Two-time European Stunt Champion and Red Bull athlete Aras Gibieza astounded the crowd with a stellar performance in Kolkata recently. The Lithuanian stunt biker performed at Aquatica Water Park and Resort as a part of the nine-city Suzuki Gixxer Day tour that started in Delhi on 15 April.

Gibieza discovered his passion for motorbikes at an early age when he couldn’t pass by a two-wheeler without testing it out! Soon he was doing wheelies and dragging his feet on the ground while riding on the rear wheel to feel the balance of the bike. Since then, there has been no turning back and now, 26-year-old Gibieza flaunts his trademark “bunny hops” and “360 degree wheelies” among many other new stunts and tricks thereby giving motorbike enthusiasts a visual treat. He has previously performed in India at Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong and Hyderabad as a part of his tours last year. Excerpts from an interview:

What fascinated you about this extreme sport?

I have been fascinated with two wheelers from the time I was a child. I used to ride a bicycle everyday as a kid and on my 10th birthday my grandfather made my dreams come true by gifting me a Suzuki RG, 50cc. Since then there has been no turning back, I was popping wheelies on the scooter within days and even now, I keep pushing myself to take it a notch higher.

Take us through a typical day of your training. What is your schedule like?

I train for at least five days a week. I wake up early in the morning to work out at the gym, go running after lunch and spend anywhere between four to six hours training on my bike.

Is performing in India different from elsewhere?

India is a vibrant country and fans here are so exuberant that performing here makes it an experience unlike any other. I never expected the audience to be such fervent stunt-riding fanatics. Each stunt I performed was met with loud cheers and thunderous applause, which just egged me on to perform better. At the end of the day, a stunt-biker is only as good as his audience and I just experienced one of the best audiences I’ve been fortunate to perform in front of. It&’s fun and attractive and that keeps bringing me back here.

What has been your scariest moment till date as a stunt biker?

During my Red Bull North East Tour last year in India, the truck carrying my bike got stuck and that for me was a really scary moment. The thought of losing my bike or not being able to perform for my fans will always be the scariest moment for me.

What kind of bikes do you use? According to you, what are the unique characteristics for it to be a good stunt bike?

Back home I ride the Kawasaki Ninja with a 636cc engine. My bike was built by Racetech Company in Lithuania. They have changed the frame, tank, sprocket and brakes, but I’m also preparing a Suzuki GSX-R 750 cc K5 for a new session. In India, I am performing on a Suzuki GSX-S1000. A bike needs to have power and dynamic balance for it to be used for stunts.

Which was the performance you enjoyed the most and why?

Stunt biking is my passion. So I enjoy each and every performance since I’m living my dream.

What&’s your message for fans in India?

A big thanks to all those who love me and want to see me keep coming back to the country. I want to make sure that I show you what I can do best with my bike. For all the stunt riders here — train hard, trust your skills and never give up but also, don’t perform stunts on the streets.

I will also be running at the Wings For Life World Run in Ahmedabad on 8 May. It is to raise funds for spinal cord injury research. I would urge everybody to join in for those who cannot run.

Finally, I wish to convey my regards to all my Indian fans, as you are the best in the world.