Aussie motocross star lands first triple backflip

Australian Josh Sheehan has become the first man to pull off a death defying triple backflip on a motocross bike.

To land the incredibly dangerous trick, Sheehan reached 97km/h as he launched himself and his 91kg bike off an 11m high ramp positioned at 81 degrees at Nitros Circus founder Travis Pastrana’s ‘Pastranaland’ complex in Maryland.

The Australian reached a remarkable height of 24m in order to pull the bike through a full three rotations before landing the move.

Disorientating footage captured from Sheehan’s helmet gives a terrifying insight into the speed of the flips.

“It was an exhilarating ride and to be the first person to ever have done this was definitely a defining moment in my career and a dream come true,” Sheehan said.

Pastrana, who was the first man to land a double backflip in 2006, was in awe of Sheehan's courage for even attempting the stunt.

“With the ludicrous amount of height it takes to pull around the rotation, the slightest misstep may well have meant death,” Pastrana said.

“Josh is one of the gutsiest guys on the planet for even attempting this, let alone nailing it.”