For some it would seem a backward step, but for Simpson it’s back to what makes him feel comfortable.

We caught up with Shaun as he was doing some painting and decorating at his new home in Belgium. As always he was polite, friendly and excited about a change he hopes will put him on the podium in 2011.

MXlarge: Shaun, going back a little over a month (although it seems like much longer) what did you think of the job the British boys did at the MXoN? Did it disappoint you they missed the podium?

Simpson: No, not at all, I think they did a decent job, I think Dean had a problem on Saturday that mixed up their start position for Sunday, which was a little tough, everyone rode good and it was good to watch. Obviously France had a really bad day and Italy didn’t really do too much. In that third heat Townley and some others were out, that made it a little easier, that bumped them up a little, but in a whole they did well, it was a bummer they missed out on the podium. Germany could have been higher up but Max fluffed it up for them a little. I don’t know if I liked the look of the track, it looked a little bit like it was in the middle of nowhere and it looked a little fast.

MXlarge: I walked the track on Friday and there were some good sections, but it did seem a little too fast and if you didn’t get the start it was tough. Outside the top five and you could forget winning the moto, which proved to be the case all weekend.

Simpson: I am well impressed with how the American’s water the tracks and ripped them, but it looked a little dusty in parts.

MXlarge: Greg Atkins told me because of the altitude the water dries quickly. They were putting a lot of water, when I got there on Friday I said to Greg you going to put some water down and he told me they had been doing that a lot, but it dries up quickly.

Simpson: Ok.

MXlarge: It seems like it’s changed around now the Grand Prix tracks are considered more technical and the American tracks are fast. Back in the 1970, 80’s and 90’s it was the other way around. If a Grand Prix track didn’t have a blue groove it didn’t seem right. Maybe some of our GP circuits have very similar sections, but it's improved the riders skills.

Simpson: I think the AMA guys can say the Grand Prix’s don’t look good or whatever, what you said maybe the tracks are a little similar, with doubles and waves and stuff like that, maybe it could be mixed up, but generally the Grand Prix tracks from a racing point of view are as good as any.

MXlarge: About the AMA versus FIM thing, we have been saying for ages that the Grand Prix guys are catching up, and even at this year’s MXoN while we didn’t win a moto, we were competitive. Roczen and Desalle winning their classes and Cairoli winning his Saturday race. To me Antonio looked down on power, he was coming up so short on that big jump and that pretty much cost him the chance to really race with Dungey for the win. What is your opinion?

Simpson: The AMA guys can think they are faster and the Grand Prix guys might think we are faster, but for me it’s so tight and however you play if, if we go over there or they come over here, you can’t tell from just one moto or one days racing. I think it’s pretty tight between the two. The European guys are catching up, and can give them a run for their money. I think in America the field is less, from top five to sixth to tenth it gets less.

MXlarge: Mind you Regal was pretty quick in Denver, but then again the AMA guys are so quick out of the start, I guess because of their Supercross, but also because the circuits in America are fast if you don’t get a good start you can forget catching up. The start of that third moto at the MXoN the top five guys into turn one were AMA guys. It seems like they work on their start technique more than the GP guys.

Simpson: They are also known for busting out the quick laps in the start of the race, it’s just a different style isn’t it. You see Tony was as fast as Dungey at times, but he did come up short on that big jump and I am not sure he had the bike set-up for that altitude, or maybe the American based riders just had an advantage because they rode there more often.

MXlarge: Changing the subject. Going from a privateer team to the biggest team in the paddock. How difficult was that for you?

Simpson:  I was with Roger Magee for four years and that team was based around me and my family and that team was very different. When we got the chance to go to the factory team, and that is every young riders dream, and that is without question the best way to go. After having two years on that bike and that team with that set-up, there is no doubt that is a great team and the help you get from KTM is awesome, but I think I had too much of a big jump going from Rogers team to the factory team was too much. From me working on my own bike, to helping putting the awning up and cleaning things like the truck, then going to just sitting in my apartment with my training bike being done and all I had to think about was training, or eating well, or whatever. I went from not watching what I ate and what time I ate to totally doing the opposite. I was sitting in the apartment, so I would go running then I would sit there again and think, ok I will go to the gym, then it was getting too much. I was training more often because the bike was so good, but looking back it was such a big step to take.

MXlarge: Are you saying you tried to change too many things because you were in a super professional team and you figured you had to do everything different and you lost who you are more or less.

