Toby Stevenson talks fast bikes

The 2004 Olympic pole vault silver medalist Toby Stevenson talks to spikesmag.com about why his passion for motorbikes have played a crucial role in his track and field career.

“Man, as soon as I was able to walk I was on motorcycles – little dirt bikes. My dad had bikes his whole life and we had a professional motocross track in my hometown.

It was all about 'how far can I jump? How high can I jump?' We were all good [as kids], but I just loved it. I guess that means I cared for myself a little less than the other kids.

When I look back it was like a track and field event in that I pushed myself hard but I didn’t know what was going to happen. It’s like the pole vault, it’s all about calculated risks in that you need to push yourself just beyond the point of control.

It also taught me about body awareness. That and all my gymnastic work helped me become a better pole vaulter.

I had some bad accidents and one which I can still feel today. When I was 10 or 11 years old I was trying to jump as far as I could, the motorbike turned sideways on me and I hit the ground hard and actually separated one of my ribs. Even to this day - and I’m now aged 31 - I still get cramps in my chest because of that accident.

I didn’t buy my first street bike until I was 21 – a Honda CBR Fireblade – which my dad now rides. I currently ride a 2006 Yamaha R1. It is a 1000cc bike, which is the street version of the Yamaha racing bike professional riders use.

I don’t like riding the bike at top speed but I’ve been 150mph on that bike and it wasn’t even close to the red line. I didn’t really enjoy riding that fast, but that day I got the balls and wanted to see how fast I could go. I actually went 154mph. Thank God I ran out of straight road because I easily could have gone faster.  It is the ultimate adrenaline rush. I couldn’t look down and check my speed for very long. It was cool, man, I’m not going to lie to you... it was really cool.

I’ll usually ride all year long. In San Diego, where I live, we constantly have beautiful weather. We also have great riding roads, really smooth turns that go on for hundreds of miles. It’s an escape. When I’m riding it does not allow my mind to think about anything else. When you are on a ride you cannot let your mind wander. I live in the world of athletics but I can’t live in it 24 hours a day, it’s just not healthy. And when I’m riding I don’t give pole vault a thought.

Pole vault is the most adrenaline-filled event in track and field. We are often six metres in the air hoping to land on a big, soft mat. I think all of the stuff we do [in our spare time] is to try and get that adrenaline level back.”