Interview Shaun Simpson
When Shaun Simpson announced last year that he would start his own team, there was some skepticism here and there. What else can you expect from a 32-year-old veteran? Especially if he also has to do everything himself? However, the four-time GP winner persevered. His SS24 KTM MXGP team became a reality and in the first 2 MXGP rounds Simpson showed that he still has the speed.
Seen it all, experienced it all. Factory rider for KTM and TM, two years for the Wilvo Yamaha MXGP before taking a step back last year with the British RFX KTM private team. Yet Shaun is still crazy about sports. With a smile, the young father rolled up his sleeves and got to work. His P5 in the qualifying race and a 4th place during the 2nd heat in Valkenswaard opened a lot of eyes. First conclusion: he can still do it. Second conclusion: you don't need a factory motorcycle or mega trailer to compete with factory riders.
Congratulations on your great performance in the Dutch GP. Were you surprised by that yourself?
Shaun Simpson: "Thank you! I guess I'll just have to take what I can get. Personally, I am convinced that I am a top-10 rider. A top 5 is just very good for me, but depending on the circumstances you can sometimes hope for more. My speed was comparable to several factory riders. On the other hand, Valkenswaard is simply one of my courses and the circumstances also played in my favor. That certainly does not mean that I would be equally competitive everywhere on any material. The package we have now works just fine.”
It's amazing how some big names had to fight for a few meager points in the first races.
Simpson: “I think we just have to fight every weekend this year. There will be weekends where you will have to battle for 15th or 17th place with Calvin Vlaanderen, Thomas Covington or Evgeny Bobryshev. You just have to give it everything you have, every week. In Matterley Basin I could have given up in that first moto, I was 36th on the first lap after two crashes but I kept going. I kept fighting and after 30 minutes plus 2 laps I was 18th. Well okay, three points, wow! But if you give up three points every weekend, that's 60 points over the entire championship. It's those little things that make some young guys or some riders think: 'Okay, let's forget about that series and we'll do everything we can for a good second heat'. But you have to squeeze every little drop out of every situation. If those are the cards you are dealt in the race, you have to make do. Just do the best you can every week.”
We have no choice but to include current events. How do you view the Corona crisis, which has now become a global phenomenon?
Simpson: “Times are tough for the motocross community and just about everyone in the world right now. As for the break in the calendar, things will clearly change. The Coronavirus has really taken its toll everywhere. In terms of measures to contain COVID-19, the United Kingdom appears to be a few weeks behind Italy in terms of lock-down, social distancing and the like. To be honest, I've been laying low in terms of social contact for a few days. I didn't feel 100% myself, I'm not saying it was coronavirus, but I didn't feel like I was feeling great. I think it's best for everyone to stay home and see how things go. Driving is not an option now anyway. At the moment it looks like we will be riding GPs in the coming months. The British calendar will also certainly be turned upside down.”
Last winter brought with it many extra-sporty concerns for you. As a professional athlete you already have enough on your mind to perform. I can imagine that something like that would cause stress.
Simpson: “It hasn't been stressful, but I've been busy, really busy. There are certain things that no one can really help with but myself. Ultimately I have to make it happen... Talking to the sponsors, finding the money, selecting which sponsors I want, which parts I want on the bike. To be honest it was a long road, the technical partners came quite quickly, but the personal sponsors who provide the budget took a long time. I'm happy with where I am now. Although I'm still a bit short on budget. That's why I'm still looking for sponsors to join me. But results like those in Valkenwaard obviously don't hurt!”
Regardless of the fact that you are still there sportingly, you command respect by taking on this challenge in the first place. Starting your own GP team is much more difficult than it seems.
Simpson: “I can't go to anyone and sell it. They have to believe in me as much as I do. The stickers on the backdrops, the logos on my bus and the awning, the brands you see on the motorcycle. They all believe in me as much as I do. This means that we are all pursuing the same goal. No one jumped on this for quick success. Sponsors step in how and when they can. For example, when building my structure on Friday or Saturday. I have a WhatsApp group where I keep everyone informed. When I told them after the qualifications that I finished fifth, everyone was over the moon. It's not something that's far away, everyone is super involved. My team has a family feeling and at the moment the feeling I have off the bike is fantastic. And that shows on the track.”
Have you noticed that potential sponsors were reluctant to work with an older rider, in principle on the way back.
