CLUB HONOUR: League Championship winner: 2011 [Poole].
2011 STARTING AVERAGE: 4.52 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Gafurov appeared briefly for Oxford in 2005, making just three Elite League appearances for the Cowley-based club; his best performance yielding 6+2 points from four starts at Poole on 29 June.
Swindon announced the signing of Gafurov as a full club asset on 29 November 2005 and, although his debut was subsequently put back by a visa delay, he became the first-ever Russian to sport a Robins’ logo in 58 seasons of racing when he appeared for the club on 28 March 2006 against Ipswich in a live televised fixture.
Rarely has a rider thrilled and entertained the Abbey Stadium crowd as much as the Oktyabrsky-born speedster did that year. On several occasions, the eccentric Russian single handedly whipped the Swindon faithful into a speedway frenzy and coaxed the booming ‘Blunsdon roar’ out of the most dormant of fans.
The only disappointing aspect of the Russian’s acquisition was the frequent unavailability of the rider due to demands from his homeland club, Vladivostok. The huge distance Gafurov covered during the season as he flew back and forth between Poland, Russia and Britain understandably began to take its toll.
As the season progressed, Gafurov was affectionately nicknamed ‘The Gaffer’ and possibly one of his most memorable passing manoeuvres came at Wolverhampton’s Monmore Green circuit when, in heat fourteen, he conjured a sensational pass of Tomáš Suchánek. Other highlights included a paid 16-point score against Poole on 6 July and, just a week later, a paid 14-point haul against the eventual Champions, Peterborough.
Unfortunately, Gafurov’s season ended in controversy as he was handed a 28-day ban for withholding his services as he was unavailable for the Robins’ crunch Play-Off semi-final at Reading on 25 September. It was a crying shame that such a vivacious and awe-inspiring season had to conclude in such unpleasant circumstances. He had made thirty-one appearances for the club and scored 161 points for a 5.52 average.
The double Russian Champion had appeared lost to British speedway until Poole boss Matt Ford revealed, in December 2010, that he had agreed terms with Gafurov for the 2011 season. It was stressed, however, that his inclusion in the team was subject to the necessary work permit and documentation being sorted out satisfactorily.
The acquisition of the rider moved a step nearer on 26 January, when the Pirates revealed that he was to sit an English test in Moscow with a view to obtaining the all-important work permit. And, having successfully come through that test, Poole were finally able to announce that they had got their man on 10 March after the Russian star had been issued with a 2-year work permit the previous afternoon.
The new Pirates’ recruit sustained an injury in the club’s opening meeting of the season, a challenge match at Eastbourne on 20 March. Gafurov, in attempting to pass Eagles’ Dawid Lampart in heat eight, fell and ‘popped’ a shoulder out of place. He did take his place in the re-run, but was then ruled out of his final outing.
The rider was lined-up to take some extra practice prior to the return match at Wimborne Road on 23 March with a view to declaring himself fit which, in the event he did, before going on to score 8+1 points from five rides in typically thrilling style.
After working hard to catch up with changes to equipment since he last appeared in the UK – and also the new exhaust system – Gafurov gave his best display in Poole colours as the Pirates defeated Elite League leaders Eastbourne 55-39 at Wimborne Road on 24 April. The Russian was unbeaten from his first four rides before losing out to ex-Poole star Bjarne Pedersen in heat fifteen, giving him a tally of 10+3 points.
The Gaffer dropped down to a reserve position late in May and really began to pile up the points. Indeed, he proved the Pirates’ match-winner in a Sky Sports presentation of their away league fixture at Belle Vue on 13 June, when he notched 12+2 points from five rides in a narrow 46-44 success.
However, he was only to maintain an average of around 5.5 points per meeting and he sat down with Poole boss Matt Ford in August to explain that he didn’t want to be the reason why the Pirates could lose out on the title and, if someone else could be fitted in that could do a better job than him, he would be willing to stand down. As such, the club took the opportunity to draft in Thomas H. Jonasson, who had become a Poole asset the month previously.
FIM Speedway Grand Prix Record: Gafurov has never signed on for duty at an FIM Speedway Grand Prix but was a qualified substitute for the 2008 series, at No. 23, although he wasn’t required at any of the rounds that year.
FIM Speedway World Cup Record: SWC tournaments: 7 Events: 13 – 1st on Russia’s list; 22nd on SWC all-time list Points: 62 – 3rd on Russia’s list; 38th on SWC all-time list Finals: 1 Gold medals: 0
GAFUROV, Renat
