The #24 is getting used to winning. Photos courtesy of Ray Archer
Victory at home is as sweet as it gets, and for Wilvo Virus Performance KTM’s Shaun Simpson last weekend’s Hawkstone Park International gave him the perfect start to what will be a tough MXGP season.
Poor starts didn’t hamper his ride to the top of the podium, as he beat home some of the big names of the MXGP class. Simpson finished ahead of Clement Desalle and Ben Townley, two of the major contenders for Romain Febvres title.
For the first time since probably 2009 Simpson is being called a contender for a world title, and it’s something all his rivals should listen to.
We caught up with Simpson and asked him about his weekend, and what we can expect from him in 2016. Also some news on the Simpson Army at the bottom of the interview.
The word I am hearing from everyone after Hawkstone Park is contender. It’s been a while since you were called a legitimate contender. Is that what you are thinking?
Basically, all I want to do is better myself, and looking at my 2015 season, all things considered, I am going to have to be doing pretty damn well. I just try and worked on my weak points in the winter time and just try and improve and that is my main goal for the season and last year I was fourth in the championship. So I need to look at second or third, but the ultimate goal for everyone is to be world champion, and I think I am in there with a shout. I am excited at the prospect at that at the moment and I feel so comfortable on the bike and the pace I am riding. This is only the first race of the season, but if does give you an indication where your speed is at. The boxes are getting ticked at the moment and I just need to keep it on two wheels and make no mistakes before the main race in Qatar in two weeks’ time.
Your first race wasn’t an easy one was it?
The first race I had the perfect start, a lead of about three or four bikes lengths, up the start straight, into the first corner, I crossed the holeshot line first. Down into the second turn and because it was slippery my rear wheel came out supermoto style, and I was kind of backing it in with the rear wheel and the engine stopped. I stalled it basically, and with everyone speeding past me I couldn’t hear my bike. I ended up starting in last, which wasn’t great, because I spent the whole race eating roost. Even though the track was one line, it was still technical and I managed to come through to third. I got onto the back of Tommy Searle and Ben Townley, passed them, then I passed Kevin Strijbos, and Kevin Wouts. I was then on the back wheel of Brad Anderson, but at that point I had limited vision, and my helmet felt so much heavier because of the sand. Brad was riding good lines, and I couldn’t’ get him. I was pretty happy with third considering where I had come from.
How about the second moto, it went a little more to plan.
The second race, I knew my speed was good enough. I was second out of the gate behind Clement (Desalle) and I could follow him and gauge my speed against his. I saw that I could ride with him without pushing too hard, and I started waiting for a mistake from Clement, that didn’t come. I then found a nice little line just before going up the hill and I passed him. From there I could ride my own pace and gaped him and won by four or five seconds. Unbeknown to me Townley was riding great in the second moto and managed to passed Desalle on the last lap. so I got the overall victory. The ultimate goal was to win my MX1 class.
Then the Super final you again had to fight through the pack.
The third race, they did it a little bit different this year with the Super-final start. Normally the MX2 guys lined up on the left hand side and the MX1 guy’s line-up on the right hand side. The allows you to prepare a gate. This year they gave free reign to anyone, so the MX2 guys had taken all the best gates. It’s a concrete start, but some of the spots have more stand on them, and are better prepared. So when the MX1 guys got up there, we had more or less just concrete. I rolled in next to Adam Sterry and Ben Watson, so the position was good, but I just had concrete and when the gate dropped my back wheel just spun. I couldn’t have had a worse jumps and I was mid-pack on the first few corners. I passed Tommy, Ben, Kevin, Clement, all the top MX1 guys and I came through to third, close to Max and Jeffrey, at least I could see them, then Max made a mistake and gave me second place. Jeffrey was too far gone and won by five or six seconds. To beat Jeffrey at Hawkstone Park would have been difficult, for sure when you give him a head start. It would have been nice to challenge, or get a little closer, but I was happy with how the day went.
I can imagine that while nobody wants a poor start, the poor starts actually made for good preparation?
It can be Geoff, sometimes when you ride around out the front, or in the top three, you kind of get complacent, just happy you are in a good position. Coming through the pack you take some risks, take some different lines, find out where you can pass and can’t pass. In the second race I was playing about behind Clement, trying a few different things. They were not always working as easily when you are behind somebody like Clement, compared to passing some of the slower riders in the first moto, but it does make you more relaxed. When you are behind somebody like Clement, or Kevin Strijbos, and you are playing with lines, and not losing any time, that gives you confidence. If you are able to do that and be on the same pace, and not just following their wheel. Then you can push a little harder and you know you can pass them. I felt I could pass Clement in that second moto, and that is what I did.
Have you won Hawkstone before?
I won in 2014 I think, I saw a photo last week with me and Matiss Karro on the podium in Hawkstone, but also in the 250cc class in 2008, against Tommy Searle and Tyla Rattray. I am not 100% sure, but I think I won in 2014.
