Exclusive: Shaun Simpson talks 2019 deal and how the ACU are getting it wrong

By Adam Wheeler on 19th Oct 18

Former multi British Champion and Great Britains only MXGP Grand Prix winner this decade, Shaun Simpson, is relishing the chance to refit some old slippers this winter as his deal with the new RFX KTM team should see the 30-year-old Scot return to familiar surroundings.

Simpson claimed two of his national titles and two of four premier class Grand Prix victories with the KTM 450 SX-F (a motorcycle that won 19 of 20 MXGPs in 2018) that benefitted from the tuning prowess of John Volleberg and the #24s close link with WP Suspension.

Simpson rounded-off an injury-hit two-year term with the Wilvo Yamaha squad with seventh place overall in Imola two weeks ago and swiftly announced his union with Richard Dyes renewed MXGP and British Championship unit and a re-alliance with the Austrian marque.

It is quite a different set-up but with quite a lot of the same factors in play, Simpson said.

The KTM/WP combination will already give us a good base to get started with and Volleberg Motorsport is definitely our first point-of-call to get an engine done. I dont think well be far away.

There is an element of putting the slippers back on with KTM and how to go around the bike. Ill know what we need to work on. Im looking forward to making it my own.

RFX KTM was born from the split with the JK Racing MXGP setup as Dye, backed by Paul Irwins expansive Blackburn-based RaceFX firm, chased fresh goals. JK fielded Ivo Monticelli this year but the Italian only picked up points in 16 of the 40 GP motos.

For Dye the division meant the creation of a new international British team; one that will tackle Grand Prix, European Championship and British Championship fronts.

We decided to split with JK about six months ago, explains Dye. The majority of sponsors for the team had changed dramatically in the last five years and in the end we were bringing three-quarters of the partners.

I can only thank Riccardo [Boschi] for all the work he did but in the end, there was a conflict of interest. Our ambitions for MXGP were to give as much as we could in terms of preparation and bike set-up and, to be honest, we were over taking 20th place. Riccardo had a lot of riders planted by Yamaha thats all-well-and-good but then you cannot puff out your chest about the lack of results. We didnt want to accept that anymore. All our work with Ivo was good but I felt we were also limited by the amount we could really do for him so we decided to make the move. We feel with the right backing and the right rider we can turn some heads in MXGP.

Ironically Simpson won his first Grand Prix with the JK team in 2014 at Lierop in Holland, but he quickly became a target for Dye, Irwin and other sponsors once his Yamaha stint was coming to an end.

There were 5-6 quality riders on the market, guns for hire, says Dye. [Evgeny] Bobryshev was probably my number one candidate but that was before we knew Shaun was available and then the stars aligned. We knew we could build a good bike for him and hed be the focus of our team.

When I pick up the phone and mention Shaun Simpson the answer is yes, how many or how much do you want? That answer comes straight away.

Simpson has competed and triumphed for Hitachi KTM, Wilvo STR KTM and Wilvo Yamaha (his last success coming at the 2017 Grand Prix of Indonesia) and the RFX saddle meant another change, even if there are common elements. I dont think its a concern, he says on the swap and the relatively novel team environment. When you change teams anyway then it usually means new people and getting to grips with a new way to work.

Ive known of Dickie for a few years now as well as Clinton and Paul. It is a tight little group of guys and thats something Im looking forward to working with and Ive been able to give a lot of my own input. Im really keen on this setup and how we can go racing actually. I feel that everyone has their ears open and I feel the excitement that we can aim for some really good results. I think with me we could definitely aim for top ten-top five results in GPs and who knows what else.

I think on the British stage people are expecting me to win races and bring the Championship home; Ive done it before and I believe I can do it again.

Dye is not only in the process of confirming the structure around Simpson but had also had to deal with the change of colour. The terms to continue with Yamaha were perfunctory while he describes the initial days of collaboration with KTM as overwhelming.

They have been chomping at the bit, he adds. It is like a breath of fresh air and a wave of new energy. It was a no-brainer. Shaun has obviously had his best days on a KTM, fourth and sixth in the world is not to be sniffed at. Every single day I have been picking up information and learning about how we can improve what is already a very good product.

