Last Sunday Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Todd Potter, Jackson “Jacko” Strong and Taka Higashino, put on two insane freestyle demos at the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival. This was the 4th consecutive year that Jimmy Fitzpatrick and WGAS Motorsports teamed up to bring this highly anticipated show to the Lake Skinner grounds, and as usual, the crowd response was great.

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The riders were fired up and excited to showoff for their hometown fans, because it isn’t very often that they get to perform in Temecula. The high temperatures didn’t hold any of these riders back.

The show was also held in honor of Jeremy Lusk to help raise awareness and donations for the Lusk Legacy Foundation. After the show, all the riders signed autographs at the Metal Mulisha booth, where no one went home without an autograph.

Check out the photo gallery and video from this Mulisha event!

Mark “The Bear” Smith
RIP: December 24th, 1973 – May 14th, 2010

Mulisha family member Mark Smith, passed away Friday May 14th, 2010, at his home in Maui, Wailuku, Hawaii. Mark started training in 1996 at Beverly Hills Ju-Jitsu, and received his Purple Belt from Sensei Marcus Vinicius. The Bear trained with Bas Ruten in 1999, which led him to hold the UAGF Heavyweight Belt and also hold the UK Cagewars Heavyweight. Since moving to Hawaii Mark put together a team of top fighters on the islands who call themselves the Maui Mulisha.

Mark became a close friend, MMA Trainer and bodyguard of Brian Deegan in 1996. After training with Deegan, Jeremy Lusk, Ronnie Faisst and other Mulisha Members, The Bear, became a part of the Mulisha Family.

Mark said, “My quest in life is to be the best I can be if its fighting, coaching, body guarding or just giving back all the knowledge I’ve picked up throughout all my years of experience in life! Being true to your family and friends and not being a poser or fall over, but trying to be a lender is what I truly believe is a must in life!”

The Bear continued to train and coach his friends on the Mulisha team as he also changed his life on July 3rd 2008. Mark was saved and devoted his life to god with the help of his new Pastor and good friend TJ. Mark said, “It was a great feeling, it was like a million pounds of bullshit just fell off my back.”

Deegan said “Mark Smith was one of my best friends. I had so many good times with his like when he trained me to win the LA sx. One of a few guys who really made me laugh and always looked out for everyone! Ill miss him. My prayers to his family and friends. I was with Mark when he got saved so ill see him in Heaven…RIP ”

After visiting Mark’s MySpace page we have one of Mark’s last quotes from his Heroes Section: “The big man upstairs “GOD”, My MOM, And my sister Tammy always look down at me from Heaven, “I sure miss her”!!! Jeremy Lusk Word is Bond my little Brother!! Even that I was older than you your words meant so much 2 me!!!!! I miss u Lusk hold it down up there In Gods Hands!!!!!”

This tragedy and loss will never be forgotten. Mark will always be in our hearts now and forever. RIP BEAR watch over the rest of us as you will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

Here is a video of The Bear training up Deegan and Lusk .

The Metal Mulisha Family and all the fans would like to say, Happy Birthday to Brian Deegan!

There are lots of exciting things happening in the world of Freestyle Motocross in 2010, including the opening of a first ever museum exhibit and a first class training center. The AFMXA’s new exhibit opening up at the San Diego Hall of Champions features some of the top athletes in the sport of Freestyle Motocross and all of its members. The exhibit includes all things freestyle with highlights on members, Nate Adams, Brian Deegan and new comer Lance Coury.

When asked about the AFMXA and his feature in the museum Nate Adams said “To be inducted is actually a really big deal for me. I was definitely surprised when I got the call. I’ve really made it my life’s work to be a professional motocross rider, so to be recognized for my efforts feels really good. I know that my friend Jeremy Lusk, rest in peace brutha, has an exhibit in the Hall of Champs as well. so to have something like this with Jeremy is a big deal for me.”.

