Last month, motorcycle stuntman Ryan Capes set a new world record as he jumped 290 feet off a dirt ramp to a dirt landing. He is now the closest motorcycle daredevil to reach a dirt-to-dirt jump of 300 feet.
Capes rode a modified Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki KX 500 during the jump at a speed just under 100 mph.
“Fifth gear tapped out at 98 miles per hour and I’m leaning back off the back fender like I’m riding through sand,” said Capes. “It was pretty hairy with lots of wheel spin.”
Capes made the 290-feet leap at Supercross icon Jeremy McGrath’s ranch. This was the same ramp used for Johnny Greaves' record setting 301 foot jump in his Monster Energy/Toyota truck just days earlier. The Greaves' jump was the first time a four-wheel vehicle has covered the distance.
The 300-feet dirt-to-dirt mark has yet to be broken by a two-wheel vehicle, but when it is, it is likely to be Capes who does it.
“I was the first guy to jump 300 feet ramp-to-dirt, the first to jump 300 feet ramp-to-ramp and plan on being the first to jump 300 feet dirt-to-dirt,” said Capes.
