What Russian doesn't like driving fast? All men, starting from an early age, dream first of a bicycle, then a moped and ultimately a car with which he will conquer the roads of the whole world. But the first love, and for most car enthusiasts the only one, remains for life. We are, of course, talking about motorcycles, with which almost every adult man begins his journey into the world of technology. We will learn about the lucky ones who manage to combine their love for speed, drive and motorcycles throughout their lives.
People who have left their mark on motorsports for all times and whom tens of millions of young men from all over the globe dream of being like. The most famous motorcycle racers in the history of the sport, information about their careers, achievements and results shown in sports arenas and tracks around the world. This list may look different for everyone. Our leaders are before you.
Giacomo Agostini (Italy)
Not only a wonderful motorcycle racer, but also one of the few people in the world who participates in Formula 1 racing, he was invited to take part in an exhibition race at the helm of a Williams team formula car. Over the course of his 17-year career, he achieved outstanding results in motorcycle racing. Agostini's titles speak for themselves: 311 victories in all competitions in which the “Divine Ago” took part. An unsurpassed record for the most Grand Prix wins for 38 years, the great Italian won in 122 starts.
It is impossible to count the number of different titles and prizes throughout Ago’s long career. National trophies stand out, of which there are 18 in Giacomo’s collection, and 15 world championships won by the strongest motorcycle racer in the history of the sport. The Italian finished his performances in 1977 on a track in England.
MOTORCYCLERS
In the history of the Great Patriotic War, motorcycle racing athletes stand apart. When talking about hero athletes, even in a purely automotive publication, it is impossible not to mention those who fought on the front line and whose efforts were one of the most important for the entire course of the war.
Many motorcyclists went to the front and joined the ranks of the active army in various specialties: signalmen and intelligence officers, artillerymen and drivers, but a large number of these athletes fought in detachments of the Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade for Special Purposes (OMSBON) and in motorcycle regiments. Fast, mobile, they took upon themselves to perform sometimes the most impossible tasks, and in the meantime the Moscow Automobile Club was training more and more new specialists. Many of them died in the first months, but those who survived were demobilized at the end of 1943, after a turning point in the war. This decision to recall all masters and honored masters of sports was made in order to preserve the country's best athletes.
Already in 1943, several motorsports competitions were held, including among racers in military units. Sports life began to gradually revive.
I will tell you about famous motorcycle racers who made the most significant contribution to the development of motorsports in the USSR.
Buchin Alexander Nikolaevich (02.02.1917 - 26.06.2009), Tula
Participant of the Finnish War, Great Patriotic War, holder of the Order of the Red Banner, Patriotic War, Red Star and other state awards. Master of Sports, three-time USSR record holder, champion of Moscow, prize-winner of the USSR Armed Forces Championship. Author of the book “17,000 kilometers with G.K. Zhukov.”
Alexander Buchin is a hereditary motorist. At the beginning of the 20th century, his father worked as a mechanic in France at the invitation of Peugeot and even took part in the Paris-Bordeaux race. His story became a good example for his sons.
After moving with his family to Moscow, Alexander Nikolaevich got a job as a driver in the NKVD and at the same time began to engage in motorsports in the Dynamo society. In 1938 he was called up for regular military service, and in 1940 he went as a driver to the Finnish War. He drove a unique cargo all-terrain vehicle ZIS-33 with skis on the front wheels and half-tracks on the rear.
After demobilization, he began to engage in motocross, showed good results, but at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War he was called up to the front.
Almost the entire war, Alexander Nikolaevich worked as a driver for Marshal Zhukov and went through all the battles with him all the way to the Reichstag.
After demobilization, he competed in motorsports and also worked as an instructor for the MVO Air Force team. In 1950, he was arrested as an associate of Zhukov, taken to the Lubyanka prison, and then repressed and sent to logging. In 1953 he was granted amnesty and rehabilitated.
Upon returning home, he got a job as a driver at Sovtransavto and retired only in 1992.
Buchin Sergey Nikolaevich (1909 - 06/13/1942), Tula
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Honored Master of Sports, champion and record holder of the USSR.
Sergei Nikolaevich is the elder brother of Alexander Buchin. In his youth, he worked as a postman on a motorcycle, then became a driver in one of the NKVD garages to be closer to technology.
In the pre-war years, he competed on a motorcycle specially designed for him by Oleg Kucherenko, and took part in numerous record-breaking races. In the winter of 1937, he came up with motorcycle competitions on the ice of the Dynamo stadium and participated in them. At the end of the races, he demonstrated an amazing trick for those times: he rode past the stands while standing on a motorcycle.