Photo courtesy of Ray Archer
You must have some great memories from Hawkstone Park as a kid?
I remember a few cool things about Hawkstone Park. I remember going down in our transit van, warming up with our diesel heater on, it was freezing cold. I remember getting up early and walking around the paddock, looking at all the shining factory bikes, everything that was alien to me as a kid, because we had simple bikes, something we had in the garage, and just did the hard work. Seeing all those factory teams and the top riders was amazing as a kid and it’s something I really thought I could reach. Another nice story was when my dad rode the support class at the International. I think it was Ben Watsons dad Rob Meeks who was racing dad that day. They both had 500cc Honda machines. There used to be a ski-jump half way up the hill. My dad was taking this line in the center of the track and over the jump, while Rob was taking a line on the left hand side with no jump, and it was a really good line. I spoke to dad and told him that is where he needs to be riding. He took my advice in the last race of the day and passed somebody going up the hill for the win, using the line I spotted for him. I was pumped as a kid to help him get the win.
We have talked about it before, but already after two or three pre-season races the excitement is really rising. Last year with RV it was exciting, but this year the level just continues to rise. There are some really impressive performances already in the pre-season races, with Van Horebeek, Townley, Desalle, Bobryshev, yourself. As a fan or a media guy, I get goose bumps just thinking about what is possible in Qatar. How exciting is it getting as a racer to look at the opening in Qatar?
I think it is excitement, and it’s still very unknown. We have had some pre-season races, but not everyone has raced each other. It will come down to who brings their A-Game to Qatar. I mean some won’t be mentally strong, some guys have some silly little injuries and you just need to stay focused and believe in yourself and I know if I turn up with what I have to give I will be there or there about. Look at these top guys and even the guys in America, look at James Stewart, everyone thought he would dominate, but he’s just had so many problems. I mean if you tried to pick the top five from Qatar you could be totally wrong. The younger guys from MX2, these guys are going to be interesting. I just try and concentrate on myself and I am not a spring chicken anymore and I know it’s not just about Qatar or Thailand. You need to be there every single weekend, and that is what pays off and I am looking at the long haul.
The bike you raced in Hawkstone, is that pretty much your GP bike?
The bike is more or less the GP bike. We have the factory support from KTM, so the engines are from them. I am using the same set-up for suspension as the last couple of years with WP cone value 48 millimeter, which is slightly different to the 52 millimeter the factory guys are using. I feel more comfortable and I am working brother on this and he’s been working with WP for four years now and we get to work together on that, which is nice. That is something we really enjoy and he has so much experience. That is the main two parts of the bike for me and everyone knows if you have a good motor and you can ride it will because the suspension is working, then you are half way there. I think we have a good package, it’s still by no means full factory, we are still missing a few bits and pieces. I think the other parts we have are just as good and the fine details of stickers and plastics many companies are good. We are using Pirelli tyres again, which I really like.
It’s amazing, I remember a year or two you were looking at going to race in Australia. Things sure have changed for the better.
It sure is, you know, there was a point where nothing was coming forward, we made some calls to Australia and maybe I was too late, or it was the wrong time, but to be honest I never saw myself moving from Belgium, from the GP’s, because I do feel like I am connected to home in Europe. If you move to Australia or America, you more or less need to start all over again. Things are good now, but don’t get me wrong, there have been some bad years with teams not listening to me, or break downs, low self-esteem. I didn’t believe in myself anymore and I really had to turn it around and graft my ass off during the week and a lot of extra things pro-riders shouldn’t need to do. I think a lesser person would have given up, but I feel I am strong inside and I believed in myself, together with my dad and the teams from the last couple of years and it’s those close people that also helped, but I was the guy who had to get on the seat and get it down and I hope these next few years I can do something special.
Thanks Shaun and see you in Qatar.
No worries Geoff, looking forward to reading this and see you in a couple of weeks.
Simpson Army
For the second year Shaun is running his special ‘Simpson Army’. The fan club carries special benefits for those who wish to sign-up and follow the KTM racer through the campaign and as he aims to improve on fourth position in the FIM Motocross World Championship secured last season. Check out the website for details: http://www.shaunsimpson.com/simpson-army/
Shaun competes at the highest level thanks to: Alpinestars, Fly Racing, GoPro, Leatt, Scott, Shoei and can race worldwide in the best shape thanks to: Carnegie Fuels, Chambers Engineering, David Beatt Borrteknik, Dyce Carriers, D&D Services, Dr Noodles, Harris Hire, Ironsight, Kellcon Group, Portsmouth Motocross Club, Racebikebitz, Safe Access, Sitesealants, Step1 Fitness, Steve Benton Transport, TWMA. Shaun is also able to count on: Bawbags, Cleverbanners, Compresssport, CTI, DW Bikes, Germicadeals, Instant Shelters, Madison, Ogio, Rockwell and Push
www.shaunsimpson.com
