Tommy Clowers

Tommy Clowers (born September 2, 1972) is an American professional FMX (Freestyle motocross) rider. He also a former professional Supercross rider, and the Undisputed King of Step Up.

Early life

Clowers was born in San Diego, California on September 2, 1972.

Career highlights

From 1991 to 1999, Clowers had competed in 125 class Supercross events, and he was riding the Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki dirt bikes.
In 1999, Clowers snaped his wrist in practice at the X Games ( X Games V). In 2000, Clowers has won 3 Step Up Wins. Clowers has broken his collarbone in a Step Up event. Clowers has hold the Guinness World Record in Step Up is 25 ft.

Career

Tommy Clowers started riding motocross (Moto X) when he was just 8 years old. A few months later, he starting competing. In the 10 years that followed he won 14 amateur racing titles. When turned 18, he also turn pro. Clowers has been a huge name in freestyle since 1990. Tommy Clowers holding up the championship belt for winning the WFA World Championship in 2000. “Tomcat” was a leading 125cc Supercross racer in the early-to-mid 1990s. Then he later became one of the original stars of Freestyle Motocross in the early 2000s.

At the 2000 X Games ( X Games VI), in San Francisco, California, Clowers is the only motocross rider to clear the Step Up bar on his first attempt from 22 ft to 35 ft, then Clowers achieved the highest jump in Moto X Step Up, 10.67 m (35 ft), and he became the first ever Step Up Champion and X Games Gold medalist, Kris Rourke would win the Silver medal and Brian Deegan would win the Bronze medal. Then Clowers qualified in 2nd from the Moto X Freestyle Prelims, as a result, he finished in 2nd and winning his second Summer X Games medal, the Silver medal in Moto X Freestyle finals (Freestyle motocross). At the 2000 Gravity Games, Clowers qualified in 2nd in the Moto X Freestyle prelims, unfortunately Clowers finished 4th in Moto X Freestyle in Providence, Rhode Island.

At the 2001 Winter X Games V, in Mount Snow, Vermont, Clowers pulled off the "Cat Nac" Indian Air and finished 2nd in the debut of Moto X Big Air event, and winning his first ever Winter X Games medal, which is the Silver medal in the event. At the 2001 X Games ( X Games VII), Clowers qualified in 3rd from the Prelims, but as a result, Clowers finished in 4th in Moto X Freestyle finals, which mean he didn't win a X Games medal in the event, in Moto X Step Up, Clowers battled Travis Pastrana for the X Games Step Up Gold medal, as a result, Pastrana would fail in his two attempts to clear 33 ft, then Clowers cleared 33 ft on his first attempt and winning his second Moto X Step Up Gold medal and Pastrana would win his first ever X Games Moto X Step Up medal, the Silver medal, also there was a 4 way tie for 3rd place or the Bronze medal, which is Jeremy Stenberg, Kris Rourke, Ronnie Renner and Colin Morrison, and also Clowers would finished in 8th in the debut of Moto X Big Air event. At the 2001 Gravity Games, Clowers would finished in 3rd, as a result, he won a first ever Gravity Games medal, which is the Bronze medal in Moto X Freestyle in Providence, Rhode Island.

At the 2002 Winter X Games VI, in Aspen, Colorado, Clowers pulled off the same trick which is the "Cat Nac" Indian Air and finished in 3rd, and winning his second Winter X Games medal, the Bronze medal in the event. At the 2002 Gravity Games, Clowers qualified in 5th, unfortunately Clowers finished in 5th in Moto X Freestyle finals in Cleveland, Ohio. At the 2002 X Games ( X Games VIII), Clowers qualified in 4th from the Moto X Freestyle prelims, then he finished in 5th in Moto X Freestyle finals, which mean he didn't win a X Games medal either, in Moto X Step Up, it was down with three riders Metzger, Deegan and the defending champion, Clowers, as the results, Metzger and Deegan didn't clear 34 ft on their two attempts, so on his first attempt, Clowers hit the bar with the front wheel and also bends one of the poles, on his second attempt, Clowers cleared the bar, but he tap the bar with the front wheel as he went over, as a result, he wins his 3rd straight Moto X Step Up Gold medal, after clearing 34 ft and also beats both Mike Metzger and Brian Deegan, as a result Clowers gets his 3rd Gold medal, Metzger, the Godfather of Freestyle Motocross, he wins his second X Games medal, the Silver medal and Deegan wins his second Moto X Step Up medal, the Bronze medal, and in Moto X Big Air, Clowers would finish in 14th.

