The stunt was realized in collaboration with Red Bull and required the utmost precision, timing, and mental strength. Ackermann was supported by a well-coordinated team that played a central role in the precise execution.
Physics meets freestyle: the technical key data of the jump
The jump was performed between two 31-meter-long trucks traveling at exactly 20 km/h (approx. 12 mph). On the loading area of the first vehicle, Ackermann accelerated his motorcycle to 54 km/h (approx. 33 mph). This resulted in a take-off speed of around 74 km/h (approx. 45 mph). This was necessary to fly over the 23-meter-wide gap between the trucks and the nine-meter-high guardrail.
During the flight, Ackermann not only performed a backflip, but also incorporated a tsunami backflip – in which the rider briefly lets go of the motorcycle in the air and stretches his body completely. The trick was performed without any electronic aids to control speed – based purely on experience and instinct.
Precision work with high risk
The time window for the jump was extremely narrow. Even the slightest deviation could have had fatal consequences. “If I hadn’t taken off at the right speed and at the right moment, I would have either crashed into the sign or missed the landing,” Ackermann explained after the stunt.
The decisive moment was signaled by his brother Hannes Ackermann, himself a successful FMX pro, who was in the starting vehicle. The two truck drivers, Franz Reinthaler and Walter “Bill” Kranawendter, maintained the exact specified distances and speeds – an essential prerequisite for the success of the jump.
Scientific preparation down to the last detail
The entire stunt was meticulously planned in advance. Thomas Stöggl, head of the Global Performance Innovation department at the Athlete Performance Center in Thalgau, Austria, was responsible for the technical analysis. Data analyses and physical models were used to calculate parameters such as flight curve, wind conditions, speed, and jump angle. Visual simulations of altitude control and training sessions to synchronize the timing were also carried out.
The actual execution of the project – entitled “Bridge Traverse” – was the result of several days of preparation and intensive teamwork. After the successful landing, Ackermann was emotional: “The feeling after the jump was overwhelming because I realized that it had just been enough. […] I really celebrated and basically went half crazy.”
Luc Ackermann: Record holder and exceptional athlete
Luc Ackermann was born in Niederdorla, Thuringia, in 1998 and has been a fixture on the international FMX scene for years. His successes include:
- First backflip at the age of ten (2010)
- Youngest rider to perform a double backflip (2017)
- Gold medal at the 2021 X Games – the first German to win in the FMX category
- A total of nine world records in freestyle motocross
His motto, “Go big or go home,” is reflected in each of his projects. The truck jump with a tsunami backflip is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular stunts of his career to date.