And Lance Coury the sports up and coming Pro AM said “ The AFMXA is what the sport of Freestyle Motocross needs. I haven’t been in the sport half as long as some of these great riders but I have noticed as I got more into Freestyle Motocross that there needs to be more of a organization that can rank riders in classes, have events for the up incomers, and help keep building this sport we all love and enjoy.”

Exhibit luncheon, tour and a “Sports at Lunch” Q&A is on Wednesday April 21st at noon at the San Diego Hall of Champions. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.SDHOC.com

Other great news is the partnership with Pala Raceway and the development of the first ever FMX amateur training facility. It has been designed by the General, Brain Deegan and features include a foam pit, wall ride and several ramp to dirt jumps. This comes after many months of pushing forward with the mission of the AFMXA to promote growth in the sport and increase safety. Brian said “I’m really excited to help organize and build this sport to the levels these athletes deserve. We have a great team working together in the AFMXA and its for all riders so sign up and come ride the jump park!”

The facility is opening in May 2010 at the Pala Raceway with the grand opening scheduled for June 2010. For additional information on the AFMXA and upcoming events please visit www.AFMXA.org.
About AFMXA:

The American Freestyle Motocross Association (AFMXA) is a trade association established by Freestyle Motocross riders and industry leaders to organize, protect, and develop the sport of Freestyle Motocross in a collective and collaborative manner.

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Last Wednesday, marked the one year anniversary of the passing of our teammates and friend, Jeremy Lusk. The whole team arrived early at the Mulisha Compound to spend the day together and remember Lusk’s legacy. The guys couldn’t wait to ride, so they quickly geared up and went straight for the ramp. Everyone put in a solid session on the ramp, with a mix of flip combos to classic whips. Twitch was there riding his new Kawasaki KX450F freestyle bike. Yes, that is right, Twitch is now only riding 4-strokes.

The end of his 2-stroke era is over. Also joining Twitch in the 4-stroke movement is Todd Potter, Derek Garland, and Wes Agee, although they haven’t officially ditched their 2-strokes yet. With a gnarly riding session in the books, the Mulisha team geared down, and headed for lunch. Nothing like a hearty meal of burgers, grilled chicken, salad, and ice cold coronas to feed the hungry Mulisha team. After lunch, Deegan and Faisst spoke to everyone about the changes and effects that have taken place over this past year, followed by a group prayer for Jeremy. We then all wrote down a favorite memory of Jeremy on a piece of fabric to be sewn into a quilt for Lauren Lusk. The Mulisha team loaded into their cars, and headed to Jeremy’s resting place after a fun and heartfelt morning. We were there to support each other and remember the amazing life Jeremy shared with us.

Jeremy impacted some many different peoples lives in a positive way. He was a natural born leader that didn’t need to demand respect, because he was always given it. A toast to Jeremy was made with his drink of choice, Jack Daniel’s. You wouldn’t believe how quickly the giant handle of Jack was pounded. It was like he was there pounding it with us all. Jeremy wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. It was an amazing day spent together remembering one of the gnarliest men to ever swing their leg over a dirt bike. Jeremy Lusk, never forgotten!

1 year ago today we lost a warrior in our friend Jeremy Lusk to a tragic crash on a horrible night in Costa Rica. Some say it feels like it happened just yesterday, for others it feels like a lifetime ago. Either way the pain is fresh and everyone misses having Jeremy in their life. Whether it is Jeremy’s family, friends or fans, he touched and inspired each and every one in a unique way, and he will be deeply missed and never forgotten.

This tragedy brought light to how dangerous the sport of Freestyle Motocross is, and has inspired change in a good way. People rally to help riders and their families in tough times. The Lusk Legacy Foundation generated a lot of money to support the Lusk family. Safety is the #1 priority. Seeing riders without a neck brace is now a strange sight. The formation of the AFMXA and the effort and passion of many have put in place programs to make contests, demos and international travel safer for professional and amateur riders, alike. Safety and life saving courses, Medivac coverage, legal consulting, and much more. We know Jeremy would be proud that his passing, though tragic and untimely, brought about real change and is helping many people.

