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© Bob Mullins   

Shaun Simpson

Red Bull KTM factory rider Shaun Simpson has been given the OK to attend his home Grand Prix at Mallory Park this coming weekend following a check up at the hospital in Belgium earlier this week. Just under four weeks since Shaun sustained his injuries, the young Scot has already resumed some light training activities as he begins his long road back to full fitness.

Simpson has now had the cast removed from his wrist, but must continue to use crutches in the short term whilst his lower left leg heals further. Doctor Ghyjselings is pleased with Shaun's progress and will look to remove two of the screws that are securing the pin in his tibia in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime the twenty-one year old reigning British champion can continue to do short sessions on his training cycle in order to maintain a certain level of fitness.

"If I am honest I was hoping to be a little further forward than I am now, but I suppose that's because I am both impatient and slightly frustrated. The good news is that everything is going well and is going in the right direction." Simpson continued. "It feels good to be able to do some cycling, and I have to remember it is only a month since the accident."

"Being fit enough to go to Mallory has been a good motivation point. I am really looking forward to being back in the paddock and catching up with my friends and fans. I obviously wish I was riding, but just being there will be the next best thing." Shaun ended.

Simpson will be kept busy throughout the weekend with a range of PR duties, including the following public autograph sessions.

Saturday

12.30pm Leatt Neck Brace Trade Stand 2.15pm T+MX Trade Stand

Sunday

10.15am KTM Trade Stand 11.00am T+MX Trade Stand 2.30pm Leatt Neck Brace Trade Stand

For well wishers who are unable to offer their support in person at this weekend's GP, but who still wish to send their personal messages to Shaun, please continue to do this via his official website www.shaunsimpson.com  - Updates regarding his recovery will be posted on the news pages of Shaun's website over the coming weeks and months.

Simpson remains in hospital

Red Bull KTM factory rider Shaun Simpson remains in hospital in Eeklo, Belgium following his operation last week to address the various injuries he sustained during a training accident on Wednesday 29th April at Ersel, Holland. Twenty-one year old Simpson who had earned his first ever Grand Prix race win just three days prior to the accident, is now likely to remain in hospital until Friday of this week to minimise the risk of infection and to reduce the chance of complications following his successful operation last Thursday.

Whilst Shaun's main area of injury is the various fractures to his lower left leg, further x-rays and scans have also revealed other minor injuries to his battered body. These include a small crack in his left heel, a chipped bone in the knee on the same side, a chipped left wrist and some slight ligament damage both in his pelvis area and in his left elbow.

Shaun has been allowed out of bed in more recent days, although his movement has been restricted to a nearby chair due to him still being connected to a drip as part of his infection management treatment. Hopefully later today, the ninety-degree cast currently on his left arm will be removed and replaced with a more user-friendly support that will allow Shaun more manoeuvrability.

Whilst Doctor Ghyjselings remains pleased with Shaun's initial progress and is confident of a full recovery, it is still too early for him to provide an accurate indication of when Shaun will be back in action again.

Simpson explained. "I am gradually getting my head around the situation and I am now looking forward at getting out of hospital later this week. I know in my own mind that it is probably going to be at least three months before I will be allowed anywhere near a bike. The most important thing is for me to keep taking steps in the right direction and to make sure that I am 100% right before I start riding again. I am under no pressure from KTM or anyone else to rush my recovery, so it is really going to be a case of taking one day at a time."

Shaun continued. "My first goal is to be fit enough to be a spectator at the British GP at Mallory Park at the end of this month, and perhaps I will even be well enough to sign a few autographs. In the meantime I would like to thank all those people who have sent me messages over the last week, your kind words are very much appreciated and have given me a much needed boost at this difficult time."

Well-wishers can continue to send their personal messages to Shaun via his official website www.shaunsimpson.com - Updates will continue to be posted on the news pages of Shaun's website.

Red Bull KTM's Shaun Simpson undergoes successful surgery for broken leg 

Red Bull KTM MX2 Factory Rider Shaun Simpson underwent successful surgery to repair a broken leg in the early hours of Thursday morning, team officials have reported.

The fracture was the result of a training accident on the Ersel practice track in the Netherlands on Wednesday.

The Scottish rider broke his left leg after he landed hard in a jumping section and the throttle on his bike got stuck. As a result of this incident Shaun went off the track, through the fence and hit a tree, resulting in serious injuries and major damage to the bike. "I want to underline that this was extremely bad luck but no riding error by Shaun," said Pit Beirer, Offroad Sports Director.

Beirer confirmed that the eminent Belgian sports injuries specialist Dr. Ghyjselings had successfully operated on Shaun's leg between midnight and around 02:00 a.m. on Thursday morning after team boss Stefan Everts had arranged transport for him from The Netherlands to the hospital in the Belgian city of Eeklo

Dr. Ghyjselings is well known to prominent offroad riders' injuries and he has, in the past, successfully treated Evert's own injuries during the multi world champion's own active and highly successful racing career. .

"Shaun's leg has been stabilised and the fracture has been pinned," Beirer told KTM Racing News on Thursday. "Doctors have said that the fracture should heal well with no long term consequences. Now the most important thing is for him to have time to recuperate." Estimates are that Shaun will have to rest the leg for about two months before being able to resume full training on the bike. "We want to sincerely thank Dr. Ghyjselings and his team for helping our rider in the late night hours," Beirer said.

Shaun, who enjoyed a great MX2 season last year as a KTM-supported rider, joined the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team in 2009 and is considered one of the most promising and talented riders in the current world championship competition.

The entire KTM international family joins in wishing Shaun a speedy recovery and all look forward to his return to the track.

