This weekend sees Team HRC return to South America for the second MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, but this year with the lone entry of Evgeny Bobryshev on the #777 CRF450RW.
Bobryshev will be the only HRC rider on the gate as team-mate Gautier Paulin still recouperates from a fractured vertebrate and a broken rib sustained whilst practicing at Lommel, Belgium.
Currently sitting third in the world after three Grands Prix, Bobryshev is confident of replicating his early pace from Neuquen last year. With a fast and flowing layout and hard dirt, it should suit no.777 well.
The track made its debut in the World Championship last year to great acclaim. Surrounded by lakes, mountains and forest, the picturesque track is situated near the Argentina-Chile border and attracted a large crowd keen to see motocross in their part of the world.
Much the same can be expected this year, but with the added bonus to the riders of last year‰Ûªs data and experience. Bobby‰Ûªs weekend in 2015 started strongly with second in timed practice, but ended with an unfortunate hand injury sustained in an on-track clash in race two. Riding through the pain, Bobby came home eighth overall.
His form this season though is worlds apart from 12 months ago, and having stepped onto the podium once already, and narrowly missed another visit to the box in Thailand, his sights are firmly set on climbing those hallowed steps again this weekend.
‰ÛÏIt's a crazy long way to go to Argentina, but last year there I was really impressed with the whole place," Bobryshev recounted.
"It‰Ûªs a very beautiful place, and there were so many spectators we couldn‰Ûªt get to the track without the help of the police. The track is also really good ‰ÛÒ it‰Ûªs like US tracks as it‰Ûªs wide, and I really like the layout and the ground. I‰Ûªm feeling very positive about this weekend. We didn‰Ûªt have the best last race in Europe, and it‰Ûªs not usual for me to be sixth overall in the sand, but this will be a different weekend.
"I‰Ûªve been doing a lot of work in the week and make sure I‰Ûªm prepared to give 100 per cent," the Russian concluded.
Photo: Evgeny Bobryshev