We asked some of his friends and Mulisha Family to write something about Jeremy on this 1 year anniversary. Here it is:

Lauren Lusk:
Jeremy…with all of my heart…thank you for being my best friend and love of my life. For all the laughs, for all the smiles and all the tears…you have truly made me the person I am today. The endless memories we’ve shared will forever be cherished. The number of lives you have not only touched but changed is truly amazing. I am so blessed to be your wife. You are and always will be my strength and inspiration for the rest of my life. You flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels and now I have my own guardian angel. Rest in Peace Baby…I love you…. -Lauren Lusk

Brian Deegan:
Lusk was my best friend. I feel like I lost my brother. It is still hard to come to grips that he died riding fmx and I won’t see him again ’til we meet in heaven. The team has felt his loss. There will forever be a void in the Mulisha. I miss the phone calls from him saying let’s roost. Life is so crazy u just don’t know what the day will bring. Enjoy your family and friends, don’t sweat the small stuff… BD

Derek Garland:
Jeremy Lusk was truly one of a kind. Some of my best memories of my life so far have been with Jeremy. I am so thankful I was able to have those good times with him. Jeremy knows how to make the most out of any situation, every time we hung out it was a good time, no one has ever made me laugh as hard as he could.

I really look up to Jeremy, as a rider, but more so as a person. His humble attitude, hard work ethic and simply being tougher than shit are the attributes I like the most about him. He’s not scared to take on anything, Jeremy is a true warrior. He never talks about what a great rider he is, he doesn’t have too. Anyone who has ever ridden with him or seen him ride knows that he is one of the most talented riders in the world. He is such a good friend too. He would always help me with my riding and push me to learn new tricks. He would also help me with everyday life problems and give me advice on what to do in different situations. I really respect Jeremy and I listen to everything he tells me.
Jeremy will always be a role model to me and I can’t wait to hang out and ride with him again one day. Rest In Peace Jeremy I miss you.
-Garland

Jeremy Stenberg:
Jeremy Lusk was the shit and he still is. He inspired all of us. Jeremy was a one of a kind and I think about him everyday just the way he was. He was so fuckin’ funny and could put a smile on anyone’s face. I miss hearing him talk shit all the time or hearing his dumb ass laugh. It was so classic, like I said he was one of a kind and I miss him. It’s not the same with out Jeremy. He may not be with us anymore but u would never think that hanging around the crew. We talk about him all the time like he’s still here with us. I will never forget Jeremy, he will always be in our hearts. R.I.P. Big Worm that’s my dogg for life ………..har har har.
-Stenberg

Chris Tedesco:
It is hard to believe that it has already been one year since you left us, Jeremy. Although you are gone, the memories from all the fun times we shared together inspires me to do great things. You were one of a kind and I am truly grateful I was able to know you as a friend. I know I will always have an angel watching over me. Rest in peace, brother.
-Chris

Ronnie Faisst:
I have this photo of me and Lusk up in house. It was taken in Spain. Me, him and my brother Matt spent two weeks there. We got so bored during the week so we went out and took photos all over the city. I think of him a lot and always pray for his wife and family. I really miss riding with him, going to the gym together, but most of all just hanging out and crackin’ jokes. He was a really funny dude, he always made me laugh. I’m thankful that God brought him into my life and all the memories he left with me. Most of all I thank God for Lusk’s faith in God. I can rest my head at night knowing that Lusk is in heaven and with the Lord and one day I will see him again. He just beat me home that’s all!

