Evgeny Bobryshev is hungry for more!
If there was a prize for fighting spirit in MXGP, Evgeny Bobryshev would be a leading candidate for the winner. Bobby grabbed his chance with both hands when BOS GP offered him the opportunity to ride GPs. Despite his engine in development, Bobryshev has become a permanent fixture in the top 10.
A series of top 10 places, with an outlier of 8th place in Portugal and with the prospect of a top 10 in the final standings. Given the circumstances, ex-GP winner Evgeny Bobryshev can present a nice trajectory. Although it uses a completely new BOS suspension and an almost standard Suzuki RMZ-450.
From 2011 to 2017, the Russian worked as a factory rider for Honda. For a long time there seemed to be no place in the MXGP for Bobby in 2018 until BOS GP owner Olivier Bossard gave him the opportunity to fill in for Benoit Paturel.
“It was a big change for me,” says the former Dutch MX1 champion. “I would say we are at 80% with the engine. The chassis works well, but we are still adapting to all the different types of tracks. Because we have not been able to test much this year, we simply do not have much information yet. So every weekend we adapt and try to get the best feeling possible. The suspension is good. It's sensitive, so we just need to test more. “
The sporting weight of BOS GP has largely fallen on the shoulders of Evgeny Bobryshev due to the persistent injuries of former MX2 world champion Jordi Tixier. However, the Frenchman rides a KTM while Bobby uses a Suzuki. This is an additional challenge for the team, but it gives the French suspension manufacturer optimal suspension technology.
The biggest obstacle for Bobryshev is the lack of power. “The engine is a bit of a problem. I don't have enough horsepower to be able to compete well at the start. And in some places I try to compensate in the first laps,” he explains. “Sometimes that's just not possible and if you have to start outside the top 10, it is very difficult to come back. Especially if you are short on power. Everything else is going well. We work well together, the team is of course also new and it is difficult to take big steps right away.”
Bobryshev rides one of the rare Suzukis in the World Cup since the factory team was disbanded at the end of last year. Despite his profile and the performance he already showed on the RM-Z, this has little influence on the manufacturer. “The engine block is not completely standard, but it leans close to it. The team is in contact with Suzuki, but it is all taking too long,” Evgeny explains. “We have received some parts, but to make real progress, more is needed. I'm not too happy to be riding for eighth place, even though the competition is so strong. My goal is the top 5.”
However, it is highly questionable whether Bobby will still achieve his goal this year. Not only because of his disability in terms of ability, but also because of the knee injury he sustained. The BOS GP rider damaged the ligaments in his left knee in Indonesia. He also fell hard in Loket after a questionable action by Tommy Searle. However, anyone who doubted the physical preparedness of the tough Bobryshev was punished during the British Championship in Duns. The sympathetic Russian won the only heat on a very difficult, muddy track.
Tekst: Adam Wheeler, Tom Jacobs
Photos: BOS GP, Raph Sauze, Benjamin D'Introne, Jey Crunch
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