FMX superstar Levi Sherwood lands world first

Kiwi adrenaline junkie Levi Sherwood has become the first person in the world to land a no hander, double backflip.

The world freestyle motocross (FMX) superstar landed the trick at his Palmerston North-based compound, just a week after winning the FMX competition at the Nitro World Games in Salt Lake City.

"It's a big day for me, I've landed a trick that no one in the world has ever landed," said Sherwood.

He started practising the manoeuvre three months ago, after he got bored working on his double backflip.

"I really wanted to push myself to a No Hander Double backflip. It took me a while to get both hands to release off the bars, but once they came off it was easy from there," said Sherwood.

Levi Sherwood landed the trick a week after winning the FMX competition at the Nitro World Games. Photo/Andrew Warner

Sherwood had one of three specialised airbags in the world installed at his home in May, giving him more confidence to throw down tricks he thought he would never have the nerve to do.

The 26 year old is set to compete at the Red Bull X-Fighters FMX event in Madrid, next weekend.

"The last couple of years at Red Bull X-Fighters I've been a bit off the pace, so I am really going to be pushing hard to get on the podium this year," he said.

"If I go there with the new tricks I have recently landed, and execute them the same way I execute all of my other tricks I will be in with a good chance."