Ukrainian-style race

Stage IV of the Ukrainian Open Motocross Championship was held in the town of Sokilnyky, near Lviv, where Ukrainian pros welcomed guest racers from Moldova. The race attracted considerable interest because of the presence of visiting inspectors from the International Motocross Association, who certified the track. The track owners, the Sokilnyky-Extreme Club, carried out systematic work to set up the terrain according to international standards. The inspectors applauded their work, and next year the track in Sokilnyky will be able to host some stages of the World and European championships.

Adults and some children as young as four years old took part in the race. The winners were selected according to the engine capacity of 50, 65, 85, 125, 500, and 1000 cubic cm (with sidecars). The showers that preceded the race greatly complicated the racers’ task. The track became tricky, and sometimes the racers lost control of their bikes on the tight turns. But frequent tumbles did not prevent the best racers from demonstrating their unsurpassed skills.

Representatives of the “weaker sex” took part in the event alongside the men. One of the youngest girls, Oleksandra Zinchenko (no. 55) from Lviv was a tough competitor for the male racers. She won fourth place, nearly dislodging her opponents from the pedestal.

The sidecar event was the most exciting. Fourteen crews, an extraordinarily high number for a domestic race, competed for victory. Valerii Starchenko and Serhii Preor (no. 34) from Krasnodon won the first race, while the winners of the second race were Dmytro Hrechaniuk and Oleksandr Lytovchenko (no. 1) from Lviv.