In the summer of 1937, he took part in the USSR motorsports championship and won the 300 km speed race. In the same year, he performed at the opening of the All-Union Parade of Athletes on Red Square.
Died on June 13, 1942 from injuries received in a car accident.
Gringaut Evgeniy Iosifovich (30.09.1915 - 28.03.1974), Moscow
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, partisan, holder of the Order of the Red Star. Honored Master of Sports, Honored Coach of the USSR, multiple champion of the USSR in motorsports, record holder. Author of the books “Motorcycle Circuit Racing”, “Fight for Speed”.
Even before the war, Evgeny Gringaut competed in motorcycle racing and in 1937 became the champion of the USSR in the 750 cm³ “National” class. He fought through the war as a partisan and was awarded the Order of the Red Star.
After the war he returned to motorsports. He competed in circuit motorcycle racing for the Labor Reserves society on BMW-R51, GMZ-M80, GME-M35 motorcycles.
Since 1946, he took part in linear and circuit racing, and repeatedly became the national champion in various classes.
Evgeny Gringaut in the summer of 1947 at the GMZ M-80 set a speed record in the USSR on an M-80 motorcycle without a fairing with a power of 40 hp. -172 km/h.
Karneev Vladimir Ivanovich (01/16/1913 - 11/28/2007), Saransk
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, participant in the Battle of Stalingrad and the defense of Moscow, holder of the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Coach of the USSR, six-time USSR champion in motocross, sports commentator. Author of many books about motorcycle racing.
In 1932, Vladimir Karneev graduated from the Moscow Road Mechanical College and studied in the motor section of the Lokomotiv society. In 1938, replacing one of the riders who dropped out of the competition due to injury, he won two races in a row, after which he became actively involved in motorsports. Since 1940 he played for Dynamo.
During his sports career, he competed in all disciplines of motorcycle racing: motocross, road linear and circuit racing, hippodrome, summer speedway, ice racing.
During the war, Karneev served as a liaison motorcyclist in a motor transport regiment. In 1943, after being wounded, he was sent to Moscow to create a team of athletes.
In 1949, he headed the Air Force motorcycle team, participated in competitions and studied at the Leningrad Military Institute of Physical Education and Sports at the department of motorsports. Engaged in design activities.
Since 1954, he worked as deputy chairman of the Moscow Motorsports Federation and the track committee of the Russian Motorcycle Federation. In the same year, he was appointed the first coach of the Russian motorsports team.
Kosmatov Evgeniy Stepanovich (28.08.1927 - ?), village. Staraya Tolovka, Penza region
Great Patriotic War participant, driver, signalman. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR. 11-time champion of the USSR on motorcycles with sidecars, two-time winner of the FIM International multi-day competitions.
After graduating from a factory school at the age of 17, Evgeny Kosmatov volunteered for the front. He was sent to the Minsk plant for the repair of military equipment, including motorcycles, where he learned to ride them.
Later, Kosmatov was transferred to a communications company, where he worked on a motorcycle with a sidecar, and then he found himself at the division headquarters under the command of Pavel Razzhivin, who became the senior coach of the Dynamo club after the war.
After demobilization, Evgeny Kosmatov begins to participate in numerous competitions both on single motorcycles and with a sidecar. In 1950 he won the Moscow championship and received the title of master of sports. Over the following years (1951–1961), Kosmatov won the national championships 11 times.
In 1965, Evgeniy Stepanovich heads a motorcycle team based at the Institute of Oil and Gas, which becomes one of the strongest in the class of motorcycles with sidecars. Subsequently, the Moscow national team under his leadership became a two-time champion of the USSR.
King Yuri Frantsevich (02/21/1921 - 01/30/2007), Moscow
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Honored Master of Sports, multiple champion of the USSR in motocross, veteran of OMSBON.
Yuri Korol was involved in motorsports even before the start of the war. In 1941, he volunteered for the front, went through the war in a separate special purpose motorized rifle battalion (OMSBON), and served as a signalman. At the end of the war he almost died of typhus.
After demobilization, he returned to motorsports, was actively involved in motocross, took part in various competitions, and became a multiple champion of the USSR in motocross.
Krasovsky Alexander Fedorovich (08/09/1908 - 06/29/1984), Moscow
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, 14-time champion of the Belarusian SSR in motorsports, bronze medalist of the 1958 USSR championship in circuit racing, master of sports in automobile and motorcycle sports.
