Home debut for Bobryshev and Tonkov

Bobryshev and Tonkov are looking forward to race the MXGP of Russia this weekend at Semigorje. Image - Youthstream.

The last time the FIM Motocross World Championship travelled to Russia was 10 years ago, back in 2002, in Sorochany a track located 59 km away from Moscow, so everybody is really excited to be back in the biggest country in Europe. A part from the FIM MX1 and MX2 World Championship, the Russian track of Semigorje will also host the third round of the UEM EMX250, which Mel Pocock has been dominating from the beginning of the season.

Honda World Motocross - Evgeny Bobryshev #777
"After Latvia we had a really long trip here and it took a long time to get over the border, so it’s been an interesting week. It’s been really good to come back home and spend some time here; we’ve done some training at my track with all of the team, and it’s the first time I’ve ridden the factory bike there, so I’ve had a lot of fun. I am looking forward to going to the track in Semigorje, which is new for me like everybody else, as I haven't seen it before, and I think it will be a good weekend. It’s also an important weekend for our team with our partner Investment Trade Bank. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of people there and on Saturday I can spend some time with the fans, but come Sunday I will be fully focused on the race. I want to be on the podium as it hasn't happened in the last few races like I wanted, but my motivation is high, and I’m missing the success we’ve had before, so I just aim to put a good weekend together.”

MX1:  Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli claimed back the red plate last weekend in Latvia and he is now leading the MX1 series with twelve points advantage over Clement Desalle. The Italian is really excited to be back in Russia because it was in this country where in 2002 he took part in one of the first Grand Prix of his successful career. However, Cairoli may not be at his 100% this weekend because he injured his left wrist in a crash during the second moto of the Latvian Grand Prix.

The runner up of the series is now Clement Desalle, who had a difficult weekend in Kegums last weekend not only for the demanding conditions of the track, but also because he was struggling with a cold. The Rockstar Energy Suzuki World rider missed the leadership of the championship, but he will not surrender and he will do his best this weekend at the hard sand track of Semigorje and recuperate some valuable points for the Championship chase.

CP377 Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit’s Christophe Pourcel is third in the MX1 point standings, 23 points away from Desalle and nine points ahead of Paulin. Pourcel had a disappointing weekend in Latvia being only able to finish eleventh overall, so he is determined to ride again among the top three and fight for the overall victory in his first experience on Russian soil.

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin missed also the podium last weekend in Kegums, but his speed and his feelings on his Kawasaki machine were much better than the ones he had in Sweden two Grand Prix ago. The French rider is still fourth in the MX1 standings, but he is not that far from his compatriot Pourcel.

Completing the top five of the MX1 classification is Ken De Dycker, who finished second overall last weekend in Kegums. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider was very satisfied with his performance in Latvia, especially because he had been working really hard together with his team to get such result. The Belgian is now determined to keep on doing well in the upcoming races and be on the podium as many times possible.

Home rider Evgeny Bobryshev has a special motivation this weekend to fight for what it would be the first podium finish of the season. The Russian is riding home this weekend, so he will count on the support of all his compatriots who will be supporting him during the whole Grand Prix. Bobryshev knows well the Semigorje Technical Centre, as he was invited to the 2012 FIM Snowcross World Championship back in February, but it will be the first time for the Russian to race the Motocross track of Semigorje.

His teammate Rui Gonçalves had an excellent Grand Prix in Latvia and he missed the podium being tight in points with third classified Kevin Strijbos. The Portuguese is determined to fight for a top three result also this weekend in Russia.


MX2: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings keeps on being at the top of the MX2 standings with a comfortable lead of 41 points. Last weekend Herlings missed the podium because he had to pull out from race two after his KTM stopped, but his red plate was not in danger because the runner up of the series, Tommy Searle, could not score any points in any of both races.

The MXGP of Latvia was one of the most difficult weekends for Tommy Searle, who could not finish any of the heats due to technical problems. The Team Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit rider missed many points in Kegums, but anything can happen in the upcoming six Grand Prix, so Searle will make his best to keep on fighting for the Title race after race.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek missed the overall victory last weekend in Kegums, but he was able to be second overall and win the second race of the Latvian Grand Prix. The Belgian rider is closer than ever to Searle in the MX2 standings, having just twelve points less than the British rider.

The fourth position in the MX2 championship is for Joel Roelants, who obtained his maiden MX2 Grand Prix victory last weekend in Latvia. The Team Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit rider admitted that he is feeling fully fit again and his goal for the rest of the season will be fighting for the top step of the podium every weekend.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jordi Tixier is travelling to Russia with the extra booth of having obtained his maiden podium in MX2 last weekend in Kegums. The French rider has been racing consistently in the fifth position, but he was able to be third overall last weekend, so he will do his best to repeat such result before the season finishes.

The MXGP of Russia will be very special for Alexander Tonvok, who will be racing home in front of his Russian fans. The Honda Gariboldi Esta rider had a really difficult start of the season because due to an arm injury, but he seems to be feeling much better now because his performance in the previous two Grand Prix has improved significantly.

TIMETABLE
Saturday: EMX250 Free Practice 8:30; MX2 Free Practice 9:30; MX1 Free Practice 10:15; EMX250 Time Practice 11:15; MX2 Pre-Qualifying Practice 13:15; MX1-Pre Qualifying Practice 14:00; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:10; MX1 Qualifying Race 17:00; EMX250 Race 17:50.

Sunday: EMX250 Warm up 8:30; MX2 Warm up 9:00; MX1 Warm up 9:30; EMX250 Race 2 10:15; MX2 Grand Prix Race 1 12:10; MX1 Grand Prix Race 1 13:10; MX2 Grand Prix Race 2 15:03; MX1 Grand Prix race 2 16:03.