For the second year in a row the MXGP of Russia was kick started by an impressive Opening Ceremony! The Russian Children’s Center Orlyonok hosted the MXGP of Russia’s media event which invited the top riders of the World and European Motocross Championship along with various media and guests from the MXGP Paddock.
Riders joining the event included Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie and Gautier Paulin, Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team’s Vsevolod Brylyakov, Jago Geerts, and Ben Watson, Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen, TM Factory Racing’s Max Nagl and Samuele Bernardini, Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Shaun Simpson and Jeremy Seewer, BOS GP’s Evgeny Bobryshev, iFLY JK Racing’s Ivo Monticelli and Manuel Iacopi, KTM Silver Action’s Stephen Rubini and Gianluca Facchetti, Team Honda Redmoto Assomotor’s Arminas Jasikonis, Petar Petrov, Alberto Forato, and Mathys Boisrame, Gebben Van Venrooy Kawasaki’s Alessandro Lupino, and many others.
Upon arrival to the venue the athletes were welcomed by many students between the ages of 11 to 16 years from various regions of Russia at the Orlyonok summer camp. Starting off the event was a traditional dance performance from the students and immediately after the performers fellow classmates presented the riders with sea shells from the Black Sea. The riders were then gifted bracelets tied in knots for good luck. The eager students then took in their chance to receive autographed posters and take photos with the athletes. To conclude the media event last year’s MXGP of Russia overall winner, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle, rang a ship bell and then joined the rest of the riders and the children for a family photo.
From the media event the riders, children, and media made the short walk to the main square of the Orlyonok campus for one of the greatest opening ceremonies in the MXGP series. First the officials including Youthstream Vice President David Luongo, FIM Europe President, Wolfgang Srb, FIM/CMS DirectorTony Skillington, Motorcycle Federation of Russia (MFR) President, Alexander Dzheus, Russian Ministry of Sport Deputy, Anton Antonov, Deputy Minister of Sport of Krasnodar Region, Vadim Permyakov, and Russian motocross superstar BOS GP’s Evgeny Bobryshev were introduced and took their place on stage. Putting together a series of astonishing traditional dances and performances were the children of Orlyonok. And after a traditional Russian gift of bread and salt was given to both riders and officials the opening speeches took place.
Youthstream Vice President David Luongo said: “It’s amazing to see the energy and the passion you have here for us. On behalf of Youthstream I share our happiness to be here and I wish to say a personal thanks to Alexander Dzheus for the passion and effort he has put in the Organization of this event which was noticeable since the very first moment we met 3 years ago. I’m sure we’ll have a great race and I want to express our pride to have this event in the MXGP calendar. We hope to be back here for many more years to come”