Alexander Krasovsky was interested in technology from childhood and at the age of 14 he got a job in car repair shops. In 1934, he took part in motorcycle racing for the first time, organized by the Moscow Automobile Club. In 1937 he became the USSR champion in motorcycle ski jumping.
In 1941, immediately after the wedding, he was called up to the front in Bialystok, took part in the resistance, was wounded, captured, ended up in camps, escaped, and was recaptured. He was released only in 1945.
After the war, he stayed in Brest, headed a car and motorcycle club there and began training athletes. Alexander Fedorovich himself participated in almost all competitions, becoming a silver medalist at the USSR Championship; He won the championships of the Byelorussian SSR in various types of motorsports 14 times. Received the title of Master of Sports.
In 1956 he switched to auto racing, building cars of his own design, in which he competed. In 1958 he became a bronze medalist at the USSR Championship and received the title of Master of Sports in motor sports. In subsequent years, he competes in various classes of cars - from the Junior formula to karting and touring cars, but after an accident on the Nevsky Ring, he stops participating in racing. Then he was involved in organizing automobile competitions, including the “star start” of the Monte Carlo Rally in Minsk.
Ozolina Irina Yanisovna (08/31/1917 - 07/06/1983), Petrograd
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, 18-time USSR champion in motorsports, multiple USSR record holder, prize-winner of international competitions.
Irina Yanisovna graduated from the cinematography department of GITIS, where she learned to ride a motorcycle. During the war, she worked in the rear at a motor repair plant.
After the resumption of motorsports competitions in 1944, she participated in the USSR motocross championship. She took her first USSR motocross champion title in the class up to 350 cm³ in 1945 and held it until 1952.
Irina Ozolina is a multiple USSR record holder, winner of numerous road racing and motocross competitions among women in the class of motorcycles up to 350 cm³, and prize-winner of many international competitions.
In 1957, she joined the DSO Dynamo and was engaged in coaching. Later she was invited to MADI to practice motorsports and created a team that became the winner of various competitions.
Shakhmatov Fedor Vladimirovich (07.11.1923 - 05.10.2002), Odessa
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, 15-time champion of the USSR and Ukraine in motorsports, honored coach of Ukraine and Belarus.
He received his license to drive a motorcycle even before the war and at the age of 16 became the winner of the Odessa-Nikolaev motorcycle rally.
At the very beginning of the war, Fyodor Shakhmatov volunteered to go to the front - to the commandant company of the headquarters of the Separate Primorsky Army, which defended Odessa. Fedor was called the “flying messenger” - on his “Red October” motorcycle.
After the war, he received the title of master of sports and became a teacher at a driving school in Odessa. In 1950, he received an offer to try himself in the “Ball of Courage” attraction, where he raced inside a huge mesh ball on a motorcycle. Shakhmatov continued to perform many dangerous stunts after that, including descending the Potemkin Stairs on a motorcycle.
Later, Fedor Vladimirovich was invited to become the chief motorcycle tester at the Serpukhov Motorcycle Plant in Moscow. By this time, he was already the champion of the region, Ukraine and the USSR in motorcycle sports.
Shakhmatov became the person who delivered Nikita Khrushchev a gift - a motorcycle - from the German Chancellor, and he also taught the Secretary General to ride it.
In 1963, Fedor Shakhmatov took part in the first karting championship of the Soviet Union. During his life, he became a 15-time champion of the USSR and Ukraine in motorsports, a master of sports of the USSR in karting, a multiple champion of international championships, a member of the country's speedway team, a prize-winner in ice karting, a parachutist, a glider pilot, and a cycling enthusiast.
Fyodor Vladimirovich played two film roles: a postman in the film “Timur and His Team” (1976) and a racer in the film “Stories about Keshka and His Friends” (1974). He was Oleg Strizhenov's understudy in the film "Dead Loop".
Here are other names of famous motorcyclists - heroes of the Great Patriotic War: Mikhail Gromykhalin, Viktor Kulakov, Nikolai Shumilkin, Alexander Novikov, Vladimir Ozerevsky, Yuri Khristoforov, Alexander Razorenov, Boris Gerolsky, Vasily Pavlov, Pyotr Gusakov, Andrey Ivanenko, Stepan Abramov, Yuri Abramov , Pavel Sevastyanov, Pavel Baranov, Mikhail Filin, Raul Gubaidulin, Lidiya Sviridova, Ara Tumanyan and others.
