Levi Sherwood
Personal information
NicknameRubber Kid[1]
NationalityNew Zealand
Born (1991-10-22) 22 October 1991
Palmerston North, New Zealand
EducationPalmerston North Boys' High School
OccupationFreestyle motocross rider
Years active2002-present
Other interestsBMX, golf, remote control cars, snowboarding[2]
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportMotocross
Freestyle motocross
Events
Medal record
Summer X Games
Representing  New Zealand
Gold medal – first place2017 Minneapolis Moto X Best Trick
Gold medal – first place2017 Minneapolis Moto X Freestyle
Silver medal – second place2010 Los Angeles Moto X Freestyle
Silver medal – second place2012 Los Angeles Moto X Freestyle
Silver medal – second place2015 Austin Moto X QuarterPipe
Nitro World Games
Gold medal – first place2016 Salt Lake City FMX
Gold medal – first place2017 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]

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 Tour Entrant Moto 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points Place
2016KTMKTM
250SX		 SpainXXXXX––
4
2015KTMKTM
250SX		 MexicoGreeceSpainSouth AfricaUnited Arab EmiratesX1855th
2nd place, silver medalist(s)82nd place, silver medalist(s)----
2014KTMKTM
250SX		 MexicoJapanSpainGermanySouth AfricaX2702nd
1st place, gold medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)--
2013KTMKTM
250SX		 MexicoUnited Arab EmiratesUnited StatesJapanSpainSouth Africa2255th
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)--56--
2012KTMKTM
250SX		 United Arab EmiratesUnited StatesTurkeySpainGermanyAustralia3351st
1st place, gold medalist(s)7--1st place, gold medalist(s)61st place, gold medalist(s)
2011KTMKTM
250SX		 United Arab EmiratesBrazilItalySpainPolandAustralia1807th
54------2nd place, silver medalist(s)
2010KTMKTM
250SX		 MexicoEgyptRussiaSpainEnglandItaly2904th
751st place, gold medalist(s)51st place, gold medalist(s)--
2009KawasakiKawasaki
KX450F		 MexicoCanadaUnited StatesSpainEnglandX2106th
1st place, gold medalist(s)7----2nd place, silver medalist(s)

Nitro World Games

World Games FMX Stadia Host
Freestyle Best trick
2016 Nitro World Games1st place, gold medalist(s)--Rice-Eccles StadiumUnited States Salt Lake City
2017 Nitro World Games1st place, gold medalist(s)--Rice-Eccles StadiumUnited States 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

  • The 50 coolest Kiwis ever (+photos), in: The New Zealand Herald, 19 April 2014
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