After seven years as one of Britain’s regulars on the Grand Prix scene Shaun Simpson will throw his leg over a Yamaha for the first time in 2012 for what will be only his second campaign in the premier MX1-GP class.

The Scot comes from a solid motocross family with father Willie a former 500cc world championship competitor and brother Stefan a race mechanic. Simpson was given a chance at the highest level during his teenage years and two seasons troubled by injury were soon forgotten by a career-turning 2008 in which he grabbed his first GP podiums and also claimed the MX2 British Championship from the confines of a privateer team. He became a works rider in 2009 and 2010 but was again hit by misfortune in suffering a broken leg only one week after winning his first Grand Prix moto at round four in Holland in 2009. In 2010 he lifted another trophy but was reaching the age limit of 23 for the MX2-GP category.

A brave step into MX1-GP in 2011 didn’t deliver the results Simpson was hoping for but a small consolation lay in his securement of the Belgian national championship. The 23 year old was, however, able to learn the demands and intricacies of MX1-GP racing and was a popular rider with potential for Monster Energy Yamaha to invest towards as the third pilot on their YZ450F technology for 2012.

Friendly, with a great sense of humour and love for the sport in which he competes, Simpson is an excellent ambassador for the FIM Motocross World Championship and a welcome addition to the ‘black and green’ liveries for the coming year.