Alexey Kolesnikov: I have been doing what I love all my life

FMX is one of the most popular sports in the world extreme sports arena. Motofreestyle is a unique discipline, because, in addition to perfecting jumps on a motorcycle, the stages of training include classes in the gym and intensive training on the motocross track. In addition, athletes spend a lot of time talking to psychologists, because there is nothing more important than the mood and concentration while performing a stunt. In our material we have collected 5 facts from the biography of one of the best FMX riders in the world Alexey Kolesnikov.

Fact #1: Motorcycling and determination to win since childhood

Alexey came to motorcycling at the age of 12. It may be a bit late for professional sport, but for freestyle motorcycling the age is right. The first results did not take long to wait, and in 2005 Kolesnikov became the winner of the Russian Enduro Championship. At the moment Alexey is a master of sports in motocross, multiple prize-winner of the Russian Enduro Championship and FMX Kolomna contest, and also the best rider of Red Bull X-Fighters Jams tour 2009. In addition, Alexey has many motocross, enduro and FMX competitions under his belt.

Alexey Kolesnikov: “I will not curve my soul, I have been doing what I love all my life, since my childhood. I did not set myself the initial task – to be in the top or to become famous and earn a lot. Even more I will say, at that time I did not know that it was even possible. All it was was a genuine love for what I was doing. I was obsessed with it. It’s my life’s work. The beginning was hard, there was no information or understanding of what the ramps should be like, the kickers, how the bike should be set up. Being a pioneer is always hard and scary. I had to fall and experiment. I just realized that if I didn’t do it, no one else would either. Now it is a huge plus that there is a connection with the outside world. We are known in Europe, America, there are a lot of friends and acquaintances all over the world.”

Fact #2. Jump from enduro to moto freestyle

In 2005, Alexey, from classic motocross and enduro racing, jumped into moto freestyle. It all started with competitions for the best jump, which were held after the races. In time, attempts to master a new sport and hard training gave the result – the foundation of FMX-sport in Russia was laid.

Alexey Kolesnikov: “If we talk about riders, everyone is directly interested in the movement and development of our sport-discipline. For me it’s like a balm on my soul, because in 2005 I was the very first guy who started jumping on a cross bike and doing tricks. I was completely alone, it was only after a while that the guys started to slowly get involved. The whole thing moved and gradually evolved. Despite skeptical opinions, during these 12-13 years a lot was done, a huge number of events were held. The Toyota Road Show, in which I take part, you can see the scale. The production is very cool! Rollers in social networks, fireworks – this is definitely a direct movement forward.”

Fact #3. Staying unique

In April 2013, Kolesnikov set himself a seemingly impossible goal – to jump a KAMAZ. A ramp with a height of just under three meters was installed for the motorcycle jump, the highest point of the motorcycle in the air was 12 meters, the length of the span was 21 meters. Despite the strong wind, several jumps were made, during which Alexey demonstrated a number of tricks. The most spectacular was a backflip over a flying KAMAZ.

Watch the video on the official Videoproekt YouTube channel.

During our meeting at the Toyota Road Show event, we told Alexey that we sincerely believe he is an example for most novice riders.
Alexey Kolesnikov: “If this is really true, then I am very pleased. Something like this only shows that 12-13 years were not wasted and it has its fruits”. has its fruits”. has its fruits”.

Fact #4. Being part of a team

Although FMX is a solitary discipline, throughout his athletic journey Kolesnikov has spent most of his time on teams of major brands, the strongest extreme riders and like-minded athletes.
snowmobile.

Alexey Kolesnikov: “Today I am part of Team Toyota Russia. This is a professional team, gathered from athletes of action sports disciplines. For example, BMX, deadlift and street disciplines are also included. There are such athletes as Pavel Alyokhin (MTB-rider), Olga Raskina (windsurf), Anastasia Nifontova (cross country rally), Nikita Sheikov (drift), freestyle motocross is represented in my person. The team is constantly expanding. A lot of guys and girls. I can’t mention all of them. Now Toyota Road Show is taking place, there will be a lot of joint projects and a lot of interesting things. We are moving towards New Star Camp, which will be held in Sochi on Rosa Khutor from March 30 to April 8. DJs will play there, parties will be held, snowboarding, skiing, freestyle motocross and snowmobile freestyle will be represented among the sports disciplines.

Alexei Kolesnikov

Fact #5. Motocross to the masses

Alexey Kolesnikov is not just one of the most authoritative figures in modern motocross freestyle, for several years he has been working hard to make this discipline popular and accessible.

Alexey Kolesnikov: “This year we will be touring with other famous riders: Breakthrough, New Star, Moscow City Games. I have ideas to relaunch the project “Under my Wing”. Something like what we did with my Red Bull team. It’s boot camps. I’m seriously interested in developing freestyle motocross on a global level. I want to see more young guys from 17 years old who will then show high results at the international level. This is super important. At the moment, unfortunately, there are not very many of these guys”.

FMX is definitely one of the most dangerous and spectacular extreme sports in our country. To be in the very center of motorcycle movement and from year to year to raise the bar higher and higher – all this successfully manages our hero, Alexey Kolesnikov. In the nearest future he will visit Kazan, Krasnoyarsk and Sochi together with his team. A detailed schedule of his performances can be found at the link (link to the material with the schedule).