As the 2010 motocross MX2 season drew to a close in Fermo, Italy last weekend we caught up with Britain's Shaun Simpson to get his views on the campaign and his plans for the future...
Shaun, what has been your best moment of the season?
It’s been a tough season but I think the best part was probably my podium in Spain. I had a good race there and put two not-so-good races together – six and four or something – but I made the podium and there’s nothing better than being on the podium with the other guys, in front of the crowds and the journalists. I think that was the highlight of the year.
And the worst moment?
I think there’s been a few worst moments this year. It’s difficult to put my finger on any one. Like today in Fermo was a really bad race, I think it’s probably the worst. I also had some difficult times in Latvia and also Sweden when I was feeling in myself not fit and was really struggling. So, yeah there’s not been one particular thing to say but I think today in Fermo was maybe the worst – the worst result anyway.
Maybe Brazil, when I dislocated my shoulder I forgot that.
Ray Archer/Red Bull Photofiles
What about your final result in the World Championships? It’s probably not what you expected at the beginning of the season.
I think going into this year, for sure, I was going for the championship and after a few races I thought ok, top three is possible and then even coming to today, fourth place was still possible. So had I had a good race then fourth was still possible, but I finished eighth so I’m really disappointed about that. It was really tight in the end and the guys who beat me did a good job today and I did a bad job. That’s really my own fault but I think the injury cost me fourth in the championship because I was easily in front of Jeffrey after last weekend but if I didn’t have a bad race in Brazil, so it’s a big disappointment and I hope I can forget it and carry on. Move to next year already.
What specifically did you not like about the track in Fermo?
I think it was just really hard and fast, and everybody was going the same speed – it was almost like Formula one or road racing. There was such small time between each guy, and between first and 15th position was maybe one-and-a-half/two seconds. Not so much. So, that’s what I don’t like, I like tracks that are more technical and you have to think what you’re gonna do and here we didn’t have that.
But to be a champion you have to ride everything, so I have no excuse.
What are your plans now the season’s finished?
First, I need to check my shoulder. I think maybe it needs an operation, so that’s going to be the first thing on my list. And then after that if I need an operation then I need I think three months to recover, so I’ll go home to Scotland to visit some friends and do some things there but when I have an operation it’s like six weeks in a sling so I can do almost nothing other than sit on the couch and get fat again [laughs]. Then, you need to work harder at the beginning of the season when you’re training. At some points of this year I lost the fun again in my life and in my riding so I want to find it again.
Ray Archer/Red Bull Photofiles
What about your bike during the season – was it always perfect?
No, the engine was super, really good but I had a lot of issues with the suspension this year – since we changed to the linkage system on the KTM, it’s been really difficult for me. I think for Marvin and Jeffrey it’s been easier because Jeffrey is just a kid, he’s wide open and Marvin is so technical on the bike. He chooses lines really good and I’m just an old school guy that goes through the biggest holes and I need the bike to work good for me. I didn’t feel I got a good set-up all year. In the sand races it wasn’t so bad because the bike was handling normally in the sand but especially on tracks like this or in Latvia where there are many bumps, there’s no smooth line you have to take the bumps and I really didn’t feel confident with my bike.
Where will you be in 10 years time?
I like to think that I can ride until I’m 30 like Steve Ramon and [Stefan] Everts and these guys. And afterwards I still want to be involved with the sport, I love it and I love to watch the races and I always watch MX1. It sounds strange but I think I would quite like to be a mechanic after being a rider. I’m quite technical with my bike anyway and my brother is my mechanic but I’d still like to work on the bike and I think it would be nice. That’s just an idea but still involved somehow, maybe as a coach or something to do with the team. I still want to be involved anyway, I think it’s such a nice sport and I never want to forget it. Some people just say they want to go home and sleep or get a normal job but no, not really.
Do you want to step up to MX1?
Yeah, I’ve thought about it a lot and I thought, ok I want to go to MX1. But, after thinking about it, you know, I’ve one more year and this is my last chance to stay so I’m really not sure. It depends on the team, I have a few offers from MX1 and also a few offers from MX2 so I need to decide in the next days. It’ll be nice when it’s finished. With KTM before, half-way through the season I was fixed and you don’t have to think about it but now, I’m thinking ‘ok, what do I need to do?’ But once it’s fixed I can fix my shoulder and then go for it again in the new season – it should be better.
Find out more about Shaun Simpson here and for more 2-wheeled action, click here
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