Honda World Motocross’s sole flag flier Evgeny Bobryshev put on a brave performance with the thumb injury sustained in yesterday’s pre-qualifying to go 6-6 for sixth overall at the final round of the MX1 World Championship season in Teutschenthal, Germany.
After a difficult day yesterday, in which Rui Gonçalves was ruled out of proceedings with pain from the fractured shoulder blade sustained two weeks ago and Bobryshev tore a ligament in his right thumb, the Russian pilot put on a commendable performance to conclude this year by battling through the pain barrier.
With a lot of swelling in the damaged area, which was making it difficult for Bobryshev to hold on to his factory CRF450R machine, the Honda star got a decent start to the opening moto today into eighth place, and rode a strong race to take sixth at the chequered flag.
In the second race of the day Bobryshev missed the gate and was around the top 20 going into the first corner, but with some incredible race-craft and clever moves, the Honda pilot was fifth by the third turn. Gautier Paulin passed him before the end of the opening lap, and although Bobryshev spent all race looking like he would be able to reclaim a top five finish, with the inability to push as hard as he would have liked, the gritty Russian took a strong sixth position for sixth overall.
It’s been a tough season for the Honda squad, but despite both riders missing races and suffering with injury at many of the events this year, Bobryshev concluded the championship in ninth place, with Gonçalves rounding out the top ten. The team will now head to the Motocross of Nations next weekend in Lommel, Belgium in the hope that both riders will be fit enough to race in the deep sand to compete for their country at this exciting team event that marks the end of the 2012 season.
Evgeny Bobryshev #777: 6thoverall
“This morning the thumb was still the same as yesterday, so I just had to see how it was going to be on the bike in warm-up. The painkillers made it a bit better, but I had a really tough time in the race, as I couldn’t grip properly. Every time I was entering the corner and braking, it was difficult because I had no power in my hand. I gritted my teeth and finished sixth. It's really difficult to pass at this track, so it was hard to make progress in either race. In the second heat I had a really bad start, but in the first few corners I saw a little bit of space and went for it. I knew Paulin was pushing me, and he came by, but I could stay with him. I was getting roosted and annoyed because the stones were hurting, so I was in a lot of pain all the race, but anyway we took sixth overall and moved up to ninth in the standings. I am happy we’re at the end of the season but not with the final result. I just want to start a new year after everything this year, with pain since Valkenswaard, missing training, coming back and then some injury again almost on repeat. I am tired with this, so I am really looking forward to getting to grips with my training, spending time with the team and starting again for next year. The last thing we have to do for this season is we to prepare for the Nations at Lommel which should be good. It’s a fun race and I like the sand.”
“This morning the thumb was still the same as yesterday, so I just had to see how it was going to be on the bike in warm-up. The painkillers made it a bit better, but I had a really tough time in the race, as I couldn’t grip properly. Every time I was entering the corner and braking, it was difficult because I had no power in my hand. I gritted my teeth and finished sixth. It's really difficult to pass at this track, so it was hard to make progress in either race. In the second heat I had a really bad start, but in the first few corners I saw a little bit of space and went for it. I knew Paulin was pushing me, and he came by, but I could stay with him. I was getting roosted and annoyed because the stones were hurting, so I was in a lot of pain all the race, but anyway we took sixth overall and moved up to ninth in the standings. I am happy we’re at the end of the season but not with the final result. I just want to start a new year after everything this year, with pain since Valkenswaard, missing training, coming back and then some injury again almost on repeat. I am tired with this, so I am really looking forward to getting to grips with my training, spending time with the team and starting again for next year. The last thing we have to do for this season is we to prepare for the Nations at Lommel which should be good. It’s a fun race and I like the sand.”
Lorenzo Resta: Honda World Motocross Team Manager
“First of all I want to express my thanks to Rui, as we’ve had two years together with a lot of great times. Now we turn the page and we are looking forward to the future. All things considered this was the only possible result for us here in Germany with Bobby’s injury. We cannot expect to be higher because of the luck we had, and he rode well, scoring a lot of points while managing with the pain. In the end we finished with both riders in the top ten of the World Championship, which in the middle of the season was looking really unlikely. Thanks must go to all of the team for their hard work, along with the sponsors, and we look forward to having some fun in Lommel next weekend.”
Roger Harvey: Honda Motor Europe Off-Road Manager
“In a way it’s ironic that we’ve ended the year on the same note as we started, with Bobby having a thumb injury, but to be honest that’s been the story of the season with one injury after another. It’s been very difficult to get momentum to push for the results we were hoping for coming into the year with this stop, start sequence of events. I am really pleased that despite all of the issues we’ve encountered with injuries, that the team has stayed positive and professional throughout the season. I’d like to thank everybody in the team, and of course our sponsors that have made it all possible.”
“In a way it’s ironic that we’ve ended the year on the same note as we started, with Bobby having a thumb injury, but to be honest that’s been the story of the season with one injury after another. It’s been very difficult to get momentum to push for the results we were hoping for coming into the year with this stop, start sequence of events. I am really pleased that despite all of the issues we’ve encountered with injuries, that the team has stayed positive and professional throughout the season. I’d like to thank everybody in the team, and of course our sponsors that have made it all possible.”
9/23/2012 9:27pm
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