“Mototherapy”: what your doctor won’t prescribe for you.

Already next weekend (March 16-18) the 6th international motorcycle exhibition “Motovesna-2018” will be held in Moscow. Not only the exhibition, but also a large-scale interactive zone will be organized right in the premises of the Olympic Sports Complex. It is there that the show with the participation of Russian and world elite riders will take place. Fortunately, the roof of the sports complex will be able to protect athletes and spectators from snow and wind, and its height will allow to perform jumping tricks on a high ramp.

We managed to talk to Vanni Oddera, a moto freestyler from Italy. He is not only a participant of “Motovesna”, but also the inspirer of the international program of support for people with disabilities “Mototherapy”.

– Vanni, first of all I would like to talk about the upcoming show. I am far from motorcycling and many things related to it. But even the videos of FMX riders performing amazed me. Why do you think everyone should go to a show like this at least once?
– I think this show is one of the most impressive shows ever. It’s one thing to watch it on TV, for example, and quite another to see it in person. You feel something incredible because of all the noise and because of the vibe you feel. In my opinion, people should go to a show like this at least 1 or 2 times. It’s a meaningful event in many ways. I especially appreciate that there will be a “Mototherapy” event. I think this project is now gaining significance for the whole world. We held the first “Mototherapy” in Italy, and the second country was Russia. We started here a few years ago, and I am insanely pleased that “Mototherapy” has come to Moscow again. Of course, we will try to show our best at the show. The crowd in Russia is incendiary and loud, so we want to impress and please it.

– As far as I know, the idea of creating “Mototherapy” belongs to you. How did it come into your head? Maybe someone or something inspired you?
– It’s my idea, but I can’t say what exactly pushed me to it. “Mototherapy” was born in 2009, you could say just from my heart. I had been thinking a lot about wanting to change the world. I had, of course, tried to change the world around me in small ways before. And then I thought that the best option is to share my passion, which is my bike, with people. I want to give everyone the opportunity to ride it. That’s the whole idea behind the project.

– Tell those who have never seen “Mototherapy”.
– The guys for whom “Mototherapy” is held do not watch our performance in the crowd, but stand under the ramp, i.e. right under the jumps. During the whole show they are right next to us, among us. Each of them can look up into the sky and see a rider, a multi-colored power ranger. That’s the power of “Mototherapy.” After the show, these guys want to ride with us and are no longer afraid at all. So when the show is over, we ride with them.

– I know that “Mototherapy” has been held in Russia for a number of years. How is such a show received here?
– In Russia, the crowd is very friendly, and that’s important. And if we talk specifically about the participants of “Mototherapy”, the guys are the same as all over the world. It’s cool. I’m really happy to perform in Russia. In general, I want the show to be held all over the world. I want more countries to join this movement.

– Is someone helping you to realize this idea?
– Yes. There are a lot of people helping me now. It’s like a big chain around the world: in Mexico, in Uruguay, in Spain, in Russia, in Italy, in Austria, in Switzerland and in France. A lot of people are starting to think like me and want to share their passion with others. It’s perfect. I also have people around me, not just riders, but, for example, my friends who help me work with this project. Like now in Moscow Alexey Kolesnikov (FMX-rider who is actively developing the project in Russia) is helping me. I am grateful for such support.

– Are there a lot of people who want to join?
– A lot. To be honest, I don’t know how many. Every time we hold “Mototherapy” with about 100-200 guys. Their number is constantly growing.

– Any advice for those who will be at the show for the first time?
– Advice? I don’t know. You have to look at jumping as an art that we are trying to create. Our sport is very dangerous, maybe even one of the most dangerous in the world, so if you do it, you have to believe in yourself, in your body and in your passion, in your hobby. It’s a dangerous art, because you can die in one second. But it’s an art nonetheless.

– It’s great that you had the idea to organize “Mototherapy”! I wish you good luck this year and in the future. I hope more people will want to join this good cause.
– Thanks, and I hope to see you at the show!