We won't forget you!
Valentino Rossi (Italy)
The symbol of modern motorsport, the Italian with the sonorous nickname “Doctor” has been shining on the racing horizon for 19 years. During his long career, Rossi won 111 victories and scored more than 5,000 championship points, which is two thousand points more than his closest pursuer. Holder of a huge number of impressive records and titles. The nine-time king of the racing tracks is a world champion, the first motorcycle racer who was able to win in all currently available super class levels. And now, at a fairly advanced age for a racer, he has not lost his thirst for fight and victories, continuing his unique career.
Michael Duane (Australia)
The Australian is one of the brightest athletes in motorcycle racing of the late 20th century. Over the course of 10 years in big-time sports, he became a five-time winner of the world championships. During his career he won 54 victories and finished in the top three 95 times. His career began and ended at the Japanese Grand Prix, only between these starts ten years of struggle, racing, defeats and victories passed, both in life and sports.
Top 10 best motorcycle racers in the world
High speed, roar of the engine and no obstacles: only the wind ahead. A motorcycle gives you an incomparable feeling of freedom and flight. Some young men fall so in love with this feeling that they decide to link their fate with bikes forever. And they become legends for decades.
1Giacomo Agostini
He competed for 17 years. During this time, he accumulated 311 victories in competitions at various levels. Of these, 122 were “gold” at the Grand Prix. This record remains unsurpassed to this day. He also has 15 victories at the world championships in road racing. In addition to the motorcycle racer, Giacomo Agostini acted as a pilot in Formula 1 races.
2Valentino Rossi
Another famous Italian. Over the years of performances, the athlete won the world championships 9 times. Took first places in all super class competitions. Thanks to his skill, he earned the honorary nickname “Doctor.” Currently he competes for the Yamaha team, consistently finishes well, although he is at an advanced age for a racer. Russia has over 100 victories to his name.
3Michael Hailwood
An athlete who successfully competed in car and motorcycle racing. He became the world champion in motorcycle road racing 9 times, competed as a pilot in Formula 1 and one of the toughest races - the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 41. Although, perhaps, he could still win more than one victory on a bike or car.
4Michael Duane
This representative of Australia became one of the brightest and most memorable motorcycle racing events of the last century.
Over 10 years of performances, Duen managed to win 54 victories. He began and ended his career at the Japanese Grand Prix. 5 Eddie Lawson
Lawson always followed the principle: only victory.
And he won everywhere he performed. However, due to his short career, he did not have time to fully reveal his talent. Therefore, the result is somewhat more modest than that of their predecessors: 4 gold medals at the world championships. 6Angel Nieto
The Spaniard began his professional career at the age of 17. He performed for 22 years. During this time, he managed to become a 13-time world champion, and in total he managed to win 90 victories. Long-term successful performances made Angel a real legend of the sport.
7John Surtees
The Briton is the only rider who managed to become a winner in both the world motorcycle racing championships and the Formula 1 Grand Prix. On a bike he conquered championships 7 times, while driving a car he won gold 1 time.
8Stefan Everts
Motorcycle racing is a family hobby for the Everts. Stefan's father was also a professional motorcycle racer, but his son managed to get out of his shadow and surpass him in all respects. Stefan was one of the youngest world champions - he first lifted the gold cup at 19 years old. He repeated this success 9 more times over a 20-year career. Now Stefan’s son is growing up, it is possible that the boy will continue to glorify the Everts family in the sports field.
9Marc Marquez
One of the current legends of motorsports. At 26 years old, the Spaniard has already become a 7-time world champion and is confidently moving towards further victories. If we take into account that riders end their careers at the age of about 40, then there is a high probability that he will “pull” the great Ago from first place, surpass the Italian in all respects and become the greatest motorcycle racer of all time.
10Jorge Lorenzo
A Spaniard who, at the age of 32, managed to win 5 gold medals at the world championships. Lorenzo rides for the Honda team. His career is in full swing, perhaps we will see him on the podium more than once.
Mike Hailwood (Great Britain) (1940-1981)
The legendary Englishman Hailwood burst into the elite of the national championship, and with it the world motorcycle racing, in just one year. He was a racing driver, winning nine motorcycle racing titles. In his career, he was the first to cross the finish line 76 times, and in total he was on the podium 112 times. But this seemed not enough to him, and Mike set off to conquer the vast expanses of motorsport and immediately into the top league of these competitions, Formula 1. The Briton did not get lost in motorsport and took part in 50 formula Grand Prix. A champion by nature, Hailwood could have achieved much more, both in sports and in life, if not for the accident that ended his life at forty-one.
