Second career podium for Simpson in Sweden

The KTM UK Motocross team were buzzing last Sunday evening after Shaun Simpson scored his second career podium with third position at a damp and slippery Uddevalla circuit for the Grand Prix of Sweden.

The ninth round of fifteen in the 2008 FIM Motocross World Championship saw 25,000 people brave strangely chilly and wet conditions on Sunday after Saturday’s practice and qualification programme at the venue over 100km north of Gothenburg took place under hot sunshine. Simpson broke through the three-rider circle of domination in the MX2 class to obtain his second set of silverware after a mature and composed performance. His maiden top-three was taken at Sevlievo for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria.

Simpson again started the weekend in good form with second position in his qualification heat, equalling another personal best (taken one week ago in Germany). The 20 year old grabbed his second career holeshot in a rainy first moto and leapt away from the pack. For the first half of the 35 minutes and 2 laps distance only factory KTM rider Tyla Rattray could keep pace. Simpson led the world for 9 circulations of the full 21 before the South African pulled ahead. World champion Antonio Cairoli then caught up and took second place but Simpson retaliated in the last two laps and got to within one second of the Italian at the flag.
In the second moto Simpson again gunned his 250F into first place from the gate and once more fronted the field for the first half of the duration. On this occasion only Cairoli was able to find a way through as the Briton expertly kept the works bikes of Rattray and Searle behind him. Although his performance and runner-up position in Bulgaria earlier this year was impressive, his ride on this occasion was exceptional and crowned a breakthrough season so far.

“This is my second podium and it is still a new experience for me,” the modest Scot said. “I just want to be up here racing with the fastest guys in the world right now. Getting out of the gate well has been really helping me this year and I’ve been able to put in some really quick laps at the beginning. I have to work on the middle section of my race because that is where I seem to be losing it a little bit. I did not prefer the wet and slippery conditions but it made the track a bit harder and spread the times out.”

“I am still learning,” he continued. “When Tony overtook me I saw some other lines that were maybe half a second faster and I did not work those out while I was leading. Sometimes it is better to be second and see what you can get from the other guys.” “I hope I can make a few more rostrum appearances before the end of the year and keep on getting the good points,” he added. Simpson is now 24 points ahead of fifth position in the World Championship standings.

James Noble went to the gate with 19th place after MX1 Timed Practice on Saturday. The Englishman gained positions in both motos and collected 15th and 13th for 13th place overall. “It was a bit of a struggle to get a good time in qualification and the whole session was a disaster really,” he remarked. “After two mediocre starts I managed to pull through to 15th in the first race and 13th in the second. Overall it was not too bad but I need to get a better position on Saturday to help me more on Sunday.” Noble is 17th in the world championship standings and 18 points from further promotion.

Team Principal Roger Magee was naturally thrilled with Simpson’s achievement. “I missed the first one in Bulgaria and I had the feeling for a while now that Sweden would be a contender for another podium, because he has had some good speed here in the past,” he said. “It was not easy out there and the rain made it bumpy and technically challenging. To finish in front of Rattray and Searle was a superb result. I am sure he will take some more confidence for the next GP and who knows what the rest of the season will hold? The Team is really looking forward to the “home” MXGP in Ireland which will be held at Fairyhouse Horse Racing Circuit on 30-31st August 2008. Hopefully Shaun will give the anticipated large crowd something to celebrate!!”

The Team will make the long journey to South Africa in two weeks time as the circuit at Nelspruit, on the foot of Kruger Park, will entertain the tenth round of the championship.

By: KTM UK, Photo: Paul McCready