Evgeny Bobryshev Race Report – MXGP of Lombardia
The sun was shining and the temperatures soared as the MXGP tour landed in northern Italy for round 11 of the 2018 series. Evgeny Bobryshev struggled with bike set up on Saturday as the deep sands of Ottobiano proved to be challenging. The BOS GP rider came home in 17th position at the end of the qualification moto.
Overnight set up adjustments meant that Bobryshev was visibly more comfortable come Sunday morning. A mid pack start in moto one meant that the Russian had a tough race ahead of him in the Italian heat. Bobby was battling for positions just inside of the top 20 as the race got underway. By the third lap Evgeny had made his way to 13th position, with a hard charging group of racers just ahead of him. The very next lap Bobby made the move on Ivo Montecelli to assume 12th place. The Russian’s next target was Jeremy Van Horebeek, who was two seconds further ahead. Bobryshev was able to catch and pass the Belgian with 20 minutes still to go. Now sitting in 11th position Bobby looked to catch Valentin Guillod and Glen Coldenhoff, who sat in ninth and tenth. Over the next 10 minutes Bobryshev pushed on to the rear wheel of the riders ahead of him, all the while he had Jeremy Van Horebeek breathing down his neck. With 10 minutes to go Van Horebeek attacked and looked to reclaim 11th place, but Bobby countered and held on to the position. In the last moments of the race a small crash from Bobryshev dropped him back to 12th at the flag.
Another less than stellar start in race two saw Bobby exit the first turn in 19th position. Over the next four laps the BOS GP rider put on a charge to pass several riders and find himself in 14thposition as the race began to settle. A crash from Clement Desalle gifted Bobby another position. Despite the heat and the tough conditions the Russian continued to fight hard. With 15 minutes to go Bobryshev advanced past both Montecelli and Alessandro Lupino to claim 11th position. With 10 to go Bobby was in no mans land, with a gap in front and a gap behind, but he continued to push. He caught and passed Glen Coldenhoff to move into the top ten with five minutes to spare. Bobryshev pushed to the flag as he tried to catch the ninth-place rider, but he just ran out of time to advance any further up the field. His 12-10 scorecard gave him 12th overall on the day.
Evgeny Bobryshev – ‘‘I really struggled with bike set up on Saturday, but the team did a great job. We swapped suspension and changed the setting of my shock which made me feel way more comfortable for today. Unfortunately, the starts didn’t go so well. Both motos I was round 18th or 19th on the first lap. I had to come through in both races and use lots of energy. In the first moto I was in 11th place charging for the ninth and tenth place guys but then I had a little crash, which dropped me to 12th. The second race was way better, I was challenging for positions for the whole moto and I finished in 10th with the ninth guy just in front of me.
I was happy with my condition today, I was feeling strong for the whole moto and I didn’t have any big drops but for sure it was a tough day with the heat.’’
