• Українська
  • Русский
  • English
Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Ride Your Motorcycle Into the Sky 

2 February, 1999 - 00:00

By Petro MARUSENKO, The Day

 

 

To put it mildly, I did not relate with motorbikes at all. This is why
I was somewhat puzzled when listening to the ex-racer, several times champion
of Ukraine, and now coach Viktor RUDENKO telling enthusiastic stories about
motorcycling. But when I learned that Viktor not only loves his business,
but inspired his sons to love it as well, I began to understand that there
is really something to it.

When photographer Volodymyr Rasner and I came to see 8 year old Dmytro
and 13 year old Valentyn, pupils of 122 Kyiv school, practice and saw the
track, all slippery and ice-covered, we thought, "it is hard even to walk
though there, not to mention riding a motorcycle." But the boys obviously
liked to ride lap after lap, soaring their steel horses into the skies
now and then.

"Aren't you afraid of stealing your boys' childhood?" we asked the
coach father.

"What can you do? There are many things you have to give up. I suggest
to my children that they are professionals. They practice while other children
play and are having fun. First, this is a good way of building strong character.
Second, they practice with pleasure. Otherwise I would not be able to make
them do it."

"What does your wife think about her husband's and sons' favorite
business?"

"She knew whom she was marrying. I was already an active sportsman then."

"What was your main motive when you brought your older son to motor-racing?"

"Valentyn was 8 years old when we bought a motorcycle. In two years
he began serious practice. I did not think about professional sports then.
I just knew that motor-racing teaches boys how to keep their balance and
makes them tough."

"But it's a very dangerous sport. Perhaps the possibility of injury
is high.

"Of course injuries happen from time to time. Valentyn and Dmytro were
no exceptions either. Look at this scar on the younger brother's chin.
The older brother fractured his collar-bone some time ago in Moldova. Such
unfortunate incidents happen mainly as a result of unforeseen circumstances
or, sometimes, carelessness. But in general, I think, the injury rate is
not any higher than in other sport."

"They have had some initial success. What?"

"Despite the fact that Valentyn has just reached the age of thirteen,
he is an experienced racer. That is why he successfully competes with not
only his peers, but with older racers as well. In the group of under 16
year olds, he came in third in the Ukrainian tournament in 80 cycle class.
Dmytro was second in the group of children under 12."

"It seems that your family teamwork is quite successful. What does
a motor-racing coach do?"

"He should develop a practice plan and see to it that it is carried
out. He should choose a track and check on the motorcycles. A coach in
our business is also a mechanic. We practice four or five times a week
to get ready for the new season.

"Should be interesting."

"I should think so. There are stages of the Ukraine's tournament, which
will take place in Orkhovo, Zaporizhzhia oblast, Rivne, Lviv, and another
three cities, which have not yet been selected. European junior tournaments
in Italy, Germany, and Portugal as well as the Junior World Cup tournament
in Germany will be held this summer. There is also a number of international
competitions within the framework of the Adax Junior Club."

"Can Ukraine compete in the world arena? As far as I know, we can't
even dream about Ukrainian racer appearing in Formula-1 in the immediate
future."

"Of course, we still lag in many respects. Each team from Western countries
is well equipped. Promising boys have sponsors from the very beginning
of their career. We do not have this at present."

"True, Viktor. Not everything in motorcycling depends on the racer.
Equipment plays a big role. And, as a result, money is essential."

"Yes, you have touched on a whole complex of problems. I suffered from
this when I was a racer. You can't go any faster than your motorcycle can.
Though I was always among the first six, I failed to make the top three
in the USSR tournament due to equipment defects. I was also a member of
the USSR national team. That is why I try to clear this obstacle in my
sons' way. But each motorcycle costs $6-7,000. And I am not talking about
the kind you buy off the dealer's floor. You need many parts to improve
a motorcycle. Sometimes improvements cost more than two regular motorcycles.
However, there is a great difference between them. You can tell even from
the sound a serially produced motorcycle from one that has been customized."

"Where do you get money?"

"At first I hoped for sponsors. I placed an article in a newspaper with
the call for help. Nobody answered. Then I established the Transsport Company,
Viktor Motor Club and started making money myself. Of course, it gets harder
and harder to do everything alone. I put certain hopes in Federation President
Ihor Bakai and Kyiv Mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko. The World Cup tournament
for boys will be conducted for the first time, and we want to look good."

 

Issue: 
Rubric: