Shaun Simpson on his favourite racing memory and future plans
In the latest episode of SS24 D.I.Y, Shaun Simpson has been answering some questions for his fans – it’s always cool to see MXGP riders interact with their fans!
Simpson got asked about his favourite racing memory and no surprise it’s the GP of Lierop in 2013 when he won his first ever GP overall on the JK Yamaha. “It has to be Lierop in 2013 because it was just such a majestic weekend for myself. It was my first over Grand Prix overall win, it was the last MX1 World Championship event as well before things changed to MXGP. We rolled the bike out of the camper, rode all weekend at the front of the field. I came away with a first and a third for the overall GP win. I beat the likes of Cairoli and Strijbos, it was just an amazing weekend for me and one I will never forget”, Simpson stated.
The Scot isn’t getting any younger but at 32 years old still has the speed for top ten and top five results and he hopes to be in MXGP for the two to three years before he hangs up the boots. “Probably another two to three years, I’d like to see myself in MXGP for that amount of time. There are a few factors that will come into it – obviously running my own team at the minute, it’s quite a busy schedule to get everything fit in. It all depends if the drive and the determination is there in 2-3 years time but at the moment the way things are going and the way I feel on the bike at the weekends, I don’t see why I haven’t got two or three years in me yet”, added Simpson.
In terms of his plans for the future and expanding the team by signing up another rider, Simpson didn’t rule it out but another MXGP rider whilst he’s under the awning is unlikely.
“That’s probably going to be something I have to roll with, at the moment I need to make sure it’s all about me and all the sponsors I have on-board, we’ve all got the same goal and that’s to make Shaun Simpson as ready as possible to race MXGP and try to win the British Championship. We can’t minimise that goal by having another rider in the setup at the moment, if 2020 goes well and more sponsors on-board or the budget allows things to open up for another rider – then I’d love to work with another rider in the team. Maybe not someone at MXGP level to begin with because that would be direct competition within my own team but a younger guy maybe in MX2 or the European championship. That would be pretty cool to try and teach him my little secrets and try and get them in the top ten in the European or MX2 championship”, Simpson concluded.
You can watch the full episode, he answers even more questions.
Pic: Ray Archer
