Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has marked the opening of the presidential election race by riding a Harley Davidson alongside a fleet of Russian bikers.
The former KGB operative, who has straddled Russian politics since he first came to power in December 1999, is looking for another stint as the Kremlin boss, having relinquished the post in 2008 at the end of his constitutionally mandated term.
Putin, who donned black leather for his three-wheeled turn at a festival in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk to mark the city’s liberation from the Nazis, is currently Russia's most popular politician, with a Levada opinion poll putting him well ahead of Dmitry Medvedev, the man who replaced him in the Kremlin.
According to Reuters, Putin told the assembled throng: "I want to talk to you, brothers. It is cool that you do not forget the heroes of the past. Boys, girls you are great. Not only are you having fun while riding your bikes but you are also combining it with patriotic deeds."
Earlier this week, Medvedev set a date of December 4th for elections to the State Duma, with the presidential election to follow in March next year.
Speaking in June, Putin said the campaign leading up to the March 2012 election would be "dirty". However he has not formally declared whether or not he will run.