Red Bull KTM factory rider Shaun Simpson injured in training accident 

KTM Racing learned on Wednesday evening that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team member Shaun Simpson suffered a training accident earlier today and has fractured his lower leg.

At the time of the accident, Shaun was training on the Ersel practice track in The Netherlands. As nobody was present at the time and until now it has not been possible to speak to Shaun personally, no exact details are known concerning the circumstances of the accident.

Pt Beirer, KTM's Offroad Director said Shaun was immediately transported to a nearby hospital in Veldhofen. KTM were arranging to have him moved to the Belgian city of Eeklo, where he can receive treatment by Dr. Ghyjselings an eminent sports injuries specialist. Dr. Ghyjselings has successfully treated other prominent offroad riders' injuries, including multi world champion Stefan Everts, who now manages the KTM factory team. Shaun is in his first year as a full factory rider and was second on the podium behind teammate Rui Goncalves of Portugal in last weekend's MX2 GP at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands.

More information will be released after doctors are able to assess the injuries and estimate how long Shaun may need to recover.

Simpson remains on top, despite a mixed day

Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship Round 2 - Langrish - 22/03/09

Shaun Simpson remains at the top of the general standings in the MX2 2009 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship, despite not enjoying the best of days at the ultra fast Langrish circuit. The Red Bull KTM rider came into the second round of the series full of confidence following his recent run of wins, but was aware of the tough test that lay ahead of him today when his arch rival Stephen Sword snatched pole position during morning qualifying.

Not deterred by being second on to the gate, Simpson made a good start in the opening moto and after having been headed by Mattis Karro and Sword on the opening lap, the reigning MX2 British champion was soon back in front. From this point on the twenty one year old never looked back, with him and Sword pulling well clear of the field. However a crash on the last lap would hand his compatriot the win, whilst Shaun managed to pick himself up and finish second still nearly thirty seconds ahead of Karro in third spot.

Looking to make amends for his earlier mistake Simpson was in stunning form in the second race, and by lap five was already four seconds clear of the pack. With the victory looking almost certain, Shaun was about to taste his second bout of bad luck for the day when a derailed chain halted his progress. Never one to give up, Simpson carried out his own trackside repairs and restarted in eleventh position. Three furious laps later the KTM factory teamster was back up to sixth spot, before a coming together with Martin Barr once again pushed Shaun back down the order.

Simpson continued to battle right to the flag to come home in a points salvaging fourth place, which put him third overall after losing out on the tie break with Pascal Leuret, but still two points ahead of Sword in the title race. Obviously frustrated Shaun explained. "I am really annoyed with myself for making the mistake in the first race, especially so late on as there was no way I could recover the ground I lost."

"I was making amends in the second moto and was holding a comfortable gap until the chain came off. It took nearly a minute to get it untangled and back on the rear sprocket. I pushed hard, but the crash with Barr put me on the deck again. After that it was a case of damage limitation, not ideal, but it could have been a lot worse. " Simpson ended.

Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship - Round 2 - Langrish MX2 Moto One: 1: Sword 2: Simpson 3: Karro 4: Leuret 5: Bradshaw MX2 Moto Two: 1: Sword 2: Leuret 3: Nicholls 4: Simpson 5: Bradshaw MX2 Overall: 1: Sword 50 2: Leuret 40 3: Simpson 40 Championship to date: 1: Simpson 90 2: Sword 88 3: Bradshaw 72

Full details of Shaun's 2009 schedule and all the latest news about the KTM teamster can be found on his official website at www.shaunsimpsom.com

Shaun Simpson ready for World and British success

With the new season almost upon us, Shaun Simpson - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing confirms his commitment to winning the World Championship and to defending his Maxxis ACU British Motocross title.

Twenty-year old Shaun Simpson has joined his other KTM racing team-mates on the East coast of Spain for a ten day training camp, as the young Scot makes his final preparations for the long and tough season that lies ahead of him. Simpson has spent the winter months based at his new home in Belgium under the watchful eye of the legendary Stefan Everts. The ten times World motocross champion has been closely monitoring the progress of the KTM factory's latest recruit as he has embarked on an intensive training programme to put Shaun in the top form for a full out assault on the 2009 MX2 World title.

Since signing his two-year factory deal last summer, Simpson has been fully aware of his priorities and goals for 2009. Winning the MX2 World Championship remains the most important objective both for KTM and Shaun, with the fifteen Grand Prix meetings taking precedence over all other competitions. In addition to the World series Shaun has also committed himself to contesting all eight rounds of the official Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship in an attempt to defend the domestic crown he won late last year.

With Simpson's riding activities having been limited to trials and enduro training over the last few months as part of his winter programme devised by KTM trainer Hugo America, the reigning Maxxis champion was glad to get back out on track proper last week.

Shaun explained about the year ahead. "I feel in the best shape ever, the winter lay off has allowed my body to recover, and the training programme has really helped to take my fitness to the next level. I am really hungry to be riding again, and I am looking forward to riding as much as possible over the coming days in Spain."

"Mantova on 8th February will be a good chance to gauge where I am up to, but whilst I will be doing my best to win, I am also aware that there is a long season ahead of me with the main focus being on the World championship that kicks off in Italy at the end of March. Apart from a few pre-season internationals I have not committed to any other races at the moment outside of the GPs and the Maxxis British championship, as they are my two main priorities and will tie up twenty three weekends in total." Simpson continued.

With a slight smile Shaun concluded. "There are some additional races I would like to ride, but ultimately the final decision about my schedule will be down to KTM. However I am sure if I manage to win both titles, then there will be a fair bit of flexibility! "

Full details of Shaun's 2009 schedule and all the latest news about the KTM teamster can be found on his official website at www.shaunsimpsom.com