World-first as Taka defies odds to ride solo around Auckland’s Sky Tower

Freestyle Motocross sensation Taka Higashino has defied gravity in a world-first in New Zealand today by powering his Monster Energy Yamaha around the top of Auckland’s famed Sky Tower, 192 metres above the city ground.

The Japanese rider is in town ahead of this weekend’s Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland where his freestyle motocross antics will be in full flight, in front of over 25,000 fans at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.

Taka rode solo around the top of the Sky Tower and to make it even more difficult, had to overcome a fear of heights to even get onto the two-foot wide platform.

"The first time around, halfway I wanted to cry, stop and jump off. The view was trippy, I was going, 'Oh my god, I can't watch'. Sometimes, watching the floor felt like a dream, not real." Taka exclaimed.

"It was crazy when the wind came up, the bike was losing balance, the rope had tension too. It looks easy out there but it's actually pretty hard. It was pretty scary."