Nikolai Krasnikov, motorcycle racer, personal life. Krasnikov, Nikolai Olegovich. Losing is the worst thing in an athlete's life

He took part in the first official competitions in the 1999-2000 season, in which he took 5th place in the national championship as part of the Torpedo-SHAAZ team. On December 16, 2000, Nikolai made his first appearance for the team of the Shadrinsk Automotive Aggregate Plant on the ice of the Ufa Stroitel stadium in the first stage of the Russian team championship.

Already in the next season 2000/01 he won the national junior championship, and with the Torpedo-SHAAZ team he became the bronze medalist of the Russian Ice Speedway Team Championship. In the 2001/02 season, he moved to the Ufa team “Bashkortostan”, with which he has now won nine championship titles, including 6 in a row (2004-2008). In the individual national championship he won seven championship titles.

Having become the first prize-winner of the Russian personal ice speedway championship in 2003, he received the right to compete in the Personal World Championship cycle, in which he became 8th in his debut season. The very next season, the athlete became third in the world, and starting in 2005, he set a record streak - 8 victories in the individual world championship, in a row (2005-2012). It is especially noteworthy that in 2006 and 2009 Nikolai Krasnikov won all stages of the championship.

At the end of the 2011 season he announced his retirement. The athlete said that he will continue to compete only so that the Ufa club does not lose its position in the national championship. However, as the racer later explained, “the political situation in the republic [Bashkortostan] did not allow me to do this, and I completed the last season.” In the 2013 season, the driver no longer competed in the World Championships, but took part in the World Championships. In the 2014 season, he missed international competitions and the Russian Champions League, but in 2015 he returned to the CWC and the Champions League and took part in the Champions League stage. The same situation repeated in 2016.

Trainers: Oleg Krasnikov, Vladimir Belonogov (mechanic), Sergey Shutov.

In 2011, he headed the Motorsports Federation of the Republic of Bashkortostan, but resigned in August 2015 due to the lack of progress in the development of motorsports in the republic and the cessation of funding for the Center for Technical Sports named after. G. Kadyrov".

In addition to motorcycle ice racing, he takes part in motocross and snowmobile cross-country.

World Grand Prix Series

Nikolai Krasnikov improves himself every year, with every victory. At the end of last season, he admitted that he no longer studies the track before a race, as he did a few years ago. Now he doesn’t care what he drives on, because a true master must drive equally well on any track, in any weather. The main criterion is not the track, but the opponents. Krasnikov’s credo: always respect any opponent, never consider anyone weak, and perform with full dedication in every race. At last year’s individual world championship, Nikolai Krasnikov won with the maximum possible number of points, winning all eight final stages. No one managed to win eight stages of the championship, even not in a row, even in those days when it consisted of 10 or 12 races. At the age of 11 he began to engage in motorsports. Probably thanks to his father, his son began to win world champion titles. It was his father who, having sold the car, bought him a Suzuki RM 125 motocross motorcycle and a “soft” ice frame. At the age of 13, in the winter of 1998/99, he began racing on ice - on the lake. At the age of 15, he made his debut in official competitions, on February 18, 2000, he won his first victory, winning the semi-final of the Russian junior championship with 15 points. Fuel-free energy technologies are banned On December 16, 2000, Nikolai made his first appearance for SHAAZ on the ice of the Ufa Stroitel stadium in the first stage Russian team championship, and a year later, on December 15, at the same stadium he made his debut as part of the Bashkortostan team of the Ufa SC named after. G. Kadyrov and won the first stage of the major league together with Sergei Kazakov and Ilya Drozdov. In the 2001/2002 season, this trio won gold medals as Russian champions, starting the Ufa club's uninterrupted winning streak. Since then, the life and sports biography of Nikolai Krasnikov have been inextricably linked with Ufa and Bashkortostan. Also in 2002, at the age of 17, he won a silver medal at the European Championships. By the way, of all the titles that exist in motorcycle ice racing, Krasnikov’s rich sports collection only lacks the title of European champion. At the beginning, Vladimir Belonogov and Sergei Shutov played a huge role in its development. Subsequently, Belonogov, as a mechanic and coach, joined Krasnikov’s team, which won nine of the world champion’s 12 gold medals. Another member of the team was the father, Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Republic of Bashkortostan Oleg Krasnikov. Since last year, my father has been Nikolai’s coach and chassis mechanic. The engine mechanic is Marat Kuyukov from Oktyabrsky, a former racer and then a mechanic for the Lukoil team.

