2007 had its similarities, with Shaun breaking his wrist during the opening moto of the Italian Grand Prix at Faenza. This meant that Simpson missed two rounds of the World championship that year, leaving him outside the top twenty in the final classifications.

At national level, for the second year running, the now Kawasaki mounted rider finished a frustrating fifth despite having shown some great early season speed. Shaun’s association with the green make was to be short lived, with Magee switching to KTM for 2008, after Kawasaki failed to put together a package to match the team’s efforts and ambitions.

A DNF at the opening round of the 2008 Maxxis British series, due to a split fuel pipe, was hardly the start Shaun was looking for, during a year when he firmly believed he could challenge for the title. However, the twenty year old from Fife was to bounce back brilliantly to lead the championship with just two rounds remaining.

Then in a cruel twist of fate, a low speed spill at the Czech GP left Shaun with his collarbone busted yet again.

More determined than ever, not to miss his opportunity, Shaun made a heroic comeback at the penultimate round of the domestic championship, just five days after having undergone an operation to plate the injury.

His victory over his main rival Sword at Brampton must rank as one of Simpson’s finest and was enough alone to earn him the title, which he would take proper a month later at his favourite Hawkstone Park circuit.

Two overall GP podiums and no less than eleven top ten finishes in the 2008 MX2 FIM Motocross World Championship rewarded Shaun with a superb fourth place in the final rankings.

Just twelve points separated Simpson from taking the number three plate, despite him missing the Czech round as a result of his latest injury. Irrespective of Shaun missing out on the final medal place, his efforts and ethos had not gone unnoticed.

With Pit Bierer and Stefan Everts having already stepped forward at the start of 2008 to provide Shaun with some much appreciated assistance, his results were soon going to repay their faith in him and put Simpson at the top of their shopping list for 2009.

A trip to KTM’s Austrian headquarters in late July saw Shaun realise a life long dream, when the proud youngster signed his first ever factory contract that will see him in orange for the next two seasons.

“I don’t think you can single out particular things, but overall I think the set up and package is really going to help me. Being able to work with engine guys to get the motor just how you like it and then having other guys who work on nothing but the suspension is something that I have not had before. Also being able to work with Stefan Everts is a great opportunity, and one that I think will help me move to the next level.”

For most of this year, Shaun, his brother Stefan and dad Willie have lived in the truck outside the KTM UK workshop in Holland, with them having only returned to their native Scotland and the comfort of home in more recent weeks.

Far from it being a winter of rest, preparations for next season have begun already, with Shaun having recently completed two tests on board his new factory machine.

 Shaun will live in an apartment in Belgium with his brother Stefan (who will join KTM as a practice mechanic) next year so that he can be close to the practice team and to his new mentor Stefan Everts.

With all things being equal, and 2009 being an injury free year for the young Scot, few would argue that Simpson may just be the new MX2 World champion in waiting. Whilst there are no guarantees in racing, he can at least be assured that his family will be with him every inch of the way, win or lose.

“Having won the British championship, finished fourth in the World and signed a factory contract, there is not more I could have wished for in 2008.”

Five facts about Shaun Simpson:

First race: Age 9 – Orkney Island, Beach Race, Scotland

Favourite track: Hawkstone Park, England – because it is old school, and it is always rough, so it separates the men from the boys.

Injury free seasons: 2004 is the only year since turning professional that Shaun has been injury free. He has now broken the same collarbone three times, so he hope 2009 will be injury free too.

Hometown: Shaun’s hometown of Gualdry in Fife – Scotland claims to be the first Scottish village to have electricity installed.

Road success: Shaun and his brother Stefan both recently passed their road motorcycle tests at their first attempt after a short and intense period of road training.