In true Lance Russell style, he credits everyone around him, but himself, for the dirtbike career he has had to date.

If you looked up gratitude or humility in the dictionary, chances are there is a photo of Lance next to these words. But once the helmet and goggles go on, he transforms in to someone else. That someone else is a wild man on a dirtbike, and he shares some amazing insights in the do's and dont's for aspiring professional athletes.

Lance is a student of the sport, and having been a fan first in the early 2000's there is not too much that he doesn't know about the industry. Some of the names and stories he tells of the pro riders that came before him will warm the heart, from Steve Mini to Travis Pastrana to Robbie Maddison, to name but a few.

He credits Australian FMX OG Jason Tranter as his mentor and the reason he is the rider he is today, and Lance is paying it forward with his mentorship of one of the brightest young stars in the world of FMX, Ry Davis.

Freestyle Kings and Family are recurring topics throughout the episode, and if you know the Russell family, you will appreciate this greatly.

FMX has given Lance so much, but it has also taken friends from him, and given him more nights in hospital than he can remember. This is an important conversation as he gives an insight in a few things he would've done differently over the course of his career.

A social media wizard away from the dirtbike, Lance's hobbies away from FMX don't exactly scream bad man on a bike, but that's what makes Lance great. He has broken the stereotype of the FMX athlete, and we are all richer for having him in our lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Lance Russell episode

Chapters

• 01:25 Early Influences and Passion for Riding
• 11:20 Transition from racing to FMX
• 19:18 The influence of early FMX riders
• 26:47 Lance's first paid riding gig
• 33:41 The rise of Freestyle Kings
• 37:55 Accidents and their impact
• 39:00 Behind the Scenes at Nitro Circus and Mental Preparation
• 47:19 Remembering Tyrone Gilks
• 01:01:55 Navigating COVID
• 01:07:29 Evolution of Freestyle Kings
• 01:13:18 Mentorship and the bond with Ry Davis
• 01:25:40 Mental and Physical Toll of Injuries
• 01:36:03 Generosity of Robbie Maddison & Travis Pastrana
• 01:41:57 Life after dirtbikes
• 01:44:35 Rapid fire questions