Round 13– World Championship –
Dublin, Ireland, 31 August 2008

Simpson 7th at ‘home’ Grand Prix

KTM UK’s home Grand Prix at the Fairyhouse Racing course 20km north of Dublin went reasonably well as Shaun Simpson returned to world championship action only three weeks after breaking his collarbone and scored 7th position overall at the thirteenth round of fifteen in the 2008 FIM series.

After one of the wettest August months on record the ground at the newly constructed circuit was littered with wood chippings that made it soft and slippery and difficult to negotiate. Thankfully the weekend was dry and belated sunshine even made an appearance halfway through the timetable on Sunday as 16,000 curious spectators saw ‘horse power’ of a different kind.

After missing the Grand Prix of Czech Republic due to a collarbone fracture in practice, Simpson had since undergone an operation and a week later triumphed at the penultimate round of the British Championship in Cumbria. The Scot –riding for the Irish KTM crew - gained a remarkable holeshot in his qualification race but dropped back to third position. It would set a trend for the weekend as the 20 year old ran with the leaders in the formative stages of both GP sprints but did not have that extra competitive edge to extend his pace to the end of the full 35 minute and 2 lap motos. He placed 6th and 11th for 7th spot in the final classification.

“The first race was not too bad and I felt OK for most of it, even if I did struggle a bit towards the end,” Simpson said. “I was quite happy with sixth but I knew the second moto was going to be harder as the track was getting rougher. I was third for a good fifteen minutes but then I must have made some mistakes or lost the plot a little bit because a few people managed to pass me and I found myself getting demoralised. I had no energy left. I’m not sure if it is mental or maybe I am missing something physically. I will have a blood test tomorrow just to check everything is OK as it will be important to be 100% for next week.”

With two podiums already this season Simpson is firmly pushing for third position in the world championship. He is currently fifth but just 20 points away from the injured and absent Antonio Cairoli two places higher.

In the MX1 category James Noble – winner of the sixth round of the British Championship two weeks ago - did not have a happy weekend and struggled with the soft and unpredictable nature of the track. He scored one point for 20th in the first moto but did not finish the second race as a rock smashed his hand and painfully signalled the end of his participation.

KTM UK did have cause for celebration over the weekend as third rider Alex Snow won the British Under-21 Championship; the team’s first title.

“With missing the Grand Prix at Loket we always knew it would be a tough race for Shaun here but he certainly gave his best in both races,” said Team Owner Roger Magee. “He had good starts both times and tried to get a rhythm but it does show that if you are not up there with those guys every week then you do lose a slight edge. Third in the championship is still very much on the cards and we are looking forward to the next two GPs. James had a couple of difficult rides today but I have to mention Alex’s achievement because with a 4th and 1st Team KTM UK took their first British Championship. Congratulations to him and thanks to all the sponsors so far this year.”

The team now face an important month. The last two rounds of the World Championship will take place in Holland and Italy in consecutive weeks before Simpson and Noble try to confirm the MX2 and MX1 British Championship titles at the closing fixture of the national series at Hawkstone Park. To close September, Simpson will represent Great Britain for the first time ever at the 62nd Motocross of Nations at Donington Park.