Shaun CAN be top dog in '09
By TMX Archives on 5th Mar 09
JD went to Hawkstone last weekend and witnessed first-hand what a brilliant motocrosser Shaun Simpson is turning out to be, but he's got to work hard at winning the MX2 title... NO doubt about it, Shaun Simpson is the boy when it comes to motocross in 2009. The quiet, unassuming Scot has done everything asked of him, and more, in the early season and on Sunday gave a big Hawkstone crowd something to cheer about - and more importantly gave us all an MX2 World Championship season to look forward to.
What I'd hate to happen is for us all to get way too excited too soon. The way some people are talking already make it look like Shaun only has to turn-up, ride round and become world champion. This is a totally unrealistic view and it certainly isn't one that Shaun shares!
Of course he has total belief in himself and Hawkstone showed what a talent he is. Yes, he won both legs (not to mention the cash for the head to head challenge - and good on him) but it was the way he won that meant much more. Like his mentor Stefan Everts before him, Shaun was always in total control. He wasn't fast and fragile, he was fast and cool and dominating and his riding really sent a message out to his MX2 rivals.
In a post race interview Shaun said, "Of course I'm happy with the way things are going but I'm not expecting to win every world championship race, there are five or six riders all capable of winning each weekend and I am one of them.”
It's no surprise that Shaun has such a level head on his young shoulders. He's been brought-up right and with a Dad, the legendary Willie Simpson, who has been there and done that in motocross over several decades, Shaun has certainly been brought-up in the real world.
Willie spared myself and Mannix five minutes last Sunday morning before the racing started and while he wasn't complaining about his lot in life for a second, he did say how pleased he was that Shaun had got the chance of racing real factory machinery.
"Don't get me wrong, I had some good bikes in my time but what I really wanted was a chance on a bike with a factory engine. That's really why I always rode 500cc bikes, because they had the power but against a factory engine you had to work hard.”
Sunday was a big success for the newly-formed HIMX which organised the meeting. Although comprised of members of the Salop club the event was NOT promoted by Salop but by a group of individuals using their own brass.
I was particularly impressed with the track preparation. HIMX prime mover, Dave Williams, actually did put his back into it, putting himself out of action, hurting his back slipping while climbing out of an earth mover. The track had been re-shaped with several new sections and while the big whoops round the back weren't to everyone's taste, by and large they were all welcome improvements.
It really was an excellent day's racing.
MEANWHILE, over at Low North Park, Scarborough, the 2009 British Solo Trials Championships kicked-off and sadly for me I can't be in two places at any one time. These date clashes, as we keep saying, are inevitable, given the crowded competition calendar.
However, I did keep up with what was going on and all reports received said what a fantastic job the club had done. There was one recurring theme – why had they never run a British Championship round before now?
I honestly don't know the answer to that one but I would think it is odds on that they will run one again judging by the feedback they will get from last weekend.
The venue has it all, lots of hard-standing, access roads on site and acres of terrain to make sections of whatever severity you wish to build-in. You have to hand it to any club that has the foresight to nail down a plot of land and Scarborough have done a fantastic job with their venue.
John Lampkin made the point that (apart from the trial having the wrong winner – in his opinion!) the muddy nature of the Low North Park ground would lend itself to a brilliant world round – if they would go back to running some events in winter like they used to. Said John: "It would bring some variety to the world rounds. When they are all in summer they are all the same, dry rock events, but a bit of mud would make the riders think.”
FINALLY, on behalf of T+MX and its readers, I'd just like to wish Gordon Crockard a speedy recovery following his horror start-straight accident at Hawkstone on Sunday.
The Ulsterman is and always has been one of the most popular riders out there, always giving 100 per cent while not always having the best of luck. As the afternoon's racing progressed I lost track of the number of times I was asked, "Have you heard how Gordy is?”
Get well soon Crock – you've an awful lot of fans out there rooting for you.