Round 14 – World Championship –
Lierop, Benelux, 07th September 2008

Simpson fifth through Lierop sand

KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson finished 6th in both motos through a windy and showery Lierop circuit in the Netherlands for the Grand Prix of Benelux and the penultimate round of fifteen in the 2008 FIM MX2 World Championship to earn 5th place in the overall standing.

The Scot hovered around the top five in both races played out in front of 35,000 spectators and across the energy-sapping and treacherous bumps of the Dutch sand. Simpson, still not in prime condition after his recent collarbone break, made a set of decent starts from the gate but did not have the rhythm through the rough terrain to maintain pace with the leaders.

His consistent points haul meant that he keeps close with rival Nico Aubin in the championship table and currently holds 4th spot; 14 behind the Frenchman and just 2 ahead of fellow KTM racer Rui Goncalves.

“Considering the level of my fitness and a lack of preparation this week I feel that two sixth positions was a reasonable weekend,” he said. “Two top fives were my goal. Aubin was on the gas and fair play to him. I had the speed to run with Rui but not the energy; I was hanging in the second part of the motos. I hope to get some good work done in the week and enjoy a last run at Faenza. We will then have two big meetings with Hawkstone and the Nations at Donington; I can’t wait.”

In MX1 James Noble was ruled out of action after a crash during practice left the Briton with a painful and swollen right hand. He tried to continue in the following session but had little feeling with the throttle. Mindful of his commitments the following week after Faenza Noble regrettably pulled out of the official Time Practice and therefore the Grand Prix.

“I went down in the section around the first couple of corners and right away I had a lot of pain on the top of my hand and around the knuckles,” he commented. “It started to swell and while I think there is nothing broken I just could not feel the bars or hold on properly. It is a shame but we must think about next few weeks and I hope I will be OK.”

Team Manager Roger Magee said “It was very unfortunate to lose James with his injury so early in the weekend, but you have to be 100% fit to ride a track such as Lierop. Shaun rode well in both races today but couldn’t make his trademark starts due to taking avoiding action to avoid incidents in the early stages of each race. He is now back up to 4th in the MX2 World Championship and 3rd overall is still achievable. The Team is looking forward to the last MXGP of the season in Faenza next weekend”.

The next fortnight will be important for the team as Simpson looks to confirm his first ever British Championship at the final round of the domestic series at Hawkstone Park. Noble is in the running for the MX1 crown and lies just 22 points behind leader Billy Mackenzie. After the last Grand Prix of the world championship at Faenza in Italy next week their fixture in Shropshire will represent the end of their national and international campaigns. However at the end of September Donington Park will be the venue for Simpson’s first ever appearance in the British Motocross of Nations team.