German freestyle motocross star Luc Ackermann put together a Mother’s day Melitta will never forget. They have made history after they performed the first-ever mother-son backflip on a motorbike. The feat was a 50th birthday wish from his mother, marking a thrilling tribute to mothers worldwide for Mother’s Day.
Luc Ackermann, known for his achievements in motocross, first gained attention at the age of 12 as the youngest athlete to execute a motorbike backflip. He has accomplished notable feats throughout his career, including the “youngest motorcycle double backflip of all time” in 2017 and securing the title of youngest FIM European FMX Champion at Night of The Jumps in 2018.
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Unique and extreme Mother’s Day gift
In 2021 also saw Ackermann draw on his “Go Big or Go Home” motto to create a breathtaking project with three never-before-seen world tricks against the picturesque backdrop of Duisburg port, Cologne Cathedral and River Rhine. This unique performance incorporated land, water, and air elements, captivating audiences worldwide.
Ackermann’s success continued in 2021 with victories in FMX at the X Games in Encinitas, California, and back-to-back wins at Night of The Jumps in 2021 and 2022.
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Mother’s day with a difference
In celebration of Mother’s Day, Luc Ackermann and his mother Melitta undertook an extraordinary endeavour in the village of Niederdorla. They confidently executed the first-ever mother-son tandem backflip on a freestyle motocross bike, soaring approximately eight meters high and 13 meters across before safely landing on an airbag.
Melitta, who operates a nursery in Mühlhausen alongside Luc’s father Dirk, confessed her discomfort in watching her son compete on the global FMX circuit, stating, “I can’t watch! I can only look when the event is over, and I know nothing has gone wrong!”
The concept for the mother-son backflip originated from Melitta. Luc Ackermann, 25, explained: “The idea came from my mother herself, who has always wanted to do a backflip with me onto a real landing since her 50th birthday.”
Ackermann was surprised when she expressed this wish and conducted intensive preparation, including thousands of jumps and specially made footrests that provided additional stability for his special passenger.
Never again
After flying through the air, Melitta revealed: “It was an incredible experience – I wouldn’t do it again, though.
“But I realised that Luc had everything under control at all times.”
Making history
After safely landing, Ackerman was beaming; he revealed: “We did the world’s first mother-son flip. Together with my mom, I jumped a backflip over this setup, which is incredible. Yes, I’m still quite nervous now because it was really exciting for me. The crazy thing about this whole story is that my mom has never watched me ride before. She would only watch TV reports or videos when she knew everything went well. And now she decided to do a backflip with me. Well, I don’t really understand the world, but I think it’s super, super cool! She trusted me a lot, and that naturally gave me an even better feeling. I’m really proud of her for doing it today, and I can’t put it into words.”
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