Taka Higashino

Takayuki "Taka" Higashino (東野 貴行, Higashino Takayuki, born 13 March 1985) is a Japanese freestyle motocross rider who has competed in international events including the X-Games, being the first Japanese medalist in the X-Games. He has three X-Games Gold Medals in Freestyle Moto. The only other rider to win more than three Golds in FMX along with Travis Pastrana. A pioneer for the growth of the sport, he is known for inventing the body varial trick the “California Roll/Cali Roll” or sometimes nicknamed the “Taka Roll” which is a slightly different version of the Special Flip.

Takayuki Higashino

Personal information
Nickname(s)	Taka
Nationality	Japanese
Born	(1985-03-13) 13 March 1985 Osaka, Japan
Occupation	Freestyle motocross rider
Years active	2003-present
Sport
Country	Japan
Sport	Motocross Freestyle motocross
Event(s)	X Games Red Bull X-Fighters Nitro Circus Dew Tour
Medal record Representing  Japan Competition X Games Los Angeles 2013 Moto X Freestyle X Games Foz do Iguaçu 2013 Moto X Freestyle X Games Los Angeles 2012 Moto X Freestyle X Games 2012 Moto X Best Trick Nitro World Games 2016 FMX X Games 2010 Moto X Best Trick
Updated on 13 August 2018.

Higashino began riding motocross when he was seven, and attended many races during his teens. He turned professional at age 18,[1] and moved to the United States in 2006 to compete. He appeared in his first X Games contest in 2007. His motocross career took off in 2010, when he finished first at the Dew Tour Salt Lake City FMX Contest,[2] Red Bull XRAY,[3] and earned a bronze medal for his FMX Best Trick performance at X Games XVI.[4] That year, Transworld Motocross named Higashino the Breakout FMX Rider of the Year.[5]

In 2011, Higashino took first place at the ASA World Championships of FMX[6] and competed in his fifth consecutive X Games competition. He also performed on the Nuclear Cowboyz Freestyle Chaos tour, an American motocross exhibition, and will ride on the tour again in 2012.[7] At X Games XVIII in 2012, he won gold in Moto X Freestyle and claimed second in Moto X Best Trick.