| Takayuki Higashino | |
| Nickname: | Taka |
| Nationality: | Japanese |
| Birth Date: | 1985 3, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Osaka, Japan |
| Occupation: | Freestyle motocross rider |
| Years Active: | 2003-present |
| Country: | Japan |
| Sport: | Motocross Freestyle motocross |
| Updated: | 13 August 2018 |
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.
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.
Winner, 2013 Red Bull X-Fighters Osaka, FMX[8]
Gold, X Games Los Angeles 2013 Moto X Freestyle
Gold, X Games Foz do Iguaçu 2013, Moto X Freestyle
Gold, 2012 X Games Los Angeles 2012, Moto X Freestyle
Winner, 2011 ASA World Championships of FMX
Winner, 2010 Dew Tour Salt Lake City FMX Contest
Winner, 2010 Red Bull XRAY
Silver, 2012 X Games, FMX Best Trick
Bronze, 2010 X Games, FMX Best Trick