Takayuki "Taka" Higashino (東野 貴行, Higashino Takayuki, born 13 March 1985) is a Japanese freestyle motocross rider who has competed in international events including the X-Games, being the first Japanese medalist in the X-Games. He has three X-Games Gold Medals in Freestyle Moto. The only other rider to win more than three Golds in FMX along with Travis Pastrana. A pioneer for the growth of the sport, he is known for inventing the body varial trick the “California Roll/Cali Roll” or sometimes nicknamed the “Taka Roll” which is a slightly different version of the Special Flip.

Takayuki Higashino
Personal information
NicknameTaka
NationalityJapanese
Born (1985-03-13) 13 March 1985 (age 39)
Osaka, Japan
OccupationFreestyle motocross rider
Years active2003-present
Sport
CountryJapan
SportMotocross
Freestyle motocross
Events
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Competition
Gold medal – first place X Games Los Angeles 2013 Moto X Freestyle
Gold medal – first place X Games Foz do Iguaçu 2013 Moto X Freestyle
Gold medal – first place X Games Los Angeles 2012 Moto X Freestyle
Silver medal – second place X Games 2012 Moto X Best Trick
Bronze medal – third place Nitro World Games 2016 FMX
Bronze medal – third place X Games 2010 Moto X Best Trick
Updated on 13 August 2018

Higashino began riding motocross when he was seven, and attended many races during his teens. He turned professional at age 18,[1] and moved to the United States in 2006 to compete. He appeared in his first X Games contest in 2007. His motocross career took off in 2010, when he finished first at the Dew Tour Salt Lake City FMX Contest,[2] Red Bull XRAY,[3] and earned a bronze medal for his FMX Best Trick performance at X Games XVI.[4] That year, Transworld Motocross named Higashino the Breakout FMX Rider of the Year.[5]

In 2011, Higashino took first place at the ASA World Championships of FMX[6] and competed in his fifth consecutive X Games competition. He also performed on the Nuclear Cowboyz Freestyle Chaos tour, an American motocross exhibition, and will ride on the tour again in 2012.[7] At X Games XVIII in 2012, he won gold in Moto X Freestyle and claimed second in Moto X Best Trick.

Career highlights

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Winner, 2013 Red Bull X-Fighters Osaka, FMX[8]
Gold, X Games Los Angeles 2013 Moto X Freestyle
Gold, X Games Foz do Iguaçu 2013, Moto X Freestyle
Gold, 2012 X Games Los Angeles 2012, Moto X Freestyle
Winner, 2011 ASA World Championships of FMX
Winner, 2010 Dew Tour Salt Lake City FMX Contest
Winner, 2010 Red Bull XRAY
Silver, 2012 X Games, FMX Best Trick
Bronze, 2010 X Games, FMX Best Trick

References

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  1. ^ According to a report from Yomiuri TV programme, "Gutto! Chikyubin" [1], in Japanese, Sep 18, 2011.
  2. ^ "Taka Higashino wins first-ever Dew Tour contest - ESPN". Archived from the original on 23 September 2010.
  3. ^ "Taka Higashino wins Robbie Madison's Red Bull XRAY in Australia. - ESPN". Archived from the original on 18 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Taka Higashino FMX Best Trick Bronze - ESPN Video - ESPN". Archived from the original on 3 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Adventure Archives".
  6. ^ "Adventure Archives".
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ From Number, "RED BULL X-FIGHTERS OSAKA 2013 REPORT"[2], in Japanese, 2013.
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