Renat Gafurov
{{Short description|Russian speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| image =
| name = Renat Gafurov
| nationality = Russian
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|10|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Oktiabrsky, Russia
| career1 = Russia
| career2 = Oktyabrsky
| years2 = 1999–2005, 2015, 2023
| career3 = Vladivostok
| years3 = 2006–2007, 2009–2014
| career4 = Togliatti
| years4 = 2016–2022
| career5 = Salavat
| years5 = 2008
| career7 = Poland
| years8 = 2003
| career8 = Rawicz
| years9 = 2005-2007, 2019
| career9 = Rybnik
| years10 = 2008-2017
| career10 = Gdańsk
| years11 = 2018
| career11 = Ostrów
| career13 = Great Britain
| years14 = 2005
| career14 = Oxford Silver Machine
| years15 = 2006
| career15 = Swindon Robins
| years16 = 2011
| career16 = Poole Pirates
| years17 = 2012
| career17 = Belle Vue Aces
| career18 = Denmark
| years19 = 2013
| career19 = Holsted
| career20 = Germany
| years21 = 2012–2014
| career21 = Landshut
| indivyear1 = 2009
| indivhonour1 = European Champion
| indivyear2 = 2006, 2009
| indivhonour2 = Russian Champion
| teamyear1 = 2004
| teamhonour1 = European Pairs Championship silver
}}
Renat Zaytunovich Gafurov ({{langx|ru|Ренат Зайтунович Гафуров}}) (born 8 October 1982Świat Żużla, No 1 (74) / 2008, pages 34-35, {{ISSN|1429-3285}}Świat Żużla, No 2 (75) / 2008, page 24, {{ISSN|1429-3285}}) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Russia.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Rider_Index_2008.pdf |title=2008 Rider index |website=British Speedway |access-date=19 February 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://speedway.com.pl/riders/renat-gafurov/ |title=Gafurov, Renat |website=Polish Speedway Database |access-date=19 February 2023}} He earned 16 caps for the Russia national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=6 September 2024}}
Career
After representing Russia in the 2003 Speedway World Cup,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005576/20030808/01002/0070 |title=Brits roar into their first final |website=Wolverhampton Express and Star |date=8 August 2003 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 September 2024}} Gafurov won the silver medal with Simon Vlasov and Siergiej Filiushin at the 2004 European Pairs Speedway Championship in Debrecen, Hungary.{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/mepar.php|title=European Pairs Speedway Championship|website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego|access-date=29 July 2021}}
He began his British leagues career when he signed for Oxford Silver Machine during the 2005 Elite League speedway season but only rode in three fixtures, although he did represent Russia again the 2005 World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6641858.gafurov-shines-world-team-cup/ |title=Gafurov shines in World Team Cup |website=Oxford Mail |access-date=6 September 2024 }}
Gafurov came to prominence after winning the Russian national championship in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmrosji.php |title=Russian Individual Speedway Championship |website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=7 April 2024}} He also enjoyed a better season in Britain with the Swindon Robins.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1104/renat-gafurov |title=Renat Gafurov |website=WWOS backup |access-date=7 April 2024}}
In 2009, he secured a second Russian national title and also won the 2009 Individual European Championship.{{cite web |url=https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/94762/gafurow-mistrzem-europy-jamrozy-tuz-za-podium |title=Gafurov is European Champion, Jamroży is just off the podium |website=Sporto We Fakty |access-date=7 April 2024}}
In 2011, he won 2011 European Speedway Club Champions' Cup with Vostok Vladivostok and returned to the British Leagues with Poole Pirates.{{cite web |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/8849463.speedway-gafurov-passes-english-test/ |title=Gafurov passes English test |website=Bournemouth Daily Echo |access-date=6 September 2024 }} In 2012 he signed for Belle Vue Aces.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/speedway/18352909 |title=Belle Vue Aces sign former Poole Pirates rider Renat Gafurov |website=BBC Sport |access-date=6 September 2024 }}
Honours
- Speedway World Cup
- 2003 - 8th place (5th place in Race-off
- 2004 - 7th place (4th place in Event 1
- 2007 - 6th place (4th place in Race-off
- 2008 - 6th place (4th place in Race-off
- Individual European Championship
- 2004 - {{flagicon|DEN}} Holsted - 7th place (8 points)
- 2005 - {{flagicon|ITA}} Lonigo - 6th place (10 points)
- 2007 - 11th place in Semi-Final A
- 2009 - {{flagicon|RUS}} Tolyatti - European Champion (13 pts + 1st)
- Individual U-19 European Championship
- 2000 - {{flagicon|SVN}} Ljubljana - 8th place (8 points)
- 2001 - {{flagicon|CZE}} Pardubice - 16th place (1 point)
- European Pairs Championship
- 2004 - {{flagicon|HUN}} Debrecen - Silver medal (13 points)
- 2007 - {{flagicon|ITA}} Terenzano - Bronze medal (12 points)
- 2008 - {{flagicon|AUT}} Natschbach-Loipersbach - Bronze medal (13 points)
- European Club Champions' Cup
- 2001 - {{flagicon|LVA}} Daugavpils - Silver medal (4 points)
- 2009 - {{flagicon|POL}} Toruń - 3rd place (11 pts) Vladivostok