Simpson in line for KTM factory bike
By Alex Hodgkinson on 5th Aug 15
Shaun Simpson a sensational double winner at Lommel on Sunday is in line to be back on factory bikes next year with KTM.
"Shaun fully deserves factory support after his superb performances in the last couple of years,” confirmed Mattighofen sporting manager Pit Beirer at Lommel. "We have agreed to supply Shaun with factory bikes next year, irrespective of which team he races with. We will not interfere with UK internal affairs and leave that to them.”
The Scot himself is still keeping his options open but the opportunity to get back on factory KTMs for the first time since he rode in the Mattighofen MX2 works team in 2010 fits in perfectly with his aims for next year.
"Dad and myself have done our own thing for the last two years, first at JK Yamaha and then with Roger but we have come to the stage where I need to try a different approach if I am to make a further step.
"We drove all night and all day after Latvia to get back to Belgium by 4pm Monday afternoon and people asked us why we didn't take a break on the way but the simple fact is that we had to get back to clean everything, rebuild the bike and get to Foxhill for the Maxxis.
"Sometimes it is even more hectic between GPs. I still plan to drive the camper to races but a deal where the factory prepare the bike will give me more time to relax a little and train between the races and I can rely on the factory to supply the material I need.”
Father Willie, the senior half of the most successful privateer duo in recent history, also looked positively to the future.
"I'll be able to spend more time home in Gauldry with Vanda and crawl under diesel trucks in the garage.”
Shaun's double win has hauled KTM back into contention for the MXGP manufacturers' title – it now trails Yamaha by eight points with Suzuki a further two back. In MX2 Kawasaki has reduced the gap to KTM to 30 points.
Shaun will race a full factory 2016 KTM at Unadilla this weekend. Initial plans to take over his own engine, suspension and bars were shelved when it proved difficult to track down a 2015 SX450F frame but even before the dramatic Lommel victory KTM was anxious to work on its relationship with the Scot.