Simpson: “Some people indeed preferred not to do business with me. But I knew the people I could contact and the people I didn't have to count on. That quickly became clear. It's interesting to see that some people are now looking in my direction and starting to think: 'He's getting a little closer to those factory bikes.' Now Valkenswaard was only the second round. It will be a long season, but the start was good.”
A question that everyone is already asking themselves: how will the aftermath of the corona crisis be felt economically?
Simpson: "I have no idea. By running my own team you could say I'm in a better or worse situation than some of the other guys who get a contract from a team and get paid monthly. I think they're going to be in a situation where they might not get paid because they're not racing. It's going to be a strange time. I just hope that my personal sponsors - I haven't talked to them about this yet - are still on board once we are ready to ride again. There are many question marks about contracts, contract renewals, the 2021 season and when it starts... If the GPs start around the same time as this year, it will give us absolutely no opportunities to prepare for next year. As a result, burnout could become an important factor. It will be interesting to see who can do the most work in this mid-season break - or whatever you want to call it - and to see who can come back in good form.”
Previously, including at KTM UK, you also managed much of your own program with the help of your father. That must have given you something to hold on to when you started this adventure?
Simpson: “Of course, technically we had a very good idea of where we wanted to be. Putting that package together is of course another matter. The KTM SX450F chassis has changed since 2015/2016, the engine has changed and the MXGP class has changed. For example, before the start we have to look for much more horsepower than before. You really need a good start and we haven't mastered that yet. I feel like I'm not yet where I need to be with the bike. If you have those extra horsepower, you should be able to last 30 minutes. Yes, we have worked a lot and I am very particular about it. So it has already given me many sleepless nights and late nights with my father. We also continue to search together with Volleberg Motorsport in the Netherlands. John (ed. Volleberg) has also been busy with it. In terms of suspension, I was lucky that we had everything going pretty well in the last races of 2019. We adjusted that slightly and haven't touched the suspension for a few weeks since. So I'm quite happy with that. We're just trying to do what we can with the limited resources we have.”
It seems like you've been working a lot with technology?
Simpson: "On itself is motocross really not a technical sport. It can be made very technically. Just look at HRC for example and laptops and electronics, but it's motocross. We have to keep in mind that it is a mechanical sport with suspension, engine, handlebars and wheels and we will be driving through a lot of mud! So keep it simple. What are the priorities? Work on that and the rest will follow. A lot of people put so much effort into how things look and how 'bling' they are. Once we have the race engine in order, we no longer take it apart every week, we don't do that. We just keep the package good, every three to four weeks we get a new engine and start again.”
You were also on the other side. In the past you have driven factory motorcycles yourself, so you can make good comparisons. Should there be technical rules that limit the differences between private teams and factory teams? It could provide more equal opportunities.
Simpson: “I don't think that's necessary. I sometimes didn't like my factory bikes because they were so different from what I rode during the week! Those training engines were a bit older and a bit more used. I just liked that feeling, with a few more hours on it. Then you jump on the racing bike and everything is brand new. The mechanics love to always come up with new parts. The saddle suddenly feels hard and the handles are new... If you can train on that, great. But if you can't train for that, it suddenly feels very different! Ditto for the suspension which is stiff because it is not the same as your training equipment that is 25 hours old. That gives a strange feeling. I already talked about it with young riders who confirm my impressions. They came to the first GP and their bike feels completely different from what they are used to in training. We already put a few hours on this bike in Spain to make sure it was ready when we went to Matterley. I'm happy where I am, I wouldn't trade this for a place in a factory team now."
As a sportsman, how do you deal with this break in the calendar?
Simpson: “It's very strange to be at this point of the year and not be riding. But we can only adapt and set ourselves to a kind of B plan, a C and D plan. We are aware that the season will be long and longer than normal, until November. It's clearly something we're not used to at all. I have driven an exceptional race here and there in October and November, but because the season will now last so long, it is a situation in which we all have to survive. Right now it's just the unknown that's the most annoying, we really can't plan right now. We cannot plan when to peak, when to drive back... We are also not 100% sure about the adjusted calendar. Circumstances could still change. There is not much other than continuing to work physically and following developments. Hopefully we can drive again sooner rather than later... Although everyone's safety when we start again is of the utmost importance. Yes, the uncertainty prevails at the moment but as always, I'm sure we will all get through it. This will be something we talk about in the future! Nothing like this has ever happened in my generation, so we just have to make the best of it!”
Tekst: Tom Jacobs/Andy McKinstry
Photos: shotbyBavo, Gino Maes, Niek Photography
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