Vsevolod Brylyakov is unintentionally annoying. This is the second time we’ve interviewed the likeable Russian for the magazine – on this occasion perched out the back of his team’s pitbox in Qatar as opposed to the paddock of a Supercross race where then 21 year old was expecting to hit 2016 MX2 hard – and he’s still to translate his obvious speed and potential to results. ‘Seva’ was ultimately hamstrung last year – his first on the Monster Energy KX250F – by a series of small injuries that pulled the tips of his fingers gradually away from more podium trophies in the class.

Watching the Brylyakov around the racetrack is to observe a bundle of energy, almost desperation. There is fantastic pace…but to the point of nervous angst. If the otherwise calm and eloquent athlete away from the motorcycle could focus and harness his charge then Russia would be toasting far more podium appearances and even – whisper it now – an outside shot of title contention.

Three terms in MX2 and Brylyakov still has work to do. Usually tackling his vocation single-handedly and without the presence of an entourage, family or assistance he made an important decision for 2017 by deciding to listen to the advice and wisdom of former MXGP winner Brian Jorgensen. With the flyaway dates of the FIM World Championship now in the past – and #18 taking a promising sixth place in Mexico to hint at more to come – the partnership could bear considerable fruit once the European stage of the season begins. Brylyakov already turned heads with the fastest MX2 lap-times in Qatar Timed Practice and Warm-up but impatience and errors in the motos means the latency was not evident in black and white on papers afterwards.

You could argue that he is wading through one of the most exciting times in his career by being on the precipice of making a special impact. He should also share copious billing with Evgeny Bobryshev in MXGP’s return to Russia for the first time in half a decade at Orlyonok in June (and in the absence of Alex Tonkov in MXGP with the former works Yamaha and Husqvarna rider mired in visa issues). But the clock is ticking and Kawasaki are watching. He has this year and 2018 to really stamp his name on the Grand Prix scene before needing to think about MXGP.

Seva, how are you placed to tackle this season? What’s going on with you right now?

I have put an incredible amount of work in for this season and almost starting from zero because of all the injuries. I’ve been working on fitness, the technique, the speed and some testing. We have changed my preparation and I wanted to start the season without rushing things and just trying to enjoy racing…it has been difficult to keep myself calm! I had my first Pole time in Qatar and it was difficult; I got pretty nervous and it ended up going wrong in the Heat.

Now you finally seem to have some guidance…

In any relationship with any new person I begin with trust. The main decision for me was starting to work with Brian Jorgensen and you have to invest in a call like that. You have to invest in your future and the decision to work with Brian also meant letting him work on me and make my testing. He was actually the one who brought me to the physical tests and looked at my technique and organised my stay in Spain in pre-season. I was quite an organised guy anyway and never needed someone to kick my ass to work but he put my will to work in the right direction and we looked at the exact things that I needed to ride a motorbike…not just be super-fit and hit everything like a hammer. It was good stuff. A lot of training and not much free time…and I enjoyed it. I got a routine and it became my life. I was happy. I know what I am working for and now I can see how it pays off.

You showed flashes of speed last year but it must have been frustrating not being fully fit or not hitting some kind of momentum…

That’s true and last year started well but after Mexico it went very wrong for me. My preparation went worse and we lacked possibilities. There are always little ‘failures’ because you cannot be successful every time but it is important to take something from those experiences and in the end I was thinking ‘this is the season where you really need to take all this onboard and remember the good things’. There is never a chance to settle because everyone is working for.

It seems you have made the step physically but mentally there is still some work to do…

Yeah, of course, you can always work, even on the physical side but perhaps moreso on the mental side. But it is coming because I know it is about believing in yourself. I still like playing with the bike but I feel more focussed and that’s another good point about working with Brian. I need to take more care of getting over-excited! These first four flyaways are about keeping solid and taking what I can.

How do you feel about MX2? It’s an open book?

Is it an open book…but in previous seasons I wasn’t trying to chase or follow a particular rider. I’ve said it in the past but I’ve never looked at the names; it is something my Dad taught me: there are no ‘names’ at the track. You might like someone’s style but as soon as you reach the level of Pro then it is all about what you do, your style and how others look at you. Not the other way around.

But isn’t it good to study the opposition?

We’ve raced most of these guys for quite a long time already so it is mostly the new kids from EMX and they are quite crazy! They need more experience…and I speak from my own season of going a bit wild last year. You pass some of them and you can see they are way-over the limit. You know where the others are good and what they can do but I don’t need to think about them…

So, a big Grand Prix for you coming up in June…even though it is far away do you still think about it?

Of course! And people don’t let me forget about it…! Also I know some people in the paddock are worried about heading to Russia – which makes me feel a bit strange! I’m being asked about hotels, flights and the area all the time so it is hard to forget that it’s coming up. For sure I’ll have all my family and friends there and I think it is amazing that Grand Prix comes back to Russia. I’m looking forward to every race but this one will be special.

Are you ready for the spotlight because the spectator turnout at Semigorge in 2012 was huge…

Yeah! I hope the same lot of people will come! And I will have to cover myself with something to get from the team to the track. Seriously though it will be fun and it is exciting to imagine how it will be. I think we will also be going back there again because when the Russians decide to do something then they do it well! I have big hopes for this GP.

It’ll be nice to have that home GP feeling…

Yes…but Latvia felt a little bit that way because there were people coming to Kegums. I think the Russian GP will be different and fans will travel from quite far away to be there. It has been five years now. I still remember Semigorje and there were a lot of people. I have a lot of hopes: for the track, the attendance. I know the venue and I think they have some work to do to push it to GP standard. I think they will do a good job.

Portraits by JP Acevedo, action shots by Ray Archer