Orlyonok welcomes MXGP for the MXGP of Russia.
MXGP is ready for race action, following a day full of festivities that welcomed the FIM Motocross World Championship to Orlyonok, as MXGP of Russia kicks off the 2021 season with a bang.
Today’s activities started this morning with the Opening Press Conference where Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, FIM President Jorge Viegas and the Organizer of the MXGP of Russia and MFR President Federation Alexander Dzheus welcomed everybody to the Orlyonok circuit for the opening round of 2021. The press conference started with a presentation video showing some of the best moments from the 2020 season and also looked at some of the statistics of the previous season, showcasing the success of MXGP on social media and TV Coverage and the numbers reached with the MXGP Magazine as well as MXGP.com and MXGP-TV!
Infront Moto Racing President, David Luongo: „It’s fantastic for us to be back after all those months. I think when everybody looked at the calendar it was very challenging for us again to make the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship. I just want to say a few words on last year because it’s important to remind everybody how difficult the year was for all of us, the teams, the riders, the federations and the promotor and during such a time it was very important for us to be there and to guarantee that the championship would be possible, it was our mission last season to deliver the best championship possible and at the end we managed to do it and we crowned two fantastic champions. I would like to thank you for all your help last year and I hope we can manage to have a great season again this year. So, we are here in Krasnodar for the opening of the MXGP World Championship, it’s very good to be here again and I have to say that we are always very welcome as the support for the GP is fantastic here. Yesterday we were present with FIM President Jorge Viegas and Aleksander Dzheus we were welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia to make a plan to develop motocross in Russia. For us it is also something very important to have such support from the authorities to develop the sport. For the rest of the season, I think everybody saw that it will be a challenging one, we are adapting still to the situation but I’m sure we can deliver a great season. I really want to thank all of you that you are here and you continue to help us to deliver the best motocross series in the world – the media, the teams, the riders, the team managers, the partners, everybody that has been linked with us through this difficult time. I wish to thank the FIM because after all the challenges that we had the last months, they were always with us and there to help us through all our decisions and in a difficult time this is very important. To all the riders, I wish you all a great and safe season and for sure we’ll deliver a fantastic championship. Thank you and good luck!“
FIM President, Jorge Viegas: „It’s a pleasure for me to be in Orlyonok for many reasons. Russia is the country of motocross; the first time I saw a Motocross Grand Prix was in ’72 and the winner was the great Russian champion Moisseev. As David Luongo said we stick together and we’re working to find the best solution so I’m sure the 2021 season will be very successful. Last year it was really difficult for everybody but at the end the result was great after all, and I hope we can all be together at the FIM Gala at the end of the year in Monte Carlo where we’ll have prize giving of World Champions of 2020 and 2021. Finally, I can only wish to Infront Moto Racing that everything will be smooth, and they’ll be able to do the 19 races planned. For sure FIM will be side by side with Infront to support each other to support them. Thank you very much“.
President of the MFR and Organizer of the MXGP of Russia Alexander Dzheus: „We are happy to welcome David Luongo and Jorge Viegas and also it is a huge privilege and a big responsibility for us to host the opening round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. We have tried to organise everything in the best way possible and we ensured that everything goes as smoothly as possible. We are in discussion with the government and the local authorities, along with the FIM and Infront Moto Racing, to develop the motorcycling sport in Russia, it is very important for us to host the MXGP and it is our intention to host the Junior Motocross World Championship in the future. I am a rider and a fan of motocross and I would like to say how much we appreciate the trust to open the season in Orlyonok, we are ready to do everything we can to make it amazing! Thank you very much.“
Following the press conference, the usual FIM briefing took place with the Team Managers of the World Championship teams, to go through the rules and regulations for the upcoming season.
Then it was time for the special edition of the Studio Show LIVE with Paul Malin and 16 guests, which included Team HRC’s Tim Gajser, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle, Jeffrey Herlings, Antonio Cairoli and Jorge Prado, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer and Glenn Coldenhoff, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MX2’s Jago Geerts and Thibault Benistant, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton, Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass, SDMCORSE’s Jeremy Van Horebeek, DIGA PROCROSS GASGAS FACTORY RACING’s Isak Gifting and F&H Racing Team’s Roan Van De Moosdijk – which was broadcasted on MXGP-TV.com and MXGP’s Facebook page.
The day continued with the annual family photo, as the MXGP and MX2 riders gathered onto the start line for the occasion together with MXGP and FIM representatives. It was also the first chance for everyone to be back together after the off-season break.
The event was then finished off with a colourful opening ceremony, featuring traditional dance performances by Orlyonok children’s centre along with a special welcome where the officials on stage Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, FIM President Jorge Viegas and the Organizer of the MXGP of Russia and MFR President Federation Alexander Dzheus took part to a typical moment called ‘Bread & Salt’. The ceremony moved on to a warm speech by the officials and a photo opportunity at the end with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini, Team Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing’s Brent Van doninck, Calvin Vlaanderen and Kevin Strijbos, WZ-Racing’s Bastian Bogh Damm and local hero JWR HONDA RACING’s Vsevolod Brylyakov.
Now with the opening events done and dusted, it is time to focus on tomorrow’s races as we begin another exciting season of racing!
Make sure you tune in this Sunday on http://www.mxgp-tv.com/ to find out who comes out on top!
Text/Bild: Infront Moto Racing