A new baby, a new team, a new bike, and a new dream. That is pretty much how 30-year-old Shaun Simpson goes into the 2019 season, and as always, there is no stone un-turned for the Scot to build on his already impressive motocross career.

Racing for the RFX KTM team out of the UK, Simpson is not surprisingly excited for the new season, and with baby Angus just born last week, and his motivation as strong as ever, we might get to see the orange KTM of Simpson win another GP or two.

In a class that is now wide open with the injury to Jeffrey Herlings and a bunch of veteran riders, and youngsters mixed into the toughest motocross series in the World, you can be sure, Simpson will be fighting harder than ever to catch time in a bottle, just as Antonio Cairoli is doing year after year.

As always, a pleasure to talk with the Scotsman, who gives great insight into his racing career.

MXlarge: Shaun, firstly, congratulation on the new baby.

Simpson: As you know, it’s a special thing.

MXlarge: I remember when my first child was born, 25 years ago and I was on cloud nine for a long time. How was that moment for you?

Simpson: It is just something totally unbelievable. We are put on this planet to eventually reproduce. I think it is as simple as that. It has been amazing to see my wife’s hormones change and then seeing the baby being born, and this unconditional love for your baby. We were strong anyway, but it’s brought us closer together and the addition of Angus, it’s just unbelievable the love you have for them straight away. Going into the hospital with two and coming out as three, it is amazing. Reading into it a bit, in magazines and talking to people, that have kids that and are into sports still, it gives you a new main focus. For years and years I have only focused on myself, my sport and later on my wife got involved. Now you have this other thing, and your sport and your job comes a close second. It is nice to get your mind off the job. You come home, play with him, feed him, change him and then you get back to work. I really think it is something we are ready for and take it on and we can’t wait to take him around the World.

MXlarge: I think a child really brings into reality the material things that we don’t really need, or in fact probably takes the stress way from being a racer, because in the end your job, or hobby, or whatever isn’t as important as being a parent. Maybe being a sportsman, it would be good to have a child rather early, because it takes away the stress.

Simpson: Yes, I would say so, there are times over the last couple of days that we say we should have done this earlier. But no regrets, we met seven and a half years ago, and got married two years ago, and it’s just a natural progression really. We are delights he has come along and he is healthy and we didn’t’ know if he was a boy or a girl and it’s a new journey for us together.

MXlarge: I was watching the qualification and stuff online and I thought, hey, maybe Shaun will have a nice victory speech, mentioning his new child, but you came back down to earth pretty quickly.

Simpson: Yes. I said to my team manager this morning, it was sort of a knock back to reality. Motocross is a tough old game, and I am 30 years old, but I can still learn from my mistakes. Maybe I was riding on a bit of a high with Angus arriving that week. Riding good, new team, new bike, people to prove wrong, going out there having a lot of fun. I just got carried away with myself a little bit. Made a couple of mistakes in the first race, which I would like to say cost me the win. I had opened a gap and finished an easy third. Second race another holeshot and a lack of concentration moment and it bit me hard. The shoulder did dislocate for a couple of minutes, but as you would know it popped out in Brazil a couple of years ago, and I managed get it back in, taped it up and rode the second moto. So I have no worries come next weekend in France I will be back to full speed and that will be another race under the belt to head off to Argentina. It was a slight glitz in the plan, but nothing to worry about too much.

MXlarge: Motocross riders are a rare breed. I mean you guys don’t only love speed, but you must have a very high resistance to pain. If I get a paper burn I am in pain, but I saw that photo of you laying on the ground last weekend and somebody trying to put your shoulder back in, and thought to myself how tough you guys are. We see Jeffrey (Herlings) time and time again riding in pain.

Simpson: I don’t know what it is Geoff, it is something, the way I was brought up, maybe the same as Jeffrey. There was no pussy footing around. I wouldn’t say brought up tough, but, it’s raining, get out and ride, its 30 degrees, go and do something. Toughen up, hard, firm, but fair. If I got a paper burn on my finger, he would day toughen up, come on. My granny would say I have seen a bigger fly bite than that. There are these type of things as you are growing up, they mould you as a person. I think that in some ways, has made me who I am today. My pain barrier is high, but it doesn’t mean always ride through pain. I had done that in the past where I should have been not riding. You mentioned Jeffrey, he has ridden in pain before and something it has worked for him, like last year winning a championship and the time he rode in Mexico, with his broken femur and it didn’t work out for him. It is just one of these things that you see in top level sports. It didn’t stress me it popped out, I just wanted it in a quickly as possible, because as everyone knows, the longer it is out, the more chance of stretching the muscles and the longer the healing process is. It feels fine today, a little bit stiff and I know that something happened, but I have been swimming and doing everything that needs to be done. I will get out riding middle of the week.

