Shaun Simpson has won the last two sand GP’s. Photo by: Ray Archer
Shaun Simpson of the Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM team has been slowing building up to something special. It isn’t just in 2015 that the Scotsman has shown improvement, it’s been happening now for five years, however the 2015 season has without doubt brought Simpson somewhere he has never been before.
Now riding the crest of a wave Simpson is looking at the next goal, top three in the World, and who knows maybe in a year or two World Motocross Champion. It all sounded out of reach for the 27 year old, but with hard work, consistent results and keeping away from injury those goals might turn into reality, instead of just a dream.
Here is part one of a very interesting interview with one of the real old school GP riders. part two will be online next week.
Shaun, it’s been a great year for you, without question your best in your career. Would you agree?
I would say so. I have never been one to learn things quickly it always takes me a while to get used to it, to understand where I am. The last four or five seasons I have steadily improved, I think my championship positions goes it like 13th, 11th, 9th, 7th last year and this year I am currently 4th. I have always improved every year, and I had this game plan a few years back to try and break into the top seven, then the top five, then the top three and then go for a championship. I don’t know if I really believed that at some points, but I believe that now. Everyone is asking Febvre does he think he would win the championship if everyone was not injured, and it could be the same question asked to me, do I believe I would be fourth if there are guys out. I would give them the same answer as Febvre on the weekend. I have had injuries in the past and I had a good chance to be world champion in 2009 and things didn’t go well for me. You have to be in it to win it. Guys in the past who have won it like Steve Ramon, he didn’t even win a GP in the season, but if you look back at the results you only see who the world champion was, not how they got there. Ten years ago they might have had 12 rounds, but now its 18 rounds and you have to be there at the end and I am a guy who is maybe 5% slower, but I am always there. Look at Gautier Paulin, he had a chance to be world champion up until last weekend and he hasn’t had a great season, but he was always there and he finishes second in the championship and he might have learnt some things and go for the championship next year.
When you mention your goals it makes me think of Josh Coppins. Josh worked hard and slowly build his confidence and speed, and that 2007 season he was on another level to everyone else. Five years earlier nobody would have expected that. Do you use Josh as a bit of a bench mark?
I would use Josh as a great example. He was a hard working guy, and he will tell you his style, technique or natural ability wasn’t as good as some of the other guys, but bike set-up, hours of testing, and his training got him there. His own program he worked out. A quote Josh actually told me was if he knew his body and his program when he was at his best, when he first started doing GP (at the beginning of his career), he could have done a lot more. And I am in the same boat, I am 27, but I feel like I have four or five or even six years left in me, I still feel young, I feel fit. I have had four or five good consistent years with very little injury and in the last years I have learnt so much from myself, which have opened up new doors. I am also getting the extra support I feel like I deserve as far as material, with suspension, or engine, help from the factory, a couple of extra guys around to help with stuff. For sure Josh is somebody I base myself on. I feel I have a lot to give and I feel my goals are achievable now.
It isn’t hard to see your working hard on your social media, building your character and showing it to your fans. I know Adam Wheeler (leading GP journalist) is helping you, and he does a great job. How important is this part of your career?
Adam (Wheeler) has been a great friend and has helped me a lot ever since I started the GPs. Same as Ray Archer (legendary GP photographer), seems I know those guys forever. Adam has his eye on the off-track duties, being a journalist, It’s nice to speak to my team and dad and stuff about the bike, but off-track Adam is a great asset, and has been great and helped me a lot. Last year or two years ago I thought I had a chance for a factory team, and having that factory team you are also getting a lot of publicity. This year with the team we have, good solid support from KTM, also with my dad and my brother we know on-track we could do a good job on the track. Now doing stuff with my website, updating that regularly, social media stuff its improving my media side. You know this year we have had some British riders injured, like Jake and Tommy, and being that Tommy is injured and he has been the top British rider the last years, but with him injured, it’s been difficult for the British fans to support him or look for him racing, and the attention has shifted to me and also Max (Anstie). Max is doing a great job in the MX2 class. I have jumped on that and tried to get as many extra fans. Also the trip to Unadilla and the win in Lommel, then Assen. All the American people have also picked up my social media stuff. This weekend we have the last round of the British championship, and I can be British champion, then in a month we have the Motocross of Nations, and there we will have Elliot Banks Browne fans, or Tommy Searle fans, or Jake Nicholls fans, everyone in the UK will get behind us for one weekend and you feel that, and social media has really helped that a lot and I feel like I am using that to my advantage. It’s a good thing, your personal profile off track is really an important thing. There are not that many riders, not even factory riders doing it properly, and I am not saying I am doing it perfect, but with the resources I do my best. Also to show the factory teams out there that I am doing a good job. Even down to the sponsors, letting them know what I am up to and my sponsors enjoy the fact I am keeping them updated on social media.
I saw that it was mentioned you would get factory support in 2016, but then Adam asked you that question again at Assen. Is that the case, will you have factory bikes next year?
I think it is still in the planning, but the long and short of it is, I will ride for KTM in 2016 and it will be a full supported bike. KTM and Husqvarna are used to running six bikes and next year they will run four bikes, so there is material over if you could put it that way. Now it depends on which team I am riding for, which stickers I put on that bike, there is interest from two or three satellite teams wanting me and I am in negotiations with those teams and also my current team. Around the time of the MXoN I will have decided which one of those set-ups will give me the most support and a factory like atmosphere to do the job from, week in and week out. It isn’t just the material, but also to have the right set-up for practicing and testing, to give you the best chance to do your best. I am excited about that. I have always felt at home at KTM, even in 2008, 2009 and 2010 when everything didn’t go well at KTM. I am not disappointed that they signed Glenn, or I don’t have a spot in the factory tent, because I am not sure it suited me, but I feel with equal material in a team like the one I am in now, that suits me well. It wouldn’t suit everyone, but it suits me. The last little bit of the puzzle with the backup to get my career that little bit further.
