SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP)—Jeremy Lusk, an American freestyle motocross racer, 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 where Lusk was taken, said the motocross racer 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.

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 organism 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.

I have no connection to male feuled stupidity. Purposely trying to die for the sheer enjoyment of it all Tragic.

I think stunts like that are mad cool, but they're mad without a doubt. A lot of the riders have families, like wife and kids and I always wonder who is dumb enough to have children with somebody who's likely to die pretty soon and of their own doing.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Teacher said:

This is the first Freestyle motocross racer I ever heard of that died. I might be wrong, but this is the first one I heard of. Hell, people die in car accidents 100's of times more every day.

I'm not saying it's not dangerious, but you make it sound like they are all going to die. Plus most of them can be very well paid.

Sowhat said:

Good point. We all do things that risk our lives, some times on a daily basis.
[Edited 2/10/09 13:12pm]

shanti0608 said:

Says the woman who is married to the guy who races high performance motorcyles for a hobby....

Sowhat said:

I know...right?
I think knowing he is going to be a dad will slow him down a little bit.

RIP.
I love this sport.

shanti0608 said:

Your husband should be fine. There is risk in what he does, but there is risk in pretty much anything one can do. Once you have the baby, I have a feeling he won't have much time to do anything else. At least for the first several months.

Sowhat said:

well at least he's not doing backflips on that goddamned thing

Sowhat said:

I cannot complain, since I have been here, he has backed off a lot and slowed down.
It is good to have something you enjoy and let off some steam.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Not intentionally. No.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

The guy died doing what he loved, i feel really sorry for those left behind but ANYONE that races or performs in these sports knows the risks....and we do it anyway. No-one PURPOSELY tries to die as some have suggested here, we just take risks that others wouldn't, i am sure that there are some risks that they would take that i won't....just comes down to the kind of person that you are.

Having lost a few good friends racing over the years all i can say is that to go doing something you love is part of the game.

Rest in peace and to those left mourning your loss

Graycap23 said:

"Sport"?!?

Yeah, just like golf!