Privateer Profile: Evgeny Mikhaylov
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 | 10:30 AM
SHOEI combines state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and the most advanced materials known with over 50 years of experience to deliver the finest handcrafted motorcycle helmets available. Recognizing that the privateer is the heart and soul of motocross, SHOEI is proud to present to you the Privateer Profile.
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If you’re a regular listener to the BTOSports.com Racer X Podcast show with myself, David Pingree and Jason Weigandt then you know that we’ve been talking about and wondering about rider #595 out there in the 450 nationals. His name is Evgeny Mikhaylov and he’s from (duh) Russia. His only sponsor listed is Kraor Meats and he’s been riding all the nationals. He scored his best finishes at Millville as well.
Who is this mystery Russia meat guy? Just to add to the drama, Evgeny is out there with an all-white helmet and a Suzuki RMZ450 with no graphics for most of the races. Dreams of Ivan Drago in Rocky IV danced through our heads as we pondered the possibilities of what this guy could be all about. Finally, me being Canadian and therefore the only non-American devil of the bunch, I was elected to go see what Mikhaylov was all about.
With the help of JGR’s Coy Gibbs driving me around in his mule (what? You think I’m going to walk all around the privateer pits?) I found the elusive Ruskie.Seems that with the help of a shop in Florida called TLR Performance (http://www.tlrperformance.com/index.php) Evgeny and his merry band of Russian buddies are having a blast and traveling the series. Mikhaylov’s English wasn’t the greatest so thanks to his buddy Tim for translating for us. (Oh and I see that there is another Russian that raced Washougal named Sergey Astaykin so basically the American motocross series is becoming a little bit like Red Dawn).
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Kraor Meats/TLR Performances Evgeny Mikhaylov!
Racer X: Congrats Evgeny on your best ride last week at Millville! Can you talk about riding in America?
Evgeny Mikhaylov: It’s not that easy, I have to work and get ready for every race. The more riding I do, the better I feel on the weekends. Coming into this, it was all new and I have to get used to the riders and the tracks are also very different for me.
Mikhaylov finished 27th overall at Washougal.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Can you give us some background on yourself racing in Russia?
I raced over there for a long time, I’m a champion in Russia from the 80 class and then I was champion in the 450’s as well. From 2008 on I won that class and I’ve been riding since I was 6 years old. In Russia I was growing as a rider but then there wasn’t anymore for me to grow there so then I moved to Europe to get better and I was the champion for MX Open class in European championships.
Why did you want to come to America to race?
First of all there are two different champions, there is the world championships and the American championships and America has always seemed to be more interesting to me. I’ve always heard about the tracks over here and the riders and how they are so competitive here. An opportunity opened up for me here and I took it to come here.
With yourself doing well and Evgeny Bobryshev doing so well in the GP’s, the Russians are coming back!
Yes, it’s good to see. I’m getting experience over here and my friends from Russia are growing and getting better in the GP’s. I’m happy for them as well.
Last weekend was your best finish and now this weekend you are in the seeded practice which has to help right?
Well I feel more mentally ready for this and I’m coming into this race more ready than ever before. I have to start getting some points and get better results.
Mikhaylov currently sits 42nd overall in points.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
What about the top riders, what are your thoughts on them?
They are very fast, I take notice of them and they are high-class riders. Just racing with them gives me experience and helps me get better.
Do you want to stay here?
Yes, very much so. I have to go back to Russia and then return here for the winter and get ready for supercross and then the outdoor season. It’s good training for sure.
And finally, what is Kraor Meats?
(Laughs) It’s a trading company in Orlando, Florida and the president of the company is a gentleman named Mikhail Kholodtsov who has helped me with the finances and the backing for the team and me. He used to race in Russia and got hurt and now wants to help out riders from his home country.
(And a big thanks goes out to Max from FLY Racing USA as he stepped up and got Mikhaylov some gear for the next few races. It seemed to make him happy)
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Hey Matthes,
Any connections with TLD? Maybe they can make a bad ass looking lid for this guy! I think i would look alot better than the plain white Arai...
