbent