Bobryshev restored Russian pride

When Evgeny Bobryshev stood on top of the podium at the Grand Prix of Germany, he was the first Russian rider in 30 years to win a round of the FIM World Motocross Championship, last July. Despite Russia having a strong history in the sport, it had been many years before a Russian rider bring as much determination and desire as Bobryshev. “It meant a lot to me,” Bobryshev said after his win. “It has been many years that a Russian rider has achieved this and it makes me very proud. I want to see a Grand Prix in Russia in the future and I am looking forward to racing in front of my countrymen. I know I can improve and I know that the Honda we have is capable of winning. I am looking forward to 2012 for many reasons.” In 1965 Victor Arbeckov became the World Motocross Champion on board a CZ machine, which was a real surprise for the motorcycling world. Arbeckov could gain a victory over great six-time World Champion Joel Robert from Belgium. Another famous racer, Gennady Moiseev proved to the world the high potential of the Russian racers once again in 1973. During one of the rounds of 1973 World Championship, Moiseev had no motorcycle to race, as the Czech partners were not in time to deliver the CZ machine for him. Then the representatives of the young KTM company from Austria offered the Russian racer their machine. Moiseev took the offer, and won the race. That victory cost the representative of the Russian delegation his Communist party membership. With the KTM Moiseev became three-time World Champion, in 1974, 1977 and 1978. However in 1979 Moiseev had to switch back to CZ, which immediately worsen his position to tenth place in the Championship and it was only in the beginning of the 1990’s, the Russian sportsmen got the freedom and possibility to use modern motorcycles produced in Western countries. In recent years with Evgeny Bobryshev, one of the leading contenders for the 2012 FIM World Motocross Championship, it is time to return to Russia for a Grand Prix, something that the whole World awaits. With a Grand Prix of Russia now assured for the 2012 season and Bobryshev improving his results in each race, many Russians will be travelling to their home Grand Prix with high hopes, as the future of Russian Motocross begins to look more secure.