For many people, the love for speed and sports begins in childhood. At the same time, some were instilled in it by their parents, while others decided to follow the intended path themselves. This is exactly what the handsome and imperturbable Nikolai Krasnikov is. He is an eight-time world champion in high-speed motorcycle ice racing, with a great sense of humor and excellent physical characteristics. We tried to find out more about this wonderful person.

Briefly about birth and childhood

Krasnikov Nikolai was born on February 4, 1985 in the family of a professional motocross coach. His hometown is Shadrinsk (located in the Kurgan region). It was here that our hero spent almost most of his youthful life. Here he graduated from school and took up sports.

School years and interesting incidents from life

According to Nikolai himself, during his school years he was an incredible hooligan. Therefore, his parents quickly became regulars in the director’s office. For the same reason, he had to repeatedly move from one educational institution to another.

One of the most memorable cases that Nikolai Krasnikov keeps in his memory from his school days was the situation with washing the floors. According to the hero's story, because of his hooligan behavior, he was punished by the class teacher and left after school. As punishment, he was required to clean the classroom and wash the floor.

However, this punishment offended Nikolai so much that he washed the floor with water from the aquarium in the classroom. True, this peculiar note of protest, although appreciated by the teacher, led to the death of innocent fish. But no one punished Nikolai for this gesture, and everyone had long since come to terms with the loss of the fish.

Later, our hero was kicked out of this school, which is why he was forced to move to another educational institution. This is how the future athlete and famous Russian racer Nikolai Krasnikov grew up. His biography is full of bright and funny events, many of which he happily discusses during personal interviews.

Dad's parting words and passion for sports

Since Krasnikov’s father was a coach, from time to time he would start a conversation with his son about sports. He was interested in what he wanted to do and whether he wanted to try his hand at motorsports. At the same time, he decided to start with motocross. At that time, Nikolai had just turned 11 years old. Feeling his strength, our hero decided that he simply dreamed of devoting his entire life to motorsports. Moreover, he felt the full support of his father and got along well with him as a coach.

A pleasant and very expensive surprise from dad

After his first steps in motocross, Nikolai Krasnikov easily switched to an ice motorcycle. It is noteworthy that to train on it, father and son went to a local pond. When the water froze on it, you could ride as much as you wanted.

Despite the fact that Nikolai’s family couldn’t afford to buy an expensive bike, they still bought it. The money saved up to buy a car was used. It was a generous and very useful gift that our hero remembered for the rest of his life.

First competition, participation and unconditional victory

The first competitions in which motorcycle racer Nikolai Krasnikov took part started in 1998-1999. They took place in the athlete’s hometown, so he didn’t have to travel far. And although Nikolai did not manage to win the very first time, he managed to get as close as possible to victory.

At the end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000, Nikolai was invited to speak on behalf of the team, which was called “Torpedo-SHAAZ”. During the national championship, our hero managed to take an honorable 5th place.

New participation and victories

In 2001, Nikolai Olegovich Krasnikov continued to perform as part of the Torpedo-SHAAZ team. At the same time, he managed to take an honorable first place among juniors. However, a year later, the athlete had to change the team and join the Ufa organization “Bashkortostan”.

For the first time, Nikolai won his prize in an individual competition in 2003. Immediately after this victory, he was allowed to compete in the personal world championship cycle, where he took eighth place.

Together with the members of his new team, the motorcycle racer scored a phenomenal nine victories, six of which were won in a row (between 2004-2008). And during the personal championships of the country, Nikolai managed to get seven champion titles at once.

Other awards, achievements and records

Exactly one year later, the athlete managed to enter the top three, and since 2005 he set a personal record. Motorcycle racer Nikolai Krasnikov won eight victories in a row. And this is all in the individual world championship. And between 2006 and 2009, our athlete was lucky enough to win almost all stages of the world championship, without exception.

