Athletic feats at the highest level demand talent, discipline, and precision. When Red Bull BMX athlete Kriss Kyle set out to clear a moving Formula 1 car, he relied on his exceptional skill and preparation. With the support of Xsens motion capture technology, he gained the insights needed to refine his technique and perform with confidence.
Challenge
Red Bull BMX athlete, Kriss Kyle, set out to clear a 1.3-meter jump over a moving Formula 1 car with zero margin for error, requiring peak performance, precise timing, and total confidence in execution.
Solution
Use the Xsens Link system to capture, analyze, and optimize Kriss Kyle’s biomechanics, turning data into targeted adjustments that maximized jump height, control, and consistency.
Key takeaways
When Red Bull athlete Kriss Kyle set out to jump over a moving Formula 1 car on his BMX, the margin for error was razor-thin. One miscalculation could have ended it all. But behind this historic jump, which saw Kyle fly over the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB7, Sebastian Vettel’s championship-winning car, was meticulous preparation, elite engineering, and Xsens motion capture technology.
Kriss Kyle is no stranger to danger and mind-blowing athletic feats. In 2022 he rode his BMX in a skatepark suspended 2000 feet above the ground under a hot air balloon. And it was time to challenge the world again!
Unlocking performance through motion data
To prepare for the jump, Kriss wore the Xsens Link suit, a wireless motion capture system built to track human movement. For the first time, he was able to view his biomechanics through a scientific lens. The analysis focused on key parameters: pelvis and torso acceleration, entry speed into the ramp, elbow extension rates, and flight time. He could see how he moved, where his power came from, and what could be improved.
The goal was to convert horizontal energy into vertical lift as efficiently as possible. By measuring explosive power in the arms, symmetry between left and right, and optimal body positioning in the air, the team could identify precise adjustments to maximize height and control.
Kriss’s goal was clear: a 1.3-meter-high jump to make sure he could fly over the F1 car racing underneath.
Steps to success
To prepare, the team did meticulous preparation. The first trial began with the bar set at 1 meter. With biomechanical analysis powered by Xsens, Human Movement Scientist Jordi Koggel identified key areas for improvement: more explosive upper body drive and better core engagement.
Between sessions, he followed a targeted strength and conditioning program, including clapping push-ups, weighted jump squats, and core training, to increase explosive power. By the second trial, he returned stronger, more controlled, and successfully cleared the full 1.3-meter mark.
What seemed like a daring leap of faith was a leap informed by motion science.
Confidence backed by data
Beyond improving technique, the data gave Kriss something just as valuable: confidence. He knew he had the physical ability to clear the height. That clarity removed doubt and allowed him to focus fully on execution.
What the world saw in the final video was one seamless history-making jump. What made it possible was a structured process of testing, learning, and optimizing - a collaboration between the brilliant athlete and science.
Redefining what’s possible in extreme performance
This case is a powerful example of how Xsens motion capture technology supports human performance at the edge. Whether it’s elite sport, entertainment, or creative athletic feats, having access to real-time movement data opens new frontiers.
For Kriss Kyle, it was the difference between a controlled, history-making achievement: not just performed with courage, but delivered with confidence.
Learn more about Xsens solutions for occupational health and safety.