Vladimir Putin addresses biker rally from battleship

RUSSIAN prime minister Vladimir Putin has reminded his people once again that he rather than his political rival president Dmitry Medvedev is the real man. Putin led a column of bikers to a festival before delivering a speech from the stage - a modified battleship.

Russians are currently on tenterhooks as Putin and Medvedev decide between themselves who will stand in next year’s presidential election. But there is now little doubt which of the two has the bikers' vote.

Yesterday, Putin (above), wearing black clothes and fingerless gloves, joined the Night Wolves Motorcycle Club at the 16th Bike Festival in Novorossiysk, a port on the Black Sea.

Putin is reportedly a friend of the club's leader, Alexander Zaldostanov, aka 'The Surgeon'. According to RIA Novosti, a biker introduced to Putin said: "We are glad to see you again." To which the prime minister replied: "Shall we hit the road?"

Putin, riding his modified Harley-Davidson trike, then led a column of bikers to the battleship accompanied by a hard rock anthem, before mounting the stage to remind the bikers that almost 68 years ago the town was liberated from the Nazis and telling them: "You're not just having fun and riding motorcycles, which in itself is not bad, but you combine the fun with excellent and patriotic events which are necessary for our people and our country."

Putin's latest hard-man act comes just four days after he turned up - along with a gaggle of reporters and photographers - at a provincial doctor’s surgery to be treated for a strained shoulder. Putin said he had injured himself during judo training, but the episode happily afforded Russians the traditional summertime spectacle of their prime minister with his shirt off. ·