MotoGP
I was never interested in the question of who the most titled racer in the world is.
We all know Valentino Rossi, but even such a great man, a living legend, is far from the first line. I found a list of the most decorated drivers who participated in races under the leadership of the FIM federation. This includes road racing, motocross, trials, enduro and track racing. 1. Giacomo Agostini (Italy) - 15 Grand Prix titles • 7 in 350cc (1968-1974) • 8 in 500cc (1966-1972, 1975)
2. Angel Nieto (Spain) - 13 titles in Grand Prix racing • 6 in 50cc (1969, 1970, 1972, 1975-1977) • 7 in 125cc (1971, 1972, 1979, 1981-1984)
3. Juha Salminen (Finland) - 12 Enduro titles • 2 in 125cc (1999, 2000) • 1 in 250cc (2001) • 1 in 400cc (2002) • 1 in over 500cc (2003) • 1 in E2 (2004) • 1 in E1 (2007) • 5 in general class (2000 - 2004)
4. Mike Hailwood (Great Britain) - Grand Prix, TTF-1 - 10 titles • 3 in 250cc (1961, 1966, 1967) • 2 in 350cc (1966, 1967) • 4 in 500cc (1962-1965) • 1 in TTF-1 (1978)
5. Stefan Everts (Belgium) - Motocross, 10 titles • 1 in 125cc (1991) • 3 in 250cc (1995-1997) • 2 in 500cc (2001, 2002) • 4 in MX1 (2003-2006)
6. Valentino Rossi (Italy) - Grand Prix, 9 titles • 1 in 125cc (1997) • 1 in 250cc (1999) • 1 in 500cc (2001) • 6 in MotoGP (2002-2005, 2008, 2009)
7. Carlo Ubbiali (Italy) - Grand Prix, 9 titles • 6 in 125cc (1951, 1955, 1956, 1958-1960) • 3 in 250cc (1956, 1959, 1960)
8. Ivan Mauger (New Zealand) - Speedway, Long Track - 9 titles • 6 at Speedway (1968 - 1970, 1972, 1977, 1979) • 3 at Long Track (1971, 1972, 1976)
9. Phil Read (Great Britain) - Grand Prix, TTF-1 - 8 titles • 4 in 250cc (1964, 1965, 1968, 1971) • 1 in 125cc (1968) • 2 in 500cc (1973, 1974) • 1 in TTF-1 (1977)
10. Dougie Lampkin (Great Britain) - trial, 8 titles • 7 in Trial (1997-2003) • 1 in Indoor Trial (2001)
11. Gerd Riss (Germany) - Long Track, 8 titles • 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007 - 2009
12. John Surtees (Great Britain) - Grand Prix, 7 titles • 4 in 500cc (1956, 1958 - 1960) • 3 in 350cc (1958 - 1960)
13. Rolf Biland (Switzerland) - Grand Prix, 7 titles • Sidecar (1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1992 - 1994)
14. Carl Fogarty (Great Britain) - SBK, Endurance, TTF-1 - 7 titles • 4 in Superbike (1994, 1995, 1998, 1999) • 1 in Endurance (1992) • 2 in TTF-1 (1988, 1989)
15. Daniel Willemsen (Netherlands) - Sidecar Motocross, 7 titles • 7 in Sidecar MX (1999, 2003 - 2008)
16. Toni Bou (Spain) - Trial, Indoor Trial, 7 titles • 3 in Tria (2007 - 2009) • 4 in Indoor Trial (2007 - 2010)
17. Jordi Tarres (Spain) - Trial, 7 titles • 7 in Trial (1987, 1989 - 1991, 1993 to 1995)
18. Kari Tiainen (Finland) - Enduro, 7 titles • 2 in 250cc (1990, 1991) • 1 in 1250cc (1992) • 4 in 500cc (1994, 1995, 1997, 2000)
19. Anders Ericsson (Sweden) - Enduro - 7 titles • 2 in 350cc (1995, 1996) • 4 in 500cc (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002) • 1 in 400cc (2003)
20. Geoff Duke (Great Britain) - Grand Prix, 6 titles • 2 in 350cc (1951, 1952) • 4 in 500cc (1951, 1953 - 1955)
21. Jim Redman (Rhodesia) - Grand Prix, 6 titles • 2 in 250cc (1962, 1963) • 4 in 350cc (1962 - 1965)
22. Klaus Enders (Germany) - Grand Prix, 6 titles • 6 in Sidecar (1967, 1969, 1970, 1972-974)
23. Joel Robert (el Robert, Belgium) - Motocross, 6 titles • 6 in 250cc (1964, 1968 - 1972)
24. Adam Raga (Spain) - Trial, Indoor Trial, 6 titles • 4 in Indoor Trial (2003 - 2006) • 2 in Trial (2005, 2006)
25. Giovanni Sala (Italy) - Enduro, 6 titles • 1 in 500cc (1993) • 2 in over 175cc (1994, 1995) • 1 in two-stroke 250cc (1998) • 1 in the general class (1998) • 1 in 400cc (1999)
26. Tony Rickardsson (Sweden) - Speedway, 6 titles • 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005