Now you have to get with weege and find this guy a good nickname. LOL
Russian meat guy or russian zook, Idk, just brain storming here!
How about the "meat train."
What a good story. I like this stuff. Matthes has good insight.
He does need a nickname. What about: Red Meat?
I thought since he is from Russia he still had to race a CZ? or a Puch????? Just joking guys..... They say the cold war is over.
u guys need to do a profile on dean potter from australia rest my case he,s a real privater
Great job, it's great to see the meat and potato guys out there pluggin away. And it's good to see the rusky doing well too!
How about the siberian express? just like Ivan Drago... :)
Love seeing these privateer guys from other countries, with the minimal resources they have yet they are so grateful. Yeah, I saw this guy at millville and thought he needed a nice lid! Maybe some nice graphics too!
I rocked the white Arai for two years. I wanted the best protection, but didn't want to pay the extra $100's for the painted versions. Everyone has a budget, man.
"The Other White Meat"
On a different note, I also rock a solid silver Arai. I think solid color helmets can look sick
I was thinking something along the line of USSR, meat, and a bear...
maybe a nuke here and there?
Any Ideas?
It's awesome that Mathes is stepping up to help out. X-brand goggles, Fly Racing...very cool. I can't wait to see the Kraor Meats grafix! A nice cartoon drumstick on a radiator shroud! SICK. I might have to update the 94 RM 125 with some Kraor flavor...
Thanks Matthes for the scoop. Great story. When was the last time a true privateer from another country raced a full US series? Never?
finally got the interview! great you got him some goods too. i think he should keep the white helment its kind of a calling card cause i watched for him all day at millville. kept pointing out the guy with the white helment and stock graphics. was my hero for the day and then i came to find out that he was the kraor meats guy you always talk about. just a cherry one top i guess.
Nabokov's Olympic helmet was pretty good looking.
http://www.icethetics.info/storage/blog/NabokovMask.jpg
@Kevin - Great looking lid!! and the Ivan Drago Cartoon like @Mountel wrote.
@FroLives - Drumsticks are fine for the graphics!!
Matthes, Here you go. Ideas for Mr. Evgeny Mikhaylov
Team Kraor Meats/TLR Performances/Fly/Arai/Racerxfans/Zook/USSR
I live in Fl. and if he needs a training facility he's welcome to stay here,we have a sx spec track,gym etc.Very private
Why do they never post a head shot of these racers in these articles? They have room for Matthes's ugly mug up there. It would be nice to know what they look like so you could recognize them in the pits.
If Kraor meats got into the jerky/snack meats business a la bubba shobert/dna shred stix I'd stock up on buffalo slim jims or whatever like nobody's business.
Rock on you crazy russian b@stard!
I would like to thank everyone for the attention that you have given me as a rider.
I am happy to read all the comments.
America is a new world to me and honestly I did not expect this much attention.
Your attention have given me much support.
I hope to improve my results in the next race.
Hahaha this is hillarious. The Red Butcher.
keep twistin the throttle my Russian friend
yamsquatch can you call TLR and let me know were you are in Florida.
Best of luck, Evgeny! People like you are the reason motocross is so interesting right now. You're a very talented racer and you're sure to go very far. Keep working hard, and you'll be up on top soon. Loving the white helmet and can't wait to see some custom graphics on your bike! New favorite rider.
Matthes/TechOne Designs, get this man some PulpMX/Kraor/Fly graphics, stat!
Good job man! Good luck with the rest of the season, and look forward to seeing you back for Supercross!
Джексон красава!
Russians are coming!!! Traveling with Evgeny in the Nationals has been great, watching this kid grow into a competitive rider. Day by day pushing himself, to improve to get up on top. This attention gives him inspiration to work even harder, and I know soon we will see his white helmet in front of the pack more and more again.
Клево!!Джексон, так держать!!!
Good interview. All of us are very glad for Evgenie, it always liked a white helmet.
Евгений, распирает гордость что выступаешь на Аме! Русские гонщики с тобой, верим в тебя ;)