For Simpson one of the biggest changes will involve chasing yet more British Championship spoils. He did not consider the contest during his two-year tenure with the Dutch Wilvo team. It will be a frantic 28-weekend calendar. Its going to be refreshing for me actually, he reveals. Looking back I feel that I actually had too much time on my hands in the last two years and suffered with a bit of direction. 20 GPs and eight British Championship races: I think it is easily achievable to get those in.

"Perhaps the British becomes a bit taxing later in the season when some of the travel between GPs gets complicated. Ill be looking to ride more in the UK anyway, rather than just turn up for a one-day event, and spend some more time at home in Scotland. Ill be a bit smarter with my logistics. Ill be looking for some practice facilities in the UK and that will be an interesting new change for me. It will be busy but Im looking forward to getting my teeth into to it. Im really motivated to do this series.

Simpson will be a headline name, and he is curious to see if the competition has morphed in his short time away. Always astute, he already has some perspective. To be totally honest Ive heard from a number of people that the British Championship does need work, he admits. It is very motivating for me because it will always be our national championship and as long as it has that British label then it is something I will always want to win, like many other riders.

"It is slightly disappointing to hear there are less riders, sponsors, fans and general motivation. Id like to think people like myself, maybe Tommy Searle, Jake Nichols and some others can bring back some spark. I hope it gets jazzed up, marketed well and the crowds come again.

Personally I would make it a six-round series to entice more grands prix guys and some wildcards, he adds. I think the promoters need to value the British talent more as part of the show and not just assume well roll up because were with British teams. They need the names to do the whole series. I asked Yamaha last year if I could do the British championship but there was no interest from Yamaha UK or the ACU unless I was going put my hand into my own pocket and thats wrong.

"Kevin Strijbos, Jeremy Van Horebeek, Ken De Dycker and Clement Desalle: if they are doing Belgian Championship races then it is because they are being paid and treated very well to do them.

"Even riders like Jeffrey Herlings and Glenn Coldenhoff turn out in Belgium for the same reason and you get the fans and atmosphere around special events. They are not stringing it out over weeks and weeks of racing. The Dutch series is four rounds, gets a good line-up, is well-backed and this appeals to the star riders. Youd get more riders using it as a training opportunity.

RFX KTM is a rare thing: another British team in the grand prix paddock and an MXGP series that will involve a schedule between February and October and trips to the likes of China, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

Dye is not underestimating the challenge of their maiden campaign. I think it (running a team) is always tough but Ive been doing this all my life so I am totally aware of budgets and the work involved, he stresses. I think by not having the right people to delegate tasks is where many teams drop away they cut costs in the wrong places.

"There are certain areas where you must spend money to do the job properly. Dye has enlisted Joel Rizzi (EMX125), Nathan Dixon (EMX250) and Ben Clark (domestic) to forge a diverse racing collective around Simpson but is keen to point out the strong purpose around the line-up.

None of the riders are here on a jolly and it is not about making up the numbers: it is about winning races, he says. There was no shortage of people that wanted to be on the team, especially when we announced we were with KTM.

"When you watch Joel Rizzi ride then you can immediately see he is very gifted and Nathan is also top drawer and has a superb skill level. I think we can win with all of our riders.

Simpson will carry the flag however. Free from the hand, arm and rib injuries as well as the illness that disturbed 2017 and 2018 (he grabbed results of 9-6-7 in the last three rounds with the satellite Yamaha) he has been given an opportunity to again show his combination of experience, wily line choice and strategy to prove he is still one of the UKs leading off-road racers. It is a new team that will be coming in strong but at the same time I feel that I can put my stamp on it, the athlete from Gauldry says.

Massive thanks to Clinton Putnam, Dickie Dye and especially Paul Irwin for making this happen. Im looking forward to working with the two younger guys and to have fresh faces around the awning. We just need to go out and make it all work.

Exclusive: Shaun Simpson talks 2019 deal and how the ACU are getting it wrong

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