Makes me proud to say I’m British
By John Dickinson on 13th Sep 13
First of all this week, massive congratulations to Shaun Simpson and to the British Ladies TdN team for their fantastic International success last weekend.
Success in a week when the leader of a world superpower allegedly (I don't particularly want a visit from men in long black coats and dodgy umbrellas) scoffed at Britain for being: "A small island which no-one listens to!”
Shows what he knows.
The off-road world is certainly taking notice even if no-one else is...
I am particularly pleased for Shaun – as I suspect are many MX fans regardless of nationality – as he quietly represents, whether he likes it or not, the (usually) silent majority.
Shaun is THE local lad made good.
There has been no flash schoolboy career, no outrageous claims, no " look-at-me” stunts just to gain publicity.
What you get is a rider who has made the absolute most of his talent through hard work and a gritty determination.
Shaun has had more than his share of bad luck down the line but he never complains, never blames anyone else.
It is absolutely typical that he won his first GP on a super-tough track.
Not on a thinly-disguised road-race surface or a finely-graded man-made supercross look-alike but on a rough as they come, heavily rutted, deep, heavy sand circuit that genuinely sorted the men from the supermen.
While Shaun was busy turning the MX1 paddock on its head, our ladies were equally busy showing the rest of the world how to ride a trials bike.
Britain has created a lot of turmoil over the past couple of years arguing over ‘Stop' and ‘No-Stop' observation rules.
But we must have been doing something right along the way to bring along talent like Emma Bristow, Becky Cook and Joanne Coles.
And this hot trio simply ran away with the Trial des Nations.
Just like Shaun, all three are a total credit to the sport, always ready with a smile, happy to talk and always give their best.
They make you proud to be British!