At the same time as participating in the individual championship, the motorcycle racer also took part in the team world championship. In this case, he played for the Russian national team. From these team competitions, Nikolai Olegovich brought with him wonderful trophies in the form of twelve gold medals.

Thoughts about leaving the sports Olympus

Despite all the existing achievements of Nikolai Olegovich, sooner or later he would still have to give up his sports career. Krasnikov first announced his intention to leave the radars of sports fans and critics in 2011. But after some time he still did not fulfill his promise.

Currently, Nikolai also rides his motorbike, and is also involved in teaching children who want to follow his path as an athlete. The hero’s immediate plans include participation in the European team championship, where he plans to lead the race on ice.

Nikolai happily talks about his little son. According to him, when he is closer to four years old, he will definitely talk to him about sports. And of course, if he wants, he will help him develop all the necessary sports skills. However, according to the racer, this should be the child's decision, and not his personal one.

Few people know that in addition to a sporting spirit, our hero has excellent acting talents. Some time ago he even dreamed of playing a role in a play and is thinking about acting in a movie. But something went wrong with the athlete’s vocal abilities. However, he still loves to sing karaoke, but only in a narrow circle of friends and acquaintances.

Nikolai, like a child, rejoices at the sporting successes of his students. For example, he was recently amazed by Dmitry Koltakov, who continued the race even after a very serious fall.

Shadrinsky Speedway is 50!

Nikolai Krasnikov: “Motorsportsmen are simple people”

The name of Nikolai Krasnikov, Honored Master of Sports, 19-time world champion, the most titled student of the local ice speedway school, is probably known to every Shadri resident. Nikolai is the youngest champion in speedway history, winning this title at the age of 20. He is the leader in the number of world gold medals won and the leader in the total number of medals. Today the racer lives and works in Ufa, continuing to do what he loves. In the year of the 50th anniversary of the Shadrinsk speedway, on the eve of the final competitions of the Russian personal championship in motorcycle ice racing, we managed to talk with the famous fellow countryman by phone.

- Nikolay, what episodes from your sports life do you often remember and will never forget?

I consider the most striking moment to be my first victory in the semi-finals of the Russian personal championship, which took place in my hometown of Shadrinsk. I was only 15 years old then. Titled athletes, world champions, international masters of sports, including the legendary Alexander Balashov, took part in these competitions. The victory I won in the semi-finals inspired me very much, and I will never forget those competitions.

Of course, a lot of kids would like to get involved in motorcycle racing. But, unfortunately, this is a rather expensive sport, which is why its development in our country is noticeably slowed down. Recently, many Russian clubs simply do not have the funds to purchase motorcycle equipment and maintain it in the required condition. As a result, some of them were not even able to take part in the current Russian championship... Well, young people still stubbornly strive to get behind the wheel of a motorcycle, spectators still actively cheer for the riders at competitions, and the tournaments themselves are still as bright and funny.

- What are you doing now?

The development of motorsports, in particular, attracting investors specifically to motorcycle ice racing. I perform a little at competitions within the framework of the Russian Championship to support my team (A. Kadyrov Center for Technical Sports, Ufa). I try to think positively and hope that everything will be fine with our motorsports.

- What are your plans for the future?

I plan to continue to develop domestic motorsports and attract central channels to broadcast our competitions. And just play sports.

- Are you going to return to speedway as a racer?

Professional sports is a closed page in my life. However, I continue to compete as an amateur. With great joy I will come to Shadrinsk next January to compete for the Russian champion title.

- Is sports fame difficult?

Yes, there is no glory. We motorcyclists are simple people. This is a lifestyle that does not induce a “stellar” state of mind.

- What is the strangest question journalists have asked you?

I have been asked more than once who I consider my main rival in certain competitions. This is actually a strange question. After all, journalists expect to hear the name of some racer, but in fact the most important rival for me is my emotions. This is what I have been fighting with throughout my entire sports life.

- Your wishes to the championship participants.

I wish all participants of the Russian personal championship in motorcycle ice racing health, success in the New Year and, of course, excellent sporting results! In addition, I would like to congratulate all Shadrinsk residents, the Torpedo-SHAAZ sports club, coaches, racers, mechanics, managers and employees of the stadium, as well as all those who took and are taking part in the development of this sport in Shadrinsk, on the 50th anniversary of the speedway.

