Shaun Simpson the only rider to win a moto in the World MX1 or MX2 Motocross Championships this year was not in the team and despite making a strong comeback from a major injury just a little over a week ago (with a victory at the British Championship) the Scotsman will head to Italy on October 3 and 4 as a spectator.

It is more than doubtful that a Scottish team will be allowed to race, as it is against FIM policy, so Mr Simpson, one of the best Motocross riders in the World has lost his opportunity to race in the biggest event in the year.

Q: You must have been pretty upset when you heard you had been left out of the British team for the Motocross of Nations? What is your opinion of the British team?

Simpson: Obviously it is Mark's decision and there is nothing I can do about it, but personally I was shocked. There is at least one rider where everyone is surprised to see his name. Carl (Nunn) I don't know, as for Brad (Anderson) has done well in Britain, won a couple of MX3 motos, but it still isn't the same level as the Grand Prix guys. I feel Billy for one race (MXoN), every slag’s him off but my choice would be Billy for that slot.

Q: Did Mark tell you why you were not picked?

Simpson: He (Mark Eastwood) said to me he wanted to pick a 450cc rider and I had been out for all year, but I said my fitness isn't that bad and the Motocross of Nations is still five weeks off, and I don't mind riding a 450cc. I mean we have the bikes here ready and I can start training after Brazil and get ready for it.

Q: I thought the team might be Tommy Searle, Billy Mackenzie and yourself, but there seems to be some politics involved. What is your opinion?

Simpson: I mean everyone is saying Tommy is a definite, but nobody really knows what his speed is out there. He has been going alright, but he hasn't been that great in the last couple of months. I mean he might come here and run the same pace, I think Tommy was the easiest decision for Mark, but still it's questionable.

Q: All these rumors in the paddock about Team Scotland turning up to race. Are you busy with that?

Simpson: To make a Scottish team would be good; we could have a really strong team, maybe stronger than the British team right now. Billy, Swordy and myself, we could do okay. At the end of the day we wouldn't want to go there to piss people off, we just want to go there and have fun, it's not like we are being spiteful or anything. We are doing it to represent Scotland. We haven't even looked into it yet. I should do something for sure.

Q: Will you go to the MXoN anyway, to watch the races?

Simpson: I have to ride for Scotland don't I (laughing). No, if I don't ride I will go anyway, I heard there are going to be some big parties anyway. It is always good to go to the races and I will be there no matter what.

Q: What about the off-season, what are your plans?

Simpson: I will do the Weston Beach race; I will ride longer than I usually do. I normally stop as soon as the GP season is over, but I have a few races to do. I do Weston and maybe a couple of Supercross races if I can it that in. I have had three months off anyway, so that is like my winter.

Q: What is your opinion of the fight between Rui (Goncalves) and Marvin (Musquin) for this year’s title? Rui really had to deal with a lot of weird things this year didn't he?

Simpson: For any rider you don't want to be bothered with those type of things, not by another rider and for sure not in your team. I think Rui did a decent job to try and block it all out and it was also difficult for Marvin to miss Sweden and he was also unlucky in Loket a couple of weeks ago. At the end of the day you have to go out and do your thing and block everything else out. I think it is pretty open; it might come down to the wire in Brazil.

Q: Can you give me a quick rundown on your comeback race at the British Championship a little over a week ago?

Simpson: The first British Championship I came back for it was raining in the morning, a bit of a mess really. My fitness was good and I felt okay. It was nice to get some nerves out of the way before I went to Lierop.

Q: How about last weekend in Lierop, how did you feel?

Simpson: Running with Rui in the first moto was maybe a mistake as there was no way I could have kept that pace up for the whole race. Around halfway I started to fade and began to make a few mistakes. I was trying to get my head back together after the first couple of mistakes when I came up short on a step-up jump. It was a quite a big crash with both me and the bike going end-over-end. I managed to pick myself up, but I struggled to start the bike. With so much time lost I decided to pull in and to conserve myself for the second race. Race two was much more controlled; I just rode at my own pace and felt much more confident and comfortable. A top five finish would have been great, but given the circumstances sixth was OK and at least gives me something to build on before I go to Brazil.