Nitro Circus Presents MXP Chatter With Josh Sheehan

This coming Friday night in Montreal and then again on Sunday evening in Toronto, the highly anticipated Nitro Circus “You Got This” Tour is taking over the Bell Centre and the Scotiabank Centre. This new version of the Nitro Circus Tour promises to be even more entertaining than the previous events, with new stunts and new performers. One of the athletes who is now part of this exciting spectacle is Australian FMX rider Josh Sheehan. Josh has been at the sport of Freestyle Motocross for over a decade and in 2015 he rose to the highest level of the sport when he became the first rider ever to complete a triple-backflip on a motorcycle. Now, Josh is ready to perform this weekend as part of the Nitro Circus Tour and we caught with him to find out why this show is a must see.

MXP: Hey Josh, good to finally catch up with you. We’re only a few days away from the first Canadian Nitro Circus Show in Montreal, you must be excited.

JS: Yeah, for sure! I did a little PR in Toronto this morning and now I’m just on my way to fly to Montreal now. Just talking about the upcoming shows this weekend has me really excited.

MXP: Is this your first time in Canada?

JS: I’ve been here a few times but only for short trips. This is a beautiful country and the people have always been so nice, it actually reminds me of back home in Australia.

MXP: Where do you call home?

JS: I’m from a town in Southwestern Australia, just south of Perth. It’s on the quiet side of Australia (laughs).

MXP: What was your childhood like? Did you begin riding at an early age?

JS: Yes, of course. I fell in love with riding at a very early age and I spent a lot of time just being around anything that had an engine, really. As I got older I remember watching a heap of videos of riders doing jumps and tricks. I guess from there I just really found an interest in that part of the sport. I raced motocross for a while and then when I realized that racing wasn’t going to pay the bills, so I got into FMX.

MXP: I always love hearing about how riders like yourself got into the sport and also your riding stories from a young age. You’ve definitely come a long way.

JS: Yeah, it’s cool to think back to those early days when I was just blasting around and having fun. To think that I’ve been able to get to where I am now really blows my mind, it feels like a dream, actually.

MXP: Even when you were just riding or even racing back then, did you love the jumping part of it?

JS: Honestly, I have always loved being in the air. Whether it was jumping, sky diving, or anything really, I’ve loved just being in the air.

MXP: Sounds like you were perfectly made for the job you’re doing now.

JS: I guess you could say that (laughs).

MXP: So how did a boy from Southwestern Australia, who just loved riding, end up where you are today?

JS: Well, it’s definitely been a mind blowing few years, that’s for sure. Sometimes I feel like I should pinch myself before I leave the house. I guess I just grew up watching and looking up to Travis Pastrana and his Nitro crew. When Travis did his first double back-flip back in 2006 I had just learned how to do my first flip. I had entered a competition near my home, and although I crashed out, I really loved the energy and the feeling of performing. I went back later that same year to the same event and did much better so I figured I could make a go of it. From there it was really just one competition to another and meeting people who would then introduce me to other people and so on. I was part of the Crusty Tour for a while, and then they took over the Nitro Circus Tour and here I am now. I know I make it sound easy and quick, but it’s been a long road. Although it’s been fun, it definitely hasn’t been easy.

MXP: The Nitro Circus Tour has been to Canada a few times over the past few years. What can fans expect this time around with the “You Got This” Tour?

JS: One of the things that Nitro Circus has been good at over the years is bringing fans something new each time they go on tour. So, for this tour you’re going to see the most insane tricks and the highest energy show ever. As performers, we pride ourselves on entertaining each fan in the arena for the full show. Whether you’re sitting in the front row or at the very top row, we want you to be on the edge of your seat. If you like an action-packed show that will blow your mind then this is a must-see event. Each time we come here, Canadian fans really seem to love what we do and I hope they’ll come out again the see us perform.

MXP: This new show does look like a lot of fun! Of all of the tricks that you perform during a show, do you have a favourite?

JS: That depends on how I’m feeling during each show. Even though we’re doing crazy tricks now and flying upside down most of the time, I still love just doing a killer whip. It just feels so good to throw the bike sideways off a ramp; the crowd seems to still love a good whip also. Doing either a whip or some of the combo trains that I do with a few of the other riders, sometimes we use two ramps so you’re up in the air side by side with another rider; those are always fun.

MXP: I would have to agree with you, a good whip is still pretty darn cool. Okay, I cannot do an interview with you without asking you about your incredible triple-backflip in 2015.

JS: Oh man, where do I start? The entire process for that took about a year, really, from the first time we realized that it could be done to actually pulling it off. When we first went to Travis’s and started messing around with ramps and air bags, we got to a point where we just thought ‘Let’s do this.’ Then I went back home and did some more shows and then when I went back to Travis’s a few months later we really got serious. I guess the best way to explain it is that we just built up to it. About a week before things really got serious, and I won’t lie to you, that last week was really stressful, I figured it was time and went for it. I knew I had to hit the ramp at 82 km/h and then just hold it wide open up the ramp. The moment I took off and the rotation began I knew that I had it. At that point all I had to do was stay committed.

MXP: With all of the build up and stress prior to the jump, you must’ve felt a huge relief right after.JS: I can’t tell you how relieved I felt after, it was just an incredible feeling, really. To know that I was able to pull it off without incident was pretty amazing.

JS: I can’t tell you how relieved I felt after, it was just an incredible feeling, really. To know that I was able to pull it off without incident was pretty amazing.

MXP: Well, it’s exciting that Canadian fans now get to watch you perform during these upcoming Nitro Circus shows. Josh, it’s been great talking to you and we can’t wait to watch the new Nitro Circus “You Got This” show live on Sunday night in Toronto.

JS: For sure, I hope everyone comes and I hope they all have a good time. We’ve worked hard on this show and I think our Canadian fans will love it! It was good to talk to you Chris, see you on Sunday.