HAlthough one rider is a Scot (Shaun Simpson) and the other a Belgian (Ken De Dycker), both LS Honda men are faced with a home assignment this weekend. After all, both De Dycker and Simpson live just a stone's throw away from the Lommel circuit where the 11th round of the MX1 World Championship takes place. Naturally, the GP of Limburg is also a home race for LS Honda Racing.
The Belgian Honda team has also achieved quite a few impressive results in Lommel in the past two seasons. There was Dennis Verbruggen's MX2 podium in 2009, Clement Desalle's pole in the MX1 that same year and Tanel Leok's impressive second place in the second MX1 round last year. Both Ken and Shaun love the circuit at the Heeserbergen. They both strive for their best result of the season in the deep and heavy Lommel sand.
De Dycker, who is currently ninth in the MX1 World Championship rankings, is heading into his home GP with confidence. The 27-year-old crowd favorite already took second place in Lommel (in 2008) and a final victory (2009). Keeno was working for fun during the Everts & Friends Charity race on Thursday, but enjoyed a race-free weekend. Teammate Simpson did take action. During the French International competition in Iffendic, 'Braveheart' continued to work on his speed. Shaun ended his day in Brittany with consistent results (4/3/4) in a field with GP colleagues Aubin, Guarneri, Boissière and strong French riders.
Ken Dycker: “I feel completely ready. Lommel is physically demanding, it is sandy and it is my home race, but I know everyone here expects good results from me! From the French Grand Prix onwards I had the speed almost everywhere to fight for a podium place, but getting a top start is simply very difficult in this field. Lommel is a special weekend for every Belgian motocross rider. Yet I think that we (Belgians) and the Dutch are not alone in looking forward to the sand again. After the harder courses we have had lately, it brings some life back into the brewery to get some variety with a soft surface. As a 'little boy' I still remember that Everts and Bervoets did well in Lommel and of course there was also that surprising victory of Avo Leok in the GP of '97. I think that 500cc Grand Prix was the first race I saw live in Lommel, I was 12 years old at the time!”
Shaun Simpson: “Many drivers will disagree with me, but to be honest, I can't wait for Lommel! I think it will be a very nice GP. I live in Overpelt and that is about ten minutes from Lommel, so it is really my second home Grand Prix. It is also the only real sand race we have this year because everyone knows that Valkenswaard has become too hard to call it a real sand track. I am convinced that we will also see some surprising results this weekend. But I really have the feeling that it will be a good GP for me in Lommel. Sand riding is going well at the moment. I'm aiming for two decent races and hopefully I can make up some places in the championship. Okay, on the one hand, Lommel is a track where all GP riders have done more than 1000 laps. But on the other hand, it is impossible to confuse the GP with training. If you're behind the fence this weekend, things will get serious. There's no way you'd think it would feel the same as last Tuesday or Wednesday… Racing is so much more intense, you've got the atmosphere, all the trucks in the paddock and of course the fans cheering you on!”
Photos credit: CDS
