Russia

Russian Motocross History

Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s many of the mysteries of the world motocross travelling circus were around the eastern bloc country of Soviet Union. Riders dressed in those red shirts with the hammer and sickle on the chest. Their stern faces and often accompanied by Russian agents.

Despite Russia being the largest country in the world by surface area, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabited land area, and the ninth most populous, with over 144 million people, its history in motocross has been hot and cold.

Back in the early 1960’s names such as Igor Grigoriev, and Victor Arbekov led the Russian charge on the world motocross championship. Grigoriev was the first Russian to finish top three in the world, finishing with third place in the 250cc class in 1963.

Arbekov made history in his country in 1965, winning the 250 championship and starting a love affair between the sport and Russia.

The greatest Russian motocross rider, Guennady Moisseev would capture his first of three world titles in 1974, also in the 250 class, and he would then win again in 1977 and 1978.

Around the era of Moisseev many Russian riders captured GP victories, or top three finishes in the championship. Vladimir Kavinov would finish third in the 250cc championship in 1976, second in 1977, and again third in 1979.

The country of Russia would have to wait 36 years before the got another medal in the world motocross championships, when Evgeny Bobryshev finished with third place in the 2015 MXGP championship.

As for Grand Prix’s held in Russia, the first was in 1963, and it was in 1965 that a Russian rider won at home, when Grigoriev won the 250 GP. It’s been 30 times that a motocross Grand Prix has been held in Russia, and of course in a couple of weeks’ time, it will become 31 times.

Russia also won the MXoN on two occasions, the first time in Kishinev, Russia in 1968 and again in 1978.

Guennady Moisseev – Russian Legend

Moisseev who had won the 1974 World 250cc championship, on a KTM motorcycle, however in high drama, he reached the title after kicking the other title contender Jaroslav Falta down in last race of the season.

In 1976, he narrowly lost the 250 world championship by one point to Heikki Mikkola despite a late season charge. He won two more 250 world championships in 1977 and 1978, again while riding KTM motorcycles.

In 1978, he was a member of the winning Russian team in the Motocross des Nations. Moisseev won a race for the last time in 1979 when friction developed between the Russian Motorcycling Federation and the KTM factory. As a result, KTM withdrew their support of the Russian team. Without competitive motorcycles, the Soviet team could no longer compete against the Western European and Japanese factory racing teams.

Moisseev, like many Russian sports stars of his era, was enlisted in the Russian Army, rising to the ranks of Major during his racing career. His extreme fitness combined with team tactics made him a fearsome competitor. After retiring from competition, Moisseev became a motocross coach. In 1977, Moisseev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and, in 1978 he was given the honorary title of “Honoured Master of Sports.” In December 2000, he was elected president of the Russian Motorcycle Federation.

Russian GP winners

Guennady Moisseev 14
Victor Arbekov 10
Vladimir Kavinov 8
Anatoly Ovchinnikov 2
Igor Grigoriev 1
Pavel Rulev 1
Eugenij Rybalchenko 1
Evgeny Bobryshev 1

Russian Legend – Guennady Moisseev – Images KTM