Shaun Simpson endures a mixed day in France
By TMX Archives on 4th May 10
Factory Red Bull KTM rider Shaun Simpson endured a mixed day at the French championship meeting at Gaillac-Toulza in the South of France. The young Scot placed ninth, seventh and seventh over the three twenty five minute plus two laps motos after a day packed with small incidents that robbed Simpson of a better showing for his efforts. As in recent weeks Shaun used his appearance at this domestic series as part of his recovery process and to ensure more valuable time on his bike ahead of this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix.
Normally the French Championship meetings are runover two days, with Saturday being dedicated to practice, pre-qualifying and aqualifying race, very much like a Grand Prix. However Saturday's programme waslost on this occasion, with torrential rain ruling out riding of any kind as theorganisers decided to scrap the full schedule for the first day in order topreserve the track for Sunday's main races. This proved to be a good call, withthe circuit drying throughout Saturday afternoon and into Sunday morning,leaving conditions perfect for the three counting motos.
As with other European domestic championships, inFrance the MX1 and MX2 riders line up together and at this track the uphil startinto the first right hander certainly favoured the bigger bikes. Simpson gotaway well in the first race and was holding a strong seventh place overallbefore a small slip dropped him down to ninth spot as the chequered flag waswaved.
Race two saw Shaun sucked into the pack as he lostout on the uphill sprint to the first corner, a quick tangle of handlebars leftthe twenty-two year old on the deck and right at the back of the field as theleaders disappeared into the distance. Having dusted himself down, Simpson wassoon on the charge and cutting his way through the pack, finishing in anincredible seventh place as the race came to a close.
Not wanting a repeat of the second moto, Simpsonwas quick out of the gate for the third and final race and held as high asfourth place during the early part of the action. As the race wore on Shaunlooked to have secured fifth place, but a late coming together with ValentinTeillet, as the KTM duo went for the same rut left Simpson down on the deck onceagain, which would demote him to seventh spot as he crossed the line.
Despite his mixed results Shaun was pleased withhis day's riding. "On paper it doesn't look like I have had a good day, but thatis not the case. I was really pleased with my riding and my overall speed.Despite making a couple of small mistakes I have really enjoyed myself today,and it was just what I need before heading to Portugal."
"I plan to ridea couple of times this week on more hard pack tracks in readiness for thisweekend's Grand Prix, and I am feeling stronger and more confident as each daygoes by. After my result in Holland I hope I can be up there once again thisweekend." Simpson ended.
French Championship - Gaillac Toulza
MX1/MX2Moto One: 1: Boog 2: Aubin 3: Boissiere 4: Allier 5: Soubeyras...9:Simpson
MX1/MX2 Moto Two: 1: Boog 2: Aubin 3: Allier 4: Soubeyras 5: Teillet...7: Simpson
MX1/MX2 Moto Three: 1: Boog 2: Aubin 3: Soubeyras 4: Coulon 5:Teillet ...7: Simpson
Keep up to date with Shaun's season on hisofficial website at www.shaunsimpson.com