News Story - Idaho State Journal

POCATELLO - Martin Hackworth, a senior lecturer in physics at Idaho State University, had an exhausting weekend.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, he had just completed 10 hours of shooting for the History Channel. In the fall, a historical piece on the physics of motorcycles will feature about 15 minutes of footage showing Hackworth performing tricks on his bike and talking about the inner mechanics of the two-wheeled vehicle.

One of those tricks involves the professor standing up on his motorcycle without using his hands. Although it may seem daring, Hackworth said his understanding of physics taught him the secrets of the stunt.

''I got the bike down the hill,'' Hackworth said. ''If you understand how a bike works, it's pretty safe to do that. The point I was trying to demonstrate was how motorcycles operate through tricks and stunts and performance riding.''

Hackworth said one reason the History Channel is featuring him is because he is a physicist who has a fluent knowledge of motorcycles.

''I take a very small amount of talent and take it as far as you can go,'' he said. ''I don't have that much natural ability, but my knowledge of physics allowed me to take a very average ability and take it as far as it could go.''

This document was originally published online on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

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