27. Nikolay Krasnikov (Russia) - Ice racing, 6 titles • 2005 - 2010
28. Mick Duane (Michael Doohan, Australia) - Grand Prix, 5 titles • 5 in 500cc (1994 - 1998)
29. Anton Mang (Germany) - Grand Prix, 5 titles • 3 in 250cc (1980, 1981, 1987) • 2 in 350cc (1981, 1982)
30. Stephen Webster (Great Britain) - Grand Prix, 5 titles • 5 in sidecar racing (1987 - 1989, 1991, 2003)
31. Joey Dunlop (Great Britain) - TTF-1, 5 titles • 1982 - 1986
32. Roger de Coste (Belgium) - Motocross - 5 titles • 5 in 500cc (1971 - 1973, 1975, 1976)
33. Roger DeCoster (Belgium) - Motocross, 5 titles • 2 in 250cc (1980, 1983) • 3 in 500cc (1987, 1991, 1992)
34. Georges Jobé (Belgium) - Motocross, 5 titles • 2 in 250cc (1980, 1983) • 3 in 500cc (1987, 1991, 1992)
35. Eric Geboers (Belgium) - Motocross, 5 titles • 2 in 125cc (1982, 1983) • 1 in 250cc (1987) • 2 in 500cc (1988, 1990)
36. Joël Smets (Belgium) - Motocross, 5 titles • 5 in 500cc (1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003)
Eddie Lawson (USA)
Lawson's career was not very long, but very fruitful with all kinds of victories and trophies. Eddie is the winner of four championship titles in motorcycle racing, winner of thirty-one Grand Prix stages. The American ended his racing career too early at the age of 34; if he had continued his performances, he undoubtedly could have won more than one trophy for his personal museum. His credo not only in sports, but also in life: only victory, second place is not for him.
Angel Nieto (Spain)
The Spaniard spent 22 long years on the race tracks of the world; his career began at the dawn of motorcycle racing in 1964, when the future legend of the sport was only 17 years old. During his career, Angel managed to win 12 championship titles, score 90 victories and reach the podium 139 times. He has 1,782 points earned throughout his glorious career. The last time Nieto got behind the wheel of a racing motorcycle was on a track in Germany in 1986. Having completed active performances at the age of 39.
Stefan Everts (Belgium)
A follower of his father, also motorcycle racer Harry Everts. Stefan surpassed the achievements of his dad by becoming a ten-time winner of the world motocross championships. He first became a champion at the young age of nineteen, and only won the world crown 10 times and won 101 races . The Belgian ended his glorious career at the age of thirty-four, after which he did not abandon his life’s passion for motorsports. He was directly involved in the creation of a new racing motorcycle. He is preparing a little son - the new champion of the Everts family, the successor of the family business and perhaps the superstar of future motocross competitions.
FUNCTIONARIES
We can talk a lot about the racers and record holders who became the main characters on the race tracks of the world. But there were other people - they completely helped them in this and almost always ended up behind the scenes. These are the organizers, coaches, judges, scientists who created the conditions for victories and records. When talking about the history of motorsport in the USSR, it is impossible not to pay tribute to them - and the athletes themselves always mentioned that their achievements would have been impossible without these people.
Afanasyev Leonid Leonidovich (08/13/1912 - 07/05/1982), Krasnoyarsk
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, scientist in the field of automotive industry, chairman of the USSR Automobile Sports Federation, vice-president of the FIA, Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the RSFSR, rector of MADI.
Before World War II, Leonid Afanasyev participated in expeditions as a worker. In 1931, he left for Moscow and entered MADI, while simultaneously working as a driver, then as a supervisor.
