Shaun SImpson Toughs It Out In Belgium Motorcross In MX1
07/09/2009 19:23:56

Issued Monday 7th August 14.00hrs UK

Red Bull KTM factory rider Shaun Simpson enjoyed a tough day of competition riding his MX2 machine against a field of top MX1 riders at the Belgian championship, as the twenty-one year old continues his road to fitness following his leg injury that has kept him off a bike for nearly three months. Opting to ride in the highly competitive MX1 class against many of the World's leading riders, Shaun was under no illusion about the task he had taken on.

Results were never the main aim of the outing, with Simpson more interested in using the opportunity to build up both his speed and fitness ahead of the final round of the 2009 FIM Motocross World Championship in Brazil this coming weekend. The hard pack track at Orp Le Grand was the young Scot's first competitive showing on this kind of surface since his return to action just three weeks ago.

The rough and undulating circuit definitely handed the MX1 bike a clear advantage, as Simpson had to come from mid pack on all three ocassions to earn his trio of respectable finishes against elite opposition. Shaun placed ninth, eleventh and eleventh over the three twenty-minute plus one lap motos to take eleventh spot overall. The short sprint races gave Simpson little chance to pull back through the field after the larger capacity bikes had out powered him away from the gate. The exercise once again provided Shaun with useful feedback as he continues to pioneer KTM's prototype link bike.

“I could have rode in the MX2 class and had an easy day, but that was never the idea. I am short of top level racing, so to ride against such a strong line up of MX1 riders on a difficult track has been a good opportunity for me ahead of this weekend's GP. Since I started riding again I have focussed on training in sand ready for Lierop, but with that now out of the way I knew I needed some time on a hard pack track.” Simpson explained.

"I think my results are as good as I could have expected against these guys, and the track certainly did me no favours riding an MX2 bike. It was real rough out there so it has been good training and has certainly given me a better feel for the link bike in these conditions." "We now have a good starting point ready for Brazil this weekend, where I hope I can build on what I achieved at Lierop. The best thing is that it feels good to be racing again, as I have certainly missed that feeling whilst I have been recovering." Shaun ended.

Belgian Motocross Championship – Orp Le Grand

MX1 Moto One: 1: Ramon 2: Coppins 3: Desalle 4: Leok 5: Priem 6: De Dycker

7: Van Daele 8: Caps 9: Simpson 10: Laeremans

MX1 Moto Two: 1: Desalle 2: Ramon 3: Leok 4: Swanepoel 5: Coppins 6: De Dycker

7: Priem 8: Van Daele 9: De Reuver 10: Caps 11: Simpson

MX1 Moto Three: 1: De Dycker 2: Desalle 3: Nagl 4: Coppins 5: Priem 6: Swanepoel

7: Van Daele 8: Leok 9: De Reuver 10: Laeremans 11: Simpson

MX1 Overall: 1: Desalle 67 2: Ramon 67 3: Coppins 56 4: De Dycker 55 5: Leok 51

6: Priem 46 7: Van Daele 41 8: Swanepoel 40 9: De Reuver 33 10: Caps 33 11: Simpson 32