x-games rider dies

[GEJ]

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP)—Jeremy Lusk, an American freestyle motocross rider, died of head injuries Tuesday after crashing while trying to land a backflip in competition. He was 24.

Jorge Ramirez, chief of the intensive care unit at Calderon Hospital, said Lusk suffered severe brain damage and a possible spinal cord injury.

Lusk won a gold medal at the 2008 X Games. He was injured Saturday night when he failed to complete a full rotation while attempting a Hart Attack backflip and slammed headfirst into the dirt. Lusk crashed in almost identical fashion in the freestyle semifinals at the 2007 X Games but was not hurt.

He had a successful 2008 season, winning Freestyle gold at the X Games and silver in Best Trick when he landed the first double-grab Hart Attack backflip. He won a bronze helmet in Freestyle at the Moto X World Championships in his hometown of San Diego.

“Jeremy motivated me to be a better person, he was my best friend,” said Brian Deegan, the founder of Lusk’s riding group Metal Mulisha. “One day, we will all be reunited and will ride together again.”

Chris Stiepock, the vice president and general manager of the X Games franchise, said Lusk “had emerged as one of the world’s best freestyle moto riders.”

“He was a tremendous athlete and competitor and represented the sport of freestyle motocross very well,” Stiepock said.

Ramirez said Lusk died with his parents and his wife, Lauren, at his side.

“He was in a medicine-induced coma as a protective measure, and the medicine was being reduced to see how his body responded,” he said. “That didn’t mean he was going to wake up. He was in shock and that got worse last night, until he stopped responding and entered into cardiac and respiratory failure.”

Lusk lived in Temecula, Calif.

A trust has been set up in his memory, and donations can be made through the Athlete Recovery Fund, http://www.athleterecoveryfund.com.

[crash]

RIP (like shread) in peace Jeremy

[astronut74]

Wow. That really sucks.. Unfortunately it was only a matter of time. Freestyle motocross (and most all freestlye sports) have been getting increasingly daring and the stunts just get crazier. And it's not even driven by the pursuit of gold medals, just for the love of the crowd. I know my son fell in love with motorcycles watching those crazy stunts. That really does suck. He put a lot of smiles on alot of kids faces.

[astrozam]

That does suck, I 've been watchin the x games for years and seen some pretty crazy stuff tried, when Travis Pastrana pulled off the 1st double backflip it raised the bar to a rediculous level, its unlikely this death will be the last we see.

[BLAZER]

I remember watching him 6-8 yrs ago when he was coming up through the motocross ranks racing Ricky Carmichael. That is a shame, wonder what kinds of restrictions will be put in place now if any?

[T.Low]

Simply amazing to watch in person when successful. Scary as hell when not successful.

On the one hand, no, its not suprising and no it won't be the last. On the other hand, Rest in Peace.

[Smiliesafari]

Yes, it will happen again. The bar continues to go up. The competition has to keep trying the new and more dangerous stunts. At age 24 you are immortal. I'm not even sure that this is tragic. The guy died doing what he loved. How many of us can say the same? In the big picture people die doing everything and people die doing nothing. It's just the way it is.