With the Russian Grand Prix less than two weeksa week away we thought it might be a good idea to take a quick look at the history of Motocross in Russia. Russian Motocross racers have had big success in the early days of their participation in the FIM World Motocross Championship.

The Russian national team won the famous Motocross of Nations three times, finished second twice and were third four times. During the first 18 years the leading Motocross racers of Russia - Arbekov, Grigoriev, Moiseev, Kavinov - won 4 golden medals, 2 silver medals and 4 bronze medals in World Championship action.

In 1965 Victor Arbeckov became World Motocross Champion onboard the famous CZ machine. The win by Arbeckov was a real surprise for the motorcycling world. Arbeckov gained victory over the great six-times World 250cc Champion Joel Robert from Belgium, what made the win so amazing was the fact it came when Robert was at the peak of his sporting career.

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 World 250cc Championship, Moiseev appeared to have no motorcycle, as the Czech Republic Company of CZ, who supplied his bike, did not deliver the CZ in time for Moiseev to race. In an amazing circumstance the representatives of the young KTM Company from Austria offered the Russian racer their machine. Gennady Moiseev took the offer, and won the race.

After such performance, the Russian rider acquired a very competitive KTM machine. With the KTM at his disposal Moiseev became a three-time World Champion, in 1974, 1977 and 1978.

In 1979 Moiseev was not allowed to use the Austrian KTM, and he was ordered to switch back to CZ again, which immediately worsen his position to tenth place in the Championship.

The motocross riders lost their skills to be competitive with the rest of the world and often in the 1990’s Russian motorcycle racers couldn't even qualify for the World Championship. However, step by step the Russian motocross gains the strength. There's a good organization, and there are main development targets. The Russian racers become more competitive, they work a lot, and react quickly for the changes in the modern motocross racing.

In recent years it’s been Evgeny Bobryshev who has been able to uphold the proud countries Motocross short term future Russia’s place in the sport will always be an important part of our history.

In less than a weeks’ time Bobryshev will get the chance to uphold his countries long history and hopefully he can make his presence felt in the Grand Prix of Russia.

Read the next news: Steve Ramon interview (13 Jul 2012)

Back to the latest news