Motocross star reflects on China adventure

Freestyle motocross rider Josh Burdon headed overseas this time last year after snaring a two-year contract in Macau and China as he continued to turn his passion into a career.

The 13-year-old who developed a passion for riding on his Kawasaki KX125 and more than two decades later it is an international career.

“I was addicted from then and then spent all my time teaching myself the tricks and skills needed for dirt bike riding,” Josh said. “Motocross was and continues to be my passion and I feel truly privileged to have turned what I love into a career.”

The full time, two-year contract offer saw Josh scramble to relocate his life with limited notice as he looked to join an 11 rider team run by a Spanish company.

As with many of his overseas gigs, there were teething issues, language barriers, which continued, but overriding those challenges was the excitement of being about to do what he loves full time for two years – back on the bike after COVID and the slow recovery for the entertainment and travel industry since then to finally have motocross back on centre stage.

As he boarded his flight, Josh knew he would be performing in up to 50 shows a month and could be strutting his stuff for more than one show a day, six days a week, during his Macau and China tenure.

Josh has always been grateful for the local support that allowed him to follow his dream. Brad Tilley Accounting and Financial Services is a long time supporter of Josh and his Factory FMX motocross team, while the support from Belinda Crute and The Mount Gambier Hotel – his most recent local employer, was also greatly appreciated as Josh went from serving beers to booking flights and organising visas in the blink of an eye.

Jason Childs Suspension and countless family and friends have also been in Josh’s corner.

“I have had such good support and I am so grateful that allows me to do what I love,” he said.

And he has loved the experience thus far as he clocks up 12 months in his latest gig.

He quickly settled into his supplied apartment, went through all the medical tests, secured his working visa and, unlike some of his other overseas gigs, all his equipment arrived on time and intact.

“When I officially started the company’s daily work schedule at the entertainment centre where the performers and show would take place daily I was absolutely blown away with the level of professionalism and the sheer scale and size of the production,” Josh said.

“There are 20 acts in the show and the show runs every day for 1.5 hours and many times we had to perform two shows a day.

“During Chinese New Year we rode seven weeks straight with no days off performing. It was three shows a day which is very physically demanding.”

There was also the challenge of setting up a new bike – Josh selecting a 2023 model Yamaha YZ 250 two stroke as his performance bike.

“I had to reset the carbi settings to get better engine performance, and also changed the handle bars and bought my own suspension front and rear for jumping the bike,” he said.

“With some other modifications to the subframe for doing tricks within a few days the new bike was set up custom like the one I ride here in Australia and then we were straight into rehearsals.”

And that was a gruelling schedule to say the least with each of the 20 acts scheduled up to two hours a day somewhere between the hours of 7am and the following 2am.

Rehearsals ran for three months with the final few weeks seeing the show run each day from start to finish.

Josh has had his share if injuries during his motocross career and this gig was no different when at the tail end of rehearsals, water left on the stage from an earlier act – right where Josh had to land an 80 foot jump.

“With no warning and in a live rehearsal my two-year contract went flashing through my eyes as I had one of the gnarliest crashes due to water on our landing,” he said. “I come sliding and tumbling through the backstage to an abrupt stop about 30m away from the landing, completely rattled bruised, winded and in shock at the time from not understanding what caused the crash.”

Fortunately unlike previous crashes that have seen Josh sidelined for weeks if not months, he ended up being badly bruised ad winded and after a couple of days rest and repairs to the bike, he was able to get back to rehearsals and his new two year adventure.

“I won’t lie – it took a good week and a half before my body felt healthy and fit and normal,” he said.

So after three months, it was time to unveil the show to the public, starting with two shows as day thanks to strong ticket sales.

The entertainment centre is a 180-degree facility with a 7000-seat capacity.

“I was extremely lucky in being selected for the contract and felt very honoured to be the only Australian performer,” Josh said, as he performed alongside riders from South America, South Africa, the UK and Russia.

“Overall the experience has been amazing.

“Working on the bikes every day and performing at this level has been absolutely amazing and I’m so grateful for the opportunity and can’t thank the sponsors and people that have watched and sent supportive messages.”

He has snuck home twice in the past 12 months to perform as part of his factory FMX team and on one of those trips he was able to bring sponsor representative David, from Gall Bros Medical, back to China, not only to enjoy the show but to fit Josh with new custom CTI knee braces.

He will be embarking on one of those brief return trips home next month and locals can keep up with Factory FMX and Josh via Facebook, instagram, YouTube and the website www.factoryfmx.com.au