Since 1934, Afanasyev began to take an active part in various automotosports events and was the head of the auto section of the USSR Automoto Club. He worked as a judge in competitions and also as a member of the technical commission.
After graduating from the institute, he passed the candidate minimum in the discipline “Operation of Motor Transport” and was enrolled as an assistant at the department.
During the Great Patriotic War, he served in the Military Road Administration and was engaged in transportation along the “Road of Life”. Since the fall of 1943, Leonid Leonidovich Afanasyev became deputy head of the mechanization department of the DSU of the Main Road Directorate of the Soviet Army.
After the war, Afanasyev returned to MADI and in 1961 was appointed rector of the institute, where he served until 1982. As rector, he organized the Sports Car Laboratory, then created the MADI Training and Research Center. Thanks to him, MADI representatives began to compete in various competitions using MADI racing equipment, taking prizes.
Leonid Afanasyev was the chairman of the Scientific Council on the problem of “Road Safety” of the State Committee on Science and Technology under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, and during his life he published about 300 scientific papers.
Byuler Igor Vladimirovich (08.11.1922 - 04.09.2012), pos. Raivola, Vyborg province
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, holder of the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree, awarded the medals “For Military Merit” and “For the Defense of Leningrad.” Master of Sports, All-Union category judge, coach, organizer of sporting events.
He played for DSO Spartak, then became a coach, senior coach. He was appointed deputy chairman of the Leningrad Motorsports Federation. He made a huge contribution to the development of motorsports in the USSR.
At the age of 17, Igor Buhler already received a driver's license and began teaching motorcycle mechanics, while at the same time working as a motorcycle breaker at the Leningrad Motorcycle Plant. He first took part in motocross competitions on June 22, 1941, after which he volunteered for the front. He went through the entire war as a driver, and until 1953 he continued to serve at the Military Transport Academy, where he created and headed a motorcycle section, worked as a coach and judge of competitions.
After demobilization, he worked at the Spartak community center and the Leningrad Automobile Club.
Igor Vladimirovich was the organizer, commander and chief judge of the first rallies in the USSR; in 1956 he was appointed responsible for holding the country's first international motorsports competitions on the Nevsky Ring. Bühler is one of the initiators of the construction of the country's first Leningrad motorcycle track and the creation of Leningrad racing cars. Trained over 40 masters of sports.
In 1997, he participated in the creation of the Council of Motorsport Veterans of St. Petersburg and was its chairman.
Gusteshov Varlen Dmitrievich (03/18/1929 - 12/12/2004), Tulchin, Vinnytsia region
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, holder of the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree. Honored Trainer of the USSR, judge of the All-Union category, Chairman of the All-Union Committee and the Moscow Karting Committee. He worked as a coach for the Moscow karting team.
At the age of 13, Varlen Gusteshov escaped from evacuation in Tashkent to the front with his father, fought with him as a “son of the regiment”, and received awards for military actions. After the war he was sent to the military school of the Supreme Council.
Since childhood, Varlen loved technology, knew how to ride a motorcycle, and after the war he went to competitions as a coach in hippodrome motorcycle racing. Since the 50s, he took part in refereeing activities and supervised the direction of karting. Later he was elected chairman of the Moscow Karting Committee and remained in this position for a long time.
In the 90s, he made every effort to support motorsport in Moscow and continued to organize competitions.
Marzhetsky Viktor Vladislavovich (02/17/1912 - 1988), St. Petersburg
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, winner of many military awards. Judge of the All-Union category, served as deputy head of the technical sports department in the Central Committee of DOSAAF of the USSR, executive secretary of the national federation. One of the first representatives of the USSR in the FIA, an honorary member of the FIA.
Victor Marzhetsky grew up under the influence of such St. Petersburg racers as Nagel, Ovsyannikov and others. During World War II he became a professional military man and rose to the rank of colonel. After the war, he worked on the commission for the removal of captured property, including from German motorcycle and automobile factories. It was Marzhetsky who brought 18 Auto-Union cars to the USSR.
After the war, Viktor Vladislavovich took an active part in organizing races to set records, including the “Star” races, was involved in judging, and received an all-Union category. Marzhetsky considered karting one of the most important areas in motorsport and made every effort to develop it.
Viktor Marzhetsky became one of the first representatives of the USSR in the International Automobile Federation and was elected its honorary member along with Juan Manuel Fangio, Louis Chiron and others.