He was undefeated in Moto X Step Up for three years in a row in 2000, 2001 and 2002, before a young rookie FMX rider Matt Buyten from Minden, Nevada, and defeated Clowers for the X Games Step Up Gold medal at X Games IX (2003), and Clowers has won his first ever Silver medal in the Step Up event, after failing two attempts to clear 32 ft. At the 2004 X Games (X Games X), this was a dream team of these five riders are Brian Deegan, Mike Metzger, Tommy Clowers, the defending 2003 X Games Moto X Step Up Gold Medalist, Matt Buyten and the 7 Time AMA Supercross Champion, Jeremy McGrath. Clowers failed at two attempts at 30 ft, as a result, he would finished 3rd in Moto X Step Up, Buyten failed at first attempt at 33 ft 6 inch, and be would finished 2nd and McGrath would win his first ever X Games Moto X Step Up Gold medal, after clearing 33 ft 6 inch on his first attempt.

At the 2005 X Games (X Games XI), Clowers was riding the Yamaha YZ250, and he and Buyten went face to face from the 2003 X Games, at his first attempt at 31 ft 6 inch, Clowers clip the bar with back wheel, on his second attempt, he cleared the bar, then Clowers would pull off an amazing come back and beat Buyten after clearing 32 ft on his first attempt, and winning his 4th Moto X Step Up Gold medal. After winning his 4th Moto X Step Up Gold medal at X Games XI, in November of 2005, Clowers was getting ready for his wedding and married to his future wife Melissa.

At the 2006 X Games (X Games XII), Clowers failed to defend his Gold medal, on his first attempt at 21 ft, he hit the Step Up bar with the back wheel, on his second attempt, he hit the bar with back wheel again, unfortunately he would finish in 4th, and Buyten would win his second X Games Moto X Step Up Gold medal, after clearing 23 ft on his first attempt. At the 2007 X Games (X Games XIII), Clowers failed at his two attempts to clear 33 ft, would finish in 2nd in Moto X Step Up, but the winner was Ronnie Renner from Leesburg, Florida. Renner debuted the 4-stroke engine, as in the KTM 450 dirt bike in the Moto X Step Up event. At the 2008 X Games (X Games XIV), Clowers tried to clear 32 ft, but failed in his two attempts, unfortunately he would finish in 3rd, as a result Ricky Carmichael, the 10 time AMA Supercross champion would win his first ever Gold medal in the Moto X Step Up event. At his last X Games, which is in 2011 (X Games XVII), Clowers tried to clear 35 ft 6 inch, but failed at his two attempts, but the record was broken by Brian Deegan, as a result, Clowers would finish in 5th in the Step Up event. Also Clowers has competing at the X Games from 2000 to 2011. Clowers' Sponsorship is Alpinstars, Red Bull and Smith, and Clowers is truly a legend, and he is the Master of Step Up. But now Clowers is now officially retired as FMX rider. Clowers has 8 X Games medals overall (6 medals in XG, 2 medals in WX).

Trick development

Clowers pulls off some tricks, first he invented the "Catwalk", the running alongside it in the air, it was named after the skateboarding trick known as the "Airwalk". Next he pulls off the "Cat Nac" named after him, but it's like a "No Footed Nac Nac", but hangs out like a "Superman".

Personal life

Clowers lives in Ramona, California.

Media appearances

*'' MTX Mototrax'' (2004)
*''The Great Ride Open'', seasons 1/2 (2007/08)

Events

*1999 Vans Triple Crown of Freestyle Motocross: 2nd (Las Vegas, Nevada)
*2000 Vans Triple Crown of Freestyle Motocross: 4th (Las Vegas, Nevada)
*2008 Red Bull X-Fighters- Freestyle Motocross (San Salvador, El Salvador)

X Games competition history

Gravity Games

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clowers, Tommy
Living people
1972 births
American motorcycle racers
Freestyle motocross riders