Simpson: Exactly, I lost the fun factor also, it became hard work. Before I used to work on the truck I used to think this is shit, but I am going training in the afternoon. That is something where LS Motors Honda is a bit between the two (Roger Magee’s team and Red Bull KTM), they have good support from Honda, the suspension is really good, I am more relaxed, less people involved. I am not that good at talking or voicing my opinion and with KTM there were two suspension guys an engine guy, chief engineer, team manager, there is Pit, and it’s really a lot of people. If you had a problem with the bike you would tell one person and it might get lost between the people and in the end nothing imroved or changed.

MXlarge: That period between leaving KTM and going to LS Motors Honda, I know people were writing stuff that you were going to maybe Kawasaki or somewhere else, and you seemed a little stressed, I know you had a go at me about something I write on my website. Was that a difficult period, because you have always been a great guy and always friendly. Were you stressed?

Simpson: I wasn’t stressed about it; I knew there was something out there. Not to sound big headed, but I had many offers. I had offers to go to Kawasaki; offers to go to Jacky Martens and stay on KTM, obviously with LS Motors Honda, also Husqvarna were interested. It was a difficult time, but I wasn’t worried. I had times that I had  so many decisions to make, will I stay in MX2, or go MX1. It’s also not just about money, I mean there was good money, but that doesn’t mean you go where the money is, because it might not have been the right place to be. In the end I chose what I felt would be the best for me, doing what I want, and taking life a little less seriously really. That is what Tony (Cairoli) does, he tries to do what brings the best out in him, if you try and do too much and you are too serious you lose the fun of it and at the end of the day you lose that and that is why were do it in the first place.

MXlarge: Was it also difficult doing what Stefan asked you to do, because obviously he did things very much in his own way and you could call him a perfectionist. Was his advice sometimes not good for you?

Simpson: In the beginning I thought okay Stefan Everts, 10 times World Champion; I can learn stuff from him. He has been there and done it and he’s the King over here and all that, but as far as giving me his knowledge, that didn’t work for me. He would say to me I have to change your style and ride on the pegs or whatever, use the clutch less, but in my opinion you can’t change a guy the riding style of somebody who is 20 something years old. He gave a lot of advice, but it was stressing me out and I couldn’t take on board what he was telling me. Stefan is so smooth and calculated, a bit like Ramon where he chose his lines so well and carefully, but that isn’t me.

MXlarge: Have you ridden the Honda yet?

Simpson: I test it a while back, six or eight weeks ago; I rode it for a morning and basically got to know it a little bit with suspension. The power is good and the suspension is really good. I always felt like the 450 would suit my style more. Even when I practice on it and I rode the des nations last year. I think I can have a more calculated style, with the 450 you can chop the corner up and I think I can be smoother in 2011.

MXlarge: So what are your plans now, do you stay in Belgium?

Simpson: When I was with KTM I had an apartment in Belgium, but now I have a house with a garage where I can park my camper. The last month we have been painting and doing stuff like that.  My mother came out this weekend for a long weekend to give me a hand with some things. My brother heads home tomorrow and my mother in a couple of days.

MXlarge: How is your body holding up? Are you pretty much recovered from your shoulder operation?

Simpson: I had an operation on my shoulder and also having an operation on my leg to remove the pin. So then after that I will head home around the 12^th of November. I won’t be able to ride until the second or third week in December, so we are not too stressed about getting back on the bike too soon. My brother will come out in December and start working on the new bike, and as far as training I will start when my leg feels good. Turn of the New Year I will come back to Belgium early in January and then probably go to Spain or something. LS Motors Honda more or less said here is the bike; we want you in Mantova or Valence or whatever the first race is, before that please yourself. Steven from the team said he doesn’t care what I do to be ready, as long as I am ready. That is more what I want from a team. It’s difficult to say I had pressure from KTM, but you felt it in the back of your mind and you felt like you had to perform.  In 2008 when I wasn’t with a factory team if I go an 8^th I wasn’t too stressed about it, but with KTM I wouldn’t like it. This year I wanted to be winning and a third or a fifth wasn’t good enough.

MXlarge: The MX1 class is pretty stacked. I mean there are probably 10 guys as quick as you. You can finish third or tenth. What is your idea on that?

Simpson: As far as putting a goal on it, I don’t know. If you look at the practice times from the 450s and the 250’s there wasn’t much in it, and I think I can be one or two seconds faster on the 450. I think all being well if I am fit and riding healthy and riding happy again I think I can go top ten, maybe top five, make a podium here and there. If it’s going better great and if it’s going worse ok. My idea is top six in the Championship, I think that is achievable. There were three or four guys who came into the MX1 class from the MX2 class guys like Boog, and Bobryshev, so I think the guys from the MX2 class are more than good enough.