QUAD FMX : PROGRESSING THE LIMITS
An exclusive inside story rode by and written by Seth Fargher
Freestyle motocross is about progression.  There is always something to improve on or a new trick to learn and I’ve yet to meet anyone that is perfect every time out.  Even Caleb Moore, one of today’s top freestyle riders admits his backflip needs a little polishing.  The best riders in the world will tell you it’s not a matter of if you’ll crash, but when.

QUAD FMX-Indian Air

I’ve put in a lot of seat time in the eight months since moving to California and have managed to sneak by unscathed to this point.  I’m told that I’m one of a handful of riders who can ride comfortably at the larger 72 foot gap and I’ve been able to progress to tricks that I never dreamed of being able to do.  Much of this experience of living in southern California is surreal to me because I never thought I’d have this opportunity.  In like manner, when our manager started talking about sending me to Texas to work with Caleb on the backflip it was a bit surreal.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time with the guys but I know there are people out there that would kill for an opportunity like that.  Two weeks with the best FMX riders in the world at their own private compound.  Surreal is a good word for it because this time last year I was analyzing people’s credit at a bank in central Oregon.

Quad FMX - The Stripper

My trip began in Canadian Texas where we performed at the Canadian rodeo.   Because I live in California, most of our guys have never seen me ride and Caleb notice a few bad habits I’d developed almost instantly.  We rode the show that Friday night, were rained out on Saturday then made the trip back to the Moore’s house to go to work.

Rather than jumping straight to the pit, Caleb wanted me to work on correcting a few things before I attempted the flip.  I had trained myself to approach the ramp at a lower speed and then get on the gas hard about 5 feet before the ramp.  This works for me in California because I have a carpeted run up to the ramp and never worry about wheel spin when I get on the gas so abruptly.  The problem is inconsistency as you won’t always have a run up with good traction.  It might be loose dirt, gravel, grass, asphalt or even plywood.  Accelerating hard as I do allows an opportunity for wheel spin which spells disaster if your not hooking up when leaving the ramp. 

The crash left a huge hole in the landing carpet from the front bumper.

Additionally I’ve trained myself to preload at the wrong point on the ramp.  Typically Caleb recommends you spend some time on a motocross track before you make the jump to ramps.  Motocross teaches you to flow.  You have to learn how to feel the quad and react, not muscle it around which is what I try to do.

We were able to correct the acceleration thing fairly simply however because my preload was all out of whack it meant I had to come at the ramp much faster.  That took some getting use to and I found myself landing short of the sweet spot on most jumps.  Caleb was infinitely patient with me as I continued to struggle with my preload timing.  At one point he filmed my entry and exit of the ramp so I could see what I was doing wrong.  This helped but when I got back on the quad I seemed to resort back to my bad habits.

I rode twice a day on the days when it wasn’t raining and on the Wednesday of my second week I’d planned on getting up for an early morning session to beat the Texas heat.  I made three jumps clearing the gap as normal and on my fourth attempt my quad took a nosedive and I came in short and on the bumper.  I landed about two feet behind the knuckle on the safety deck, literally on my bumper and left a mark to prove it.

No one was on the backside of the landing so they weren’t exactly sure how my body hit.  Judging by the damage to my helmet it seems most of the impact came to the top and front of my head.  The face shield also looks as if it caved in because it’s severely bent.  Near as we can tell the quad bounced from its bumper to its grab bar and hit me in the back of the head.  The grab bar shows a lot of wear and I have a laceration and skull fractures around the base of my skull.

The inside of the helmet was cracked in the front but not the back.

The outside of helmet shows the blood stains from the crash.

I was never unconscious and apparently sat up and began speaking right after it happened however I don’t remember anything until the ambulance ride to the hospital.  All total I spent ten days in ICU at a Dallas Fort Worth Hospital.  Thankfully I was coherent for most of my time and not in a great deal of pain.

Eating the great food made by the hospital staff

A lot goes through your mind after a crash like that.  I’m so thankful to be alive because it could have, and probably should have, been much worse.  I walked away with a fractured skull and a broken scapula so it will be a while before I can get back on a quad.  Well actually I was at a press intro at Glen Helen raceway a week after leaving the hospital and while I had to use my right arm to get my left hand to reach the handlebars, was pleased to know I can still operate the clutch.  I almost took a lap around the track just for kicks.

I don’t know what the future will hold but right now my plan is to get back on the quad as soon as possible.  I’ve had four concussions, three in the last year.  Another head injury before this one is completely healed could be devastating.  You have to weigh out your options after a crash like that but ultimately taking risks is what we do.  Knowing the risk involved is part of why we do what we do.  Sometimes it comes back to bite you.

I love to ride freestyle.  For me there is no greater feeling than completely letting go of a quad in midair.  Every opportunity to go out and ride is an opportunity I never thought I would have so I count it a blessing to have made it this far.  While I’m on the mend I’m trying to stay as involved as I can and hoping to promote the Moore’s as they begin preparing for Winter X.  Whether I’m on the quad or not I’m at a place I never thought I’d be, working with people I never thought I would meet.  That’s enough for me and I’m eternally grateful to all the people that have helped me get where I’m at today. -Seth Fargher

The View of the front end damage to the Polaris 525 Quad.

Close up View shows the tie-rods bent from the impact.

Top View shows the A-Arms took the brute force of the crash.