Home hero Simpson top Brit at Matterley Basin
By Team TMX on 4th Mar 20
MXGP Shaun Simpson Matterley Basin
Multi-time British champion Shaun Simpson led the home heroes, er, home at Matterley Basin with an 11th-placed overall finish at the MXGP of GB on Sunday.
The Scot, who this year is racing for his own SS24 KTM team in the premier MXGP class, went to the line in 11th following a Saturday programme that was shortened because of high winds.
His start in Sundays opening moto was good but contact with eventual overall winner Jeffrey Herlings punted him off the track and he rejoined the race dead last before fighting his way up to 18th despite a crash after colliding with Brian Bogers with consistently fast lap times.
A more uneventful start in race two placed him just outside the top 10 and he crossed the line in 11th with a late pass on MX2 world champ Jorge Prado.
If youd asked me coming into the weekend then I would have liked an overall top-10 finish, said Shaun.
There were shenanigans on Saturday and the fuss over warm-up Sunday morning but the points make the prizes.
I would have liked to have been in the top 10 and with 18th and 11th I never thought Id be close but we ended up 11th Ill take that as a positive among the hundreds from the weekend like the help from sponsors, family, friends, the compliments on the set-up, reaction from the fans and working with the bike to find solutions in a competitive scenario.
Honestly, Im buzzing. I want to go home tonight and work even harder tomorrow. Lets just keep this thing rolling. There will be races where riders have one good moto and one bad and I just need to keep consistent.
It would be nice to pressure the top five now and then but if I can keep going inside the top group and keep making 20-odd points a weekend then that will bring me up.
The more I do it, the stronger and fitter I am going to get with the front guys. I was really happy with how I rode and how the bike felt in the second race and we will take that onto the next one.
I felt comfortable out there and if you asked me to do another 30 minutes around that track then not a problem. Thats how I need to feel. If I am on edge and sketchy then I wont twist that throttle back but right now I am good.
More like this…
Deep sand awaits Team HRC in Valkenswaard for 2020 MXGP of Netherlands
After successfully negotiating the first round of the MXGP season with second and fifth overall results respectively, both riders are confident that they can maintain their high standards
Glenn Coldenhoff places eighth overall at British MXGP
GasGas Factory Racing has successfully completed their participation in the opening round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the MXGP of Great Britain held at Matterley Basin.
Jeremy Seewer continues to best his Yamaha Factory team-mates as MXGP starts 2020 season
Despite finishing ahead of his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team-mates at the MXGP of Great Britain, Jeremy Seewer was left a little disappointed after just missing out on the MXGP podium at Matterlay Basin.