Sokolova Tatyana Ivanovna (born 07/05/1928), Moscow
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, judge of the all-Union category, chairman of the rally committee of the FAS USSR, chairman of the panel of judges. Currently, Tatyana Ivanovna heads the RAF Veterans Council.
Tatyana Ivanovna was 12 years old when the war began. Her father was a military pilot, and she and her mother were sent to evacuation, where Tanya helped the wounded in the hospital - in a ward for the disabled without arms and legs.
After the war, Tatyana received her license at the age of 17 and began to help organize competitions. In 1953 she graduated from Moscow Higher Technical School. Bauman and was assigned to the Institute. Kurchatova. In the same year, she took part in organizing a car rally, which became her first serious event.
Since then, Tatyana Ivanovna has worked as a judge at many all-Union and international competitions in automobile and motorcycle sports, and received the title of judge of the all-Union category. One of the important pages of Tatyana Ivanovna’s biography was her work as a liquidator after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
From 1996 to the present, Tatyana Sokolova has headed the Council of Veterans of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF).
Sochnov Karl Vladimirovich (06/29/1926 - 02/10/2010), Uman, Ukrainian SSR
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree and the Red Star. Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Trainer of the USSR, Candidate of Technical Sciences, author of the book “Steep Roads of Rally”.
At the front, Karl Sochnov was a military driver. In August 1944 he was wounded, after the hospital he retrained as a tank driver, reached Berlin and on May 8 received a second wound. In 1950 he was demobilized and immediately entered the Moscow Aviation Institute. After graduating from college, I started rallying for the first time.
In 1962, Sochnov entered the automobile rally section of the Moscow Automobile Club and two years later won the title of Moscow champion. From 1964 to 1974, Karl Vladimirovich competed in the USSR national rally team, and later worked as a coach there.
In 1970, he became the head of the Soviet sports delegation in the London-Mexico City rally marathon and took part in the marathon in a crew with Ivan Astafiev.
It was with the light hand of Karl Sochnov that the now well-known speed transcript was introduced into the domestic rally.
Chertov Roman Alexandrovich (12/27/1916 - 09/06/1975), Moscow
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, master of sports, honored coach of the USSR. He competed for DSO "Trud" (Moscow), USSR rally champion in the "Moskvich" class.
Roman Aleksandrovich began working at AZLK, back when the plant was called MZMA. He became the founder of the plant’s sports department, knew all the athletes, and himself competed in many competitions. But he became most widely known precisely as the coach of the MZMA and AZLK rally teams, the Russian rally team. They say he simply had a gift for coaching. His Team Union team took part in international competitions: London - Mexico City, London - Sydney, Nigeria Rally, Tour of Europe, Thousand Lakes and many others - and the riders always returned with awards.
Roman Chertov acted as a consultant on the set of the film “Racers”.
Fomin Gennady Petrovich (06/04/1919 - 02/03/2010)
A participant in the Great Patriotic War, he served in the school of military mountaineering and skiing, and was awarded the medals “For the Defense of the Caucasus” and “For the Defense of Moscow.” Master of Sports, Honored Trainer of the USSR, International Judge. Two-time champion of the USSR in road-circuit motorcycle racing. Athlete, coach, referee, organizer of sporting events.
Before the war, he began as a motorcycle racer, then was the head coach of the CSKA motorsport team. He worked as the head coach of the USSR in motorcycle sports, including at the world championships in speedway and ice racing, and trained more than 50 masters of sports. He headed the CSKA motorcycle team.
Member of the track commission of the International Motorcycle Federation.
Gennady Petrovich Fomin is well known to motorsports fans as a commentator on radio, television and race tracks. His voice resonated throughout the country.
I thank the Committee on the History of Motorsport of the Russian Automobile Federation and personally Dmitry Brovkin and Alexander Matveev, as well as all participants in the Internet community “Auto Moto Sports in the USSR” for their help in preparing the material.
Marc Marquez (Spain)
A new trend in motorcycle racing is represented by a young and early Spaniard. It is he who replaces the old champions and idols for motorcycle racing fans. Despite the fact that Marquez is only twenty-two years old, he can already boast of four world champion titles and this is only at the beginning of his path to the top of the sport. It's hard to imagine how many titles he can win during his career if he continues to collect trophies at this rate. Mark scored 44 victories in 113 races in which he took part. In total, during his career he earned 1,717 points and finished on the podium 68 times. The name Marc Márquez is already ringing loudly on the race tracks. Maybe in the future he will become the greatest athlete who has ever sat behind the wheel of an iron horse.
