Simpson rallies back to second place in France
By G2F on 22nd Feb 09
8th International Motocross Valence 22/02/09. Buffeted by cold winds and cloaked by overcast grey skies, the Valence International, just south of Lyon in France, saw Red Bull KTM rider Shaun Simpson enjoy contrasting fortunes across the three motos. In the end reigning British MX2 champion unveiled a superb final performance to rescue the runners-up position. The young Scot negotiated his second main pre-season event after savouring victory at the Starcross International two weeks ago in Italy. On this occasion the track was stony, slippery and hard-pack with precious few passing opportunities available.
The first race delivered a deflated placing of twelfth after Shaun lost control on the soft ramp into a bomb-hole, and was pitched off the bike while holding a solid second spot. Simpson had to recover and restart his factory 250 SX-F and worked his way back through the field. In the second outing, normal business resumed for the '09 World championship favourite as he led from the first lap to the last in a decent recovery.
The third and final moto saw the top fifteen riders from the MX1 and MX2 classes face-off in a twenty minute plus two lap foray. Against a host of larger 450cc machinery Simpson was excellent, and thanks to a bright start that saw him holding third place descending the first hill he remained the leading (and only) MX2 rider in the top ten. After battling with works Yamaha pilot Josh Coppins, the twenty year old took an impressive sixth place and only missed out on a second victory of the year by two points to Valentin Teillet.
"It was one of those days when you needed to be consistent because it was very slippery and if you made mistakes it was hard to gain ground again,” Shaun said. "Apart from a silly mistake in the first moto I got better as the day went on. My starts were good again and I have to take my hat off to the guys at the factory because I was able to get in the top three over the hill in the Superfinal. I felt really quick in that last race and had a nice flow going.”
Simpson will now make his first competitive appearance in the UK since winning the 2008 Maxxis ACU British Championship. The Hawkstone Park International will take place next week and will be followed seven days later by the opening round of the British series on March 8th. The World Championship commences on March 29th with the first of fifteen rounds occurring at Faenza in Italy.
Full details of Shaun's 2009 schedule and all the latest news about the KTM teamster can be found on his official website at www.shaunsimpsom.com