You could say it was the end of an era.
Born in 1942 in Podolsk near Moscow, Victor Arbekov was to become the 1965 FIM 250cc Motocross World Champion. A mechanic by trade, the young man affectionately known as “Smiler” started racing in the 125 cc class in 1959 on a home-built machine. In 1963 he won the Russian 250 cc Grand Prix.
Drafted into the army at the age of 19, Victor Arbekov became a member of the illustrious CSKA motocross team. In 1964, he finished the 250cc motocross World Championship in third place behind Joel Robert and Torsten Hallman. The following year, riding a CZ-250, he defeated Robert to win the 1965 FIM 250cc World Championship, becoming the first Russian ever to become an FIM World Champion.
Victor Arbekov went on to become an instructor and later coach of the CSKA motocross team, ending his motorcycling career in 1991 as head coach of the Armed Forces and retiring from the Army in 1992. He died on 18 February 2017 at the age of 74.
The FIM wishes to pay tribute to his extraordinary talent and extends its condolences to all his family and friends.
FIM Communications