Bikers waiting to take off as rally starts.
Russian motorbike club Night Wolves held their annual ‘season opening’ event in Moscow, attended today by hundreds of motorcyclists.
The rally starts at the Night Wolves headquarters at the edge of Moscow at 12:40 pm, travels through Moscow and finishes at Sparrow Hills near Moscow State University, from where a panoramic view of the city can be enjoyed.
With Russia soon to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, some of the Night Wolves are starting today on a long trip that will take them to Berlin for the Victory Day celebration.
The Night Wolves leader, ‘The Surgeon,’ getting prepared to ride his motorcycle.
This year’s opening event attracted a greater number of foreign journalists, perhaps due to the Night Wolves’ leader’s strong stance on the Ukraine uprising and his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Some of the rally participants had flags attached to their motorbikes reading ‘Anti-Maidan.’ A bus outside the headquarters also had an anti-madian sign.
However, most of the participants preferred to talk about their Harley Davidson’s or Honda’s and road trips than politics.
Photo Gallery:
Police motorbikes lined up outside the headquarters.
A biker waiting for the action to start.
Bikers standing outside the headquarters.
”Bike Brothers in Christ” might be the correct translation on this jacket.
A biker talking to some of the police officers that monitor the event.
Vladimir said he loved bikes as a kid, but only got one 5 years ago. He planned to ride to Berlin.
This guy in a retro traffic police uniform got up to dance.
Bikers chatting outside the Night Wolves’ headquarters.
A retiree on his retro bike.
This biker’s helmut says 14:23, which may refer to the proverb: ”All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
An Anti-Maidan flag.
The Night Wolves leader, ‘The Surgeon,’ starting the rally.
Bikers getting ready for the start of the rally.
Bikers exiting the Night Wolves’ headquarters to start the rally.
A man dressed in an old-style road police uniform talking to one of the bikers.
Reporters swarming the leader of the Night Wolves.
A biker exiting the Night Wolves headquarters.
Bikes parked outside the Night Wolves’ headquarters.
He said his father gave up his studies to bike.
Taking a smoke before the rally starts.
Zhenya with his 16 year-old daughter.
Lyosha was working at the opening event.
He was guarding the entrance to the Night Wolves headquarters.
While he gave me the finger, he nonetheless agreed to pose for a few shots.
A biker wearing what looks like a WWII helmut.
There was one motorbike left after the rally started.
This guy was dressed in a WWII outfit.
The motorcycle opening event attracts people with all sorts of models, including retro and military.
This biker was filming himself as the rally started.
A few seconds into the start of the rally.
A few seconds after the start of the rally.
This biker’s helmut says 14:23, which may refer to the proverb: ”All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
An Anti-Maidan flag.
The Night Wolves leader, ‘The Surgeon,’ starting the rally.
The Night Wolves leader, ‘The Surgeon,’ getting prepared to ride his motorcycle.
Bikers getting ready for the start of the rally.
Bikers exiting the Night Wolves’ headquarters to start the rally.
A man dressed in an old-style road police uniform talking to one of the bikers.
Reporters swarming the leader of the Night Wolves.
A biker exiting the Night Wolves headquarters.
Bikes parked outside the Night Wolves’ headquarters.
Taking a smoke before the rally starts.