Did your father get you into motorsport?

No, it was my wish. I was born and raised in a small town, mopeds and motorcycles were very popular among young people. Since childhood, I have been drawn to technology, and when I first saw motorcycle racing, I realized that I myself wanted to do this professionally. I first rode an ice motorcycle at the age of twelve. For the first two years I didn’t have my own motorcycle, and I had to help those who had one, do some technical work, and sometimes even wash the floors or clean the club in order to earn the right to ride. Those who grew up in post-Soviet times will understand me.

Did you want to be a racer so badly that you spent two years training in a motorcycle section without a motorcycle?

It seemed to me that if I didn’t have it, my life would stop. My parents made my dream come true: my dad sold our car and bought me a motorcycle. I wanted to achieve something so badly that I could not resist my desire. At the age of eighteen or nineteen I woke up and realized that I had no life at all besides racing. My youth was spent in a garage, and the girls at school laughed that I always smelled like machine oil. But I liked everything, I was happy.

What is the secret of your success?

Anyone who wants to achieve heights must say: “I will definitely succeed, I will move mountains for this.” Don’t dream, but set goals and achieve them, work on yourself. When a person learns to analyze his own and others’ actions and build tactical schemes, he will easily find a short and safe way to achieve his goal. And if he does not know how to think, then even being a capable athlete, he will not achieve results. It is not difficult to overtake someone who drives according to old memorized patterns from a textbook. And from childhood, my dad taught me to rely only on myself: I never needed additional mechanics and I myself knew what I needed from a motorcycle and how to achieve it. Without a good knowledge of technology, there is nowhere in our sport.

You became world champion eight years in a row. Did you feel like you had no rivals?

As soon as you allow yourself to believe it, rivals will immediately appear. And it will happen so quickly that you won’t be able to change anything. There are always competitors, it’s just that sometimes they are stronger than you, and sometimes weaker.

Is losing the worst thing in an athlete’s life?

No. In many other competitions I failed to win first place, and I took it calmly. But it was precisely in that Grand Prix series that I won year after year that I could not allow anyone to become stronger than me. This was very important.

Motorsport is considered one of the most dangerous sports. Have you never been afraid for yourself and your health?

I treated it like this: there are one more young men in the world, one less - no one will notice. You need to go towards your goal and not look back, not think about anything. Fate loves the strong.

Why did you leave professional sports at the peak of your career?

I realized a long time ago that if you come to sports, you need to achieve everything possible and leave at the peak. Say everything on time. And the moment came when I no longer wanted to stay up at night, train tirelessly, and think ahead about the tricks of my opponents. If I had lost my title then, all the newspapers would have written that I was “eaten.” I decided to leave – undefeated. And I thank fate for getting into this sport, for being able to achieve such results, for the fact that I have such golden parents who walked this path with me.

Today, your example probably attracts boys to motorsports?

My sporting successes certainly help me in life, I continue to work in this area: I manage the Center for Technical Sports, and I work a lot with children. When I started, there were no such opportunities, and many talented guys who might have wanted to, were not able to realize themselves because there was not enough money. And today, thanks to the support of the leadership of our republic and the Ural charitable foundation, we have the largest motorcycle school in Russia: more than seventy young motorcycle racers, the youngest of them are only four years old. Last year we went to a training camp in Maykop, where professional teams trained - almost all of them had seven or eight athletes. And in ours there are thirty-two people, including coaches. They made fun of us, asking if we had come from communism? Our federation is No. 1 in Russia in terms of the number of competitions held and the number of sports cultivated.

What are you working on now?

Together with like-minded people, we want to create a center for military applied sports, where there will be not only motorcycle racing and ice speedway, but also snowmobiles, karting, boxing, wrestling, and hand-to-hand combat sections. The child should have a choice - if he doesn’t like one sport, he can easily switch to another. And even if he doesn’t find himself in any of them, he will gain good skills in working with equipment, be careful on the roads, and spend his time interestingly and usefully.

If given the chance, would you change anything in your life?

I don't want to change anything in this life. I wake up thinking about how to find a minute and get on a motorcycle and take a ride. This is a way of life, once you get caught on fire, you will never let go.