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ROMANS 10:9-11
TRUTH
Your Brotha,
Faisst

Ryan Hagy:
It has already been one year, but feels like it was yesterday. Jeremy was such a huge part of my life and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of Jeremy and what he did for myself and our team. In the past year our team has became closer since Jeremy’s passing as we realized how much of a family we really are to each other. Jeremy will always be apart of our family and will never be forgotten. RIP lusk.
-Hagy

Beau Manley:
Lusk was a badass. He could take a hit and keep on ticking. Never seen someone be able to crash that hard and get back up and go for it again. He always pushed his friends to be their best and I can’t ever remember him making any excuses. He simply just Got it Done. He is truly missed by all. R.I.P. Lusk
-Manley

Leah Steiger:
The first time I met Jeremy I was the Wedding Director at South Coast Winery, working 60-70 hours a week. The wives were doing a shoot on the property and I was their contact. The boys had come out towards the end of the shoot and I took them all to the bar for a drink. Jeremy looked at me and said, “you look like you need a shot?”. I said “No I’m on the clock”…he looked at me with a cocky smile and said “fuck the clock!”. What he said to me hit me like a ton of bricks; why was I wasting my time on someone else’s clock, doing something I wasn’t completely stoked on doing, hiding under a suite with a fake ass smile? So I resigned the next day. After the shoot he handed me a poster for my son, it hangs on his door to this day. It reads “To Phoenix – Follow your Dreams – Jeremy Lusk”

l will always remember what he said to me and what he wrote to my son. With just a few words he moved me to change my career path and has inspired me to live in the moment and never settle. I am grateful to have met him, to work with his wife and his family at Mulisha. I believe that he was grateful too, for life, for Lauren, for Brian, the Mulisha and his parents…you could see it in his smile…and I’m sure he still is!
Much love… Leah Steiger

Jeff Kargola:
Jeremy Lusk, in my eyes, is still very much alive. He is alive in the respect that his never give up, I can conquer anything attitude is an attribute I look to for strength and inspiration when the odds seem stacked against me. I saw a lot of myself and who I want to be in the man that Jeremy was, which makes it hard to accept even a whole year later. Although he is no longer with us in the physical sense, his memory will live on forever. We’ve shared so many great times and somewhere down the road we will meet again.
-Ox

Check out the hundreds of photos of Lusk posted by people from all over the world, and the tribute video played at his funeral.

Tomorrow be sure to check out the Daily Habit on Fuel TV Tuesday February 9th at 11am PST as we celebrate the life and legacy of a truly amazing FMX rider and friend, Jeremy Lusk. One year after his passing, Fuel TV welcomes some of Jeremy’s good friends, Brian Deegan, Cameron Steele, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Faisst, Derek Garland, and Ryan Hagy to the studio to share some memories.

Please join us for this heartfelt discussion about the incredible impact Jeremy had on the FMX industry and those around him. Metal Mulisha and the American Freestyle Motocross Association (AFMXA) is urging FMX fans and riders around the world to join in a moment of silence to remember Lusk. For more info about the Lusk remembrance and the association founded partly in his honor, the AFMXA has launched a new mobile program: Text “GO AFMXA” to the 5-digit code 68398 (U.S. subscribers only, standard messaging rates will apply) to join the mobile program.

AFMXA advisory board member Toby Bost writes, “The introduction of the AFMXA Mobile Program adds another dimension to our organization, which hs been largely inspired by the memory of Jeremy and the athletes who represent it. We encourage everyone who follows the sport in any way to take a moment of silence to remember Jeremy on Tuesday February 9th, and to visit AFMXA.com to learn how to become actively involved in promoting our mission.”

It is official; Josh Grant joins the Metal Mulisha Family! JG has been on the program for a while, but conflicting sponsors didn’t allow him to rock M/M at races. Now he’s officially dialed in and you will see JG kicking ass while rocking M/M at Supercross!

Grant came down to MM HQ yesterday and was pumped to officially seal the deal after being released from the hospital. He was warming up during a practice session on Tuesday, killing the track times and blasting through the whoops, but unfortunately had a huge crash in the whoops! Luckily Grant is a tough SOB and will do all he can to ride at A1! Check out his video interview…

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Be sure to tune in this Saturday January 9th to watch Grant race the 2010 AMA Supercross Championship at Angel Stadium LIVE on SPEED/CBS. Here is the SPEED/CBS TV schedule.