MXlarge: It was your first race with the new team. You mentioned last time we spoke that it felt good, but how was it?

Simpson: To be honest Geoff, with us, as a British team, at a British race, Hawkstone Park, the best weather I can remember at Hawkstone Park for years, the best track conditions, the crowd was unbelievable. The weather makes it. Everyone comes out when it’s good weather. I am very happy how we represented ourselves on track, the sponsors that were a long, the crowd, it’s a stressful weekend for the team, because there are so many people there. The bike side of things, technically and mechanically, I think we are in a good position. We have a small, close net group of people. I don’t feel that we have slacked in any department and I feel like we have the bike is where I need it to be at the moment. We can still go further and I said to the guys, let’s get a package I am happy with and we have hours on, and I am happy where we are at the moment going into the first few races. Then we have a small break in the calendar after Argentina, and by then we will have had a few races under our belt and we can go back to the table and say, look, we are struggling here, or there, or we might not be. You have to be open to improve your testing throughout the year. Your speed increases and the way you ride the bike throughout the year changes. Also the factory teams are doing that, be it tires, suspension or whatever. We are trying to do that in a much smaller budget and a smaller team, but I honestly feel like we are doing a great job. To be back on a KTM, I feel comfortable on it, for some reason it suits me better. I feel relaxed and yesterday I ripped two holeshots with some guys who can get good starts. Starts haven’t been my strong point the last few years and if I can do that on Grand Prix level, who knows where I end up. It brings extra pressure. Yesterday I was out front and the setting the pace. The guys in second, third and fourth had the carrot out front. I am the guy who eats stones and roost and thrive off of that and to switch it around, as I have done both in British championship and Grand Prix’s. Overall we are in a good position and I am very thankful to everyone involved. I feel happy, comfortable and looking forward to the GPs.

MXlarge: It could be a really weird year in MXGP. With Jeffrey out, we have a lot of veterans, like Cairoli, Paulin, Nagl, Desalle, Van Horebeek and yourself, so we don’t know if they drop off or stay strong, and we have some young guys in the factory rides, like Seewer, Jasikonis and Jonass. Then of course Gajser and Febvre who looked strong in Italy. It really could be a crazy season. Cairoli looks good, so we can probably depend on him, but for the rest, it is difficult to know.

Simpson: Yes, I would imagine so. All credit to Cairoli who keeps firing out the wins and championships. A few years ago, when Cairoli turned 30 or 31, everyone was wondering when he hangs up his boots. A great career, seven or eight World championships, and keeps going on.

MXlarge: In fact, he seems to be getting faster.

Simpson: Yes, and I think that has been great for the sport. Guys like myself, Nagl, Desalle, and the guys you mentioned, we are just following on, because we don’t want to stop either. Gone is this thing when you turn 30 you are over the hill. A few years ago teams were not picking up riders near 30. I feel like I am a slow burner and I feel like I have the best years ahead of me. You just need to right package and the right people who believe in you.

MXlarge: I guess for the older guy, with Cairoli leading the way, and being something of a role model, it makes all the other older guys believe more?

Simpson: Yes, absolutely. I still enjoy doing the GPs and I am ecstatic I am back doing the British championship. That for me is fantastic. Getting the British public on board and seeing me once a month. Try and get another British title.

MXlarge: Also riding for something of an underdog team?

Simpson: Absolutely, we want people to turn up and see we are there to do a good job. Small, but professional, we are not there to put on a show, but put on a show on the track. If we can click off the check list, then I can’t see why we can’t do it.

MXlarge: Last question. Going to Argentina now, with the little one back at home. I can imagine that won’t be easy leaving him at home?

Simpson: I think this year we will avoid the fly-away races, and later in the year we might bring him to some of the far-away races. In the mean-time just getting him around Europe in the camper. But as you know, if you just throw them in at the deep end, they get used to it quickly. That is how I was brought up. I was in the campervan from four or five months old, going to Sweden or wherever. I obviously can’t remember it, but it didn’t do me any harm. My wife is on-board him doing some miles and stopping at camp sites. Plenty of areas to bring him along and make many memories.