Rui on his red return

The Honda World Motocross are in action once more this weekend as
the team contest their last competitive meeting before the MX1 World Championship begins in Sevlievo, Bulgaria on the 9-10 April. 

Racing in the 4^th
and final round of the Italian Championship in Odolo, Rui Gonçalves and
Evgeny Bobryshev will be looking to build momentum which they can carry
into the start of their 2011 world championship campaign.

Evgeny
Bobryshev is familiar with the Honda CRF450R, having ridden for the CAS
Honda team in 2010. Bobby (as he is known in the paddock) has carried
his impressive form from last season into his pre-season preparations,
which included an excellent overall win in Faenza last week.

For
Rui Gonçalves, joining the Honda World Motocross team represents a
return to the manufacturer with which he raced in the early part of his
career.  Although Rui has ridden 450s in the
past, this season will be the first time he has ridden 450cc machinery
for an entire championship campaign at MX1 World Championship level.

We
caught up with Rui to find out his thoughts on coming back to Honda,
his feelings towards his new team mate, Evgeny Bobryshev, and how he is
making the transition to the 450.

You rode with Honda in the early part of your career, how do you feel about returning?
It
is good to be back with Honda, it really feels like in many ways I am
coming home.  I competed in many national championship races from
1997-2000 in Portugal with Honda and had a great deal of success. I
developed a good relationship with Honda Portugal and when I came back
to the manufacturer, most of the original people who supported my
career were still working for Honda Portugal, so it was almost like I
never left.

Have you developed a good connection with the team since joining the official Honda outfit
for
2011?
I
have known Paolo Martin (Team Owner) for many years, so I have a good
relationship with him. I made a race appearance for the team in 2001,
so I also know a few of the original team members. Lorenzo Resta (Team
Manager) was not there in 2001 but since joining the team full time I
have developed a close relationship with him also. There is a good
atmosphere within the team, so I feel comfortable in this working
environment.

How have you been adapting to riding the 450, having previously ridden a 250 and then 350?
I
have raced with a 450 before but never a full championship and the last
Honda I rode wasn’t even a 4-stroke! So there have been a lot of
elements to adapt to. The main difference is power delivery, the 450
has more torque and a more linear power curve. The 350 you had to ride
hard and with a lot of RPM but the 450 is easier to ride smoothly,
using the torque and punching out of corners. Also the Aluminium frame
of the Honda provides a different feel. It is a very strong package all
round.

The Honda is regarded as one of the lightest bikes in its class. What effect does this have on handling?
The
CRF is very manoeuvrable and agile and it terms of feel it does not
really feel any heavier or bigger than the 350 I rode last year. The
350 looked light because it was all about keeping your corner speed
high and maintaining
momentum but the 450 can be ridden in a different way, using the power
a lot more and taking alternative lines.  The chassis of the Honda is
really sweet and the Showa suspension is working really well also.

What do you think about your team mate Evgeny?
Before
we came together in the Honda World Motocross team I did not really
know Evgeny at all but he is a really good guy and fun to work with. He
showed a lot of good form last year and I think that we will push each
other hard throughout this season. We as a team are always looking to
improve and everyone in the team shares the same philosophy. This is
what helps create the energised and motivated working atmosphere of the
team and makes it a fun place to come and do your job.