THE Aussie motorbike daredevil Robbie Maddison has again risked life and limb in the pursuit of an extreme adrenaline rush, this time leaping 85m across the Corinth Canal in Greece.
Maddison, 28, on Thursday nailed the jump across the canal, which connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Aegean Sea.
Failure wasn't an option for the Kiama-born motocross legend. Built in the late 1800s, the canal is 80m deep and any slip-up would have seen Maddison fall to his death.
Maddison took his Honda 500 up to 125km/h on approach to the ramp. He sped past a pool, across a soccer pitch and past a chicken coop on approach to the Red Bull ramp.
At the the peak of the leap he was about 95m above the canal.The daredevil said the approach to the ramp - across grass, concrete, wood, asphalt and carpet - was extremely difficult, but that he also had to conquer his fear.
"Overcoming fear, that's always the hardest part. Jumping across the Corinth Canal became a challenge I just could not resist," he said.
"The jump involved the highest consequences I have faced so far.
"I believe you have to take risks in life to become wiser and facing a challenge like this will help get me ready for the next feat I will face."Maddison has become famous for his jumps. In 2009 he performed a backflip across London's Tower Bridge, and lept 30m on to a replica Arc de Triomph in Las Vegas.
In 2008, he broke the world motorcycle jumping record twice in the same night when he leapt 107m during the Crusty Demons Night of World Records show in Melbourne.
A post on his Facebook page read: "At 8.30 this morning, i jumped the biggest canal in the world on my motorbike. It was an amazing feeling to get to the other side. Thank you to everyone that supported me.... Thank you Greece for a great time..."
Maddison is due to compete in the season opener of the 2010 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour in Mexico City next week.
Robbie Maddison 85m across the Corinth Canal Jump Guinness World Record Video
Maddison is due to compete in the season opener of the 2010 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour in Mexico City next week.
Robbie Maddison 85m across the Corinth Canal Jump Guinness World Record Video