– How come you missed the Dakar?
— It all started in February, when the sanctions penetrated so deeply that they began to interfere in sport and erect barriers for athletes. If we talk about the FIA, they can give the opportunity to participate in competitions, but on one condition: you must condemn the special operation, protest to your state. These are measures of enslavement that a normal person will not go to. Such a requirement is a mere formality, no one forbids driving the Dakar, you just need to sign a piece of paper.
It is clear that no one will let you win in such a situation. They cheat so the Russians don’t win the race. And they will also deprive the flag and the anthem of any national identity.
We have tried to contact the organizers to cancel the signing of the document. Wrote a letter addressed to the president of the FIA, sent it several times, but never received a response. And I don’t see any real possibility of resolving the situation. So we are not going to Dakar.
Now there is an urgent problem to keep the sports team to participate in the competitions. It is important to understand that human capital is one of the main factors that keeps you going. And you don’t need to lose people for next season, save the team.
We have decided to put sports equipment up for sale, because there are no sponsors, no funds. Previously, we lived off sports car sales, but today they are not in high demand and we found ourselves a little out of work. We have changed our profile to fulfill orders, typical tasks, we are entering a different market to which we must adapt.
– If you had permission, would you manage to find a budget in a short time?
– I think so. Despite the difficult situation, there are people in Yekaterinburg who care about their homeland and are ready to support us.
MILLIONS OF RUBLES FOR THE DELIVERY OF EQUIPMENT FROM RUSSIA TO SAUDI ARABIA
— How much does it cost to participate in the Dakar 2023?
– If the entrance fee decreased in terms of rubles due to the exchange rate, the logistics became very expensive. We couldn’t send the material to Europe, we had to transport it to Saudi Arabia by our own ferry or plane. I think only delivery would cost five or six million rubles.
– Was it possible to be on the Dakar without taking part in the World Cup?
– Provided that the status of last year’s race is preserved. In order to preserve the national flag, in 2022 I did not apply for the World Championship, I participated directly in the Dakar. And now there is no escape: Dakar has become the World Championship and takes place entirely under the auspices of the FIA.
– After nine years of performing, how does it feel to have been thrown overboard?
– Very difficult to accept. I used to celebrate every New Year on the run, to be at the heart of the events of the main start of the year. Of course, I understood that they might not let us in, I emotionally prepared for that. But nothing, life does not stop there. Now for me the main objective is to save the team and the guys, to hold on until next season.
NEW YEAR – HOME
– How did the family perceive that dad wasn’t going anywhere?
– Ha-ha! Of course they were upset, they understand that the Dakar is very important to me. On the other hand, we were happy to spend the New Year together.
– Did the kids think you would stay home for New Years?
– I do not know. But if they guessed it, then they did (laughs).
– Did your colleagues support you?
– Yes. I communicate with many runners, everyone understands everything, we maintained human relations. Nobody considers us villains, the right people know that Russian athletes suffer because of politics.
Has anyone approached the FIA publicly?
– I do not know.
FIA’S POLITICAL NEUTRALITY COMPLETELY BROKEN
– Are you going to follow the race?
– Sure. I will definitely watch the results. I have close friends from Europe, America, and I will not lose my relations and quarrel with anyone. I will support guys, I hope.
– Will the level of the “Dakar” drop?
– It’s hard to say. It’s more of an image issue. The political neutrality of the FIA is completely broken. On paper, they proclaim equality and indifference in politics, but in reality everything is different. It’s sad. The FIA should unite, but it divides.
– Is the Federation afraid of being overseen because of the participation of the Russians?
“Everyone sees the politics of the UN, the West as a whole, when there is maximum infringement of rights on a national basis. Racism takes different forms, Russophobia grows.
– Will SNAG Racing continue to exist?
– Yes. We went through so many hardships that it was more than enough. There was also a high euro exchange rate, primary sanctions and a pandemic. I’m sure, even if with losses, we will save the team. The big minus is that we cannot develop, develop a new car, because it is expensive and time-consuming, and there are no such opportunities – we have to work in other areas and earn money .
– With a pain in your heart, are you selling a winning technique?
– Yes. It’s not just a car, it’s what you’ve been through for a long time. She drove you to the finish line, endured all the trouble. Of course, a certain connection with the car remains.
How long will the money from the sale of the car last?
– Salary is a difficult question, it requires a lot of money. And refusing one of the employees would be very expensive, wrongly. When everything returns to normal, it will be very difficult to find a highly qualified specialist.
I DO NOT SET GOALS IN POLICY
– You became a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Sverdlovsk region. Work takes a long time?
— There are a lot of tasks, but no one has canceled the weekends. Before, I trained in my free time, so there were no major changes in the schedule.
– Do you set yourself the task of developing a political career?
– I do not set goals in politics, I am satisfied with the current situation. I have good relations with the President of the Legislative Assembly, the deputies, the regional committee of the party. I therefore do not plan to play risky games to achieve a result.
– Do you consider yourself the minister of sports of the region or a deputy of the State Duma?
– If I am requested, I can show myself in this direction, then, probably, yes. But again, the executive branch is a complicated story, and talking about the ministerial presidency is wrong. In this case, you will have to completely give up car racing, since you will have practically no days off.
THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE TO DEFEAT SOTNIKOV IN THE FIGHT FOR THE FIFTH SILK ROAD TITLE
Where will you start next year?
– The Russian Championship is a beautiful story, but very expensive. There are not so many sponsors who are willing to support me internally. And I can’t travel alone. All that remains is the Silk Road and training.
Going for training in the United Arab Emirates under current conditions is it a dream?
– I do not know, you have to look at the finances. We used to train with Nikita Mazepin, he seriously helped me in this regard. I shared my knowledge with him.
– Mazepin won the “Silk Way” as a rally raid rookie. Was that enough for him?
– I do not think so. We communicate with him, he is very immersed in the work, he does a lot for the foundation. And the closer to the Silk Road, the clearer its position on participation in the race will be. Defending the title is a challenge, we will see if he needs it or not.
— You, together with Dmitry Sotnikov from KAMAZ-master, are a four-time winner of the Silk Road. Which of you will be the fastest at 5x?
– Everything will depend on the situation in the team, how I will race – the main driver or paired with someone, as it was summer with Mazepin. I definitely have no task to overtake Dima in the fight for the fifth title.
– You once said that you would not change the classification until you won the Dakar in an all-terrain vehicle. Will the urge persist?
“I’m sure I can win. And then we’ll see. Often brings back memories of mountain biking, maybe I’ll come back to the Dakar on it. But I won’t ride a motorcycle for sure – it’s too high a health risk.
Source : MatchTV
