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His name is Vladimir Leonov, and a few days ago the 24-year-old became the first Russian rider to win a round of the CIV Italian domestic championship, one of the most competitive in Europe, in the Superstock 600 category. Leonov is now second overall in the standings, behind regular European campaigner Dino Lombardi and he is going all out for the title with four rounds remaining.

In 2012 Vladimir Leonov, who was born on April 26, 1987 in Donetsk in Russia, will take part in the FIM Supersport World Championship. WorldSBK.com caught up with him at Misano.

"I raced outside Russia for the first time in 2007 when I took part in a European Superstock 600 race at Brands Hatch. In the next two years I did the 250 cc World Championship and in 2010 I began the season in Moto2. I was sure the world championship was at my level but I didn't have any valid support nor the right people to help my talent emerge."

And what happened then?

"I found the right people in Italy: they suggested I started from scratch, they explained how to set up a bike, how to approach the races, and how to improve my lines. The results are coming now, because I've always felt myself to be a strong rider."

Leonov races for the team belonging to Alexander Yakhnich, a Moscow businessman who will also be the local promoter for the Superbike round.

"I'm not thinking about the world championship, at the moment my only aim is to win the Stock 600 title, I'm living out my dream and for the future there's plenty of time."