This weekend saw the 73rd running of the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, held at the TT Circuit of Assen in Holland. On the back of the previous two events Team GB travelled to the man-made sand circuit with hopes of making it a hat trick of podiums.
Coming into the event Team GB were forced to change the team selection due to injuries but the team of Shaun Simpson, Nathan Watson and Adam Sterry were all feeling positive going into the weekend after spending time together testing and preparing.
The weekend didn’t start great with the team being given 33
rd gate pick in the ballot for Saturday’s qualifying race but the team managed to move up to 8
th after the qualifying heats which saw all three riders have their own small hiccups.
Sunday was a completely different day following heavy overnight rain had left the track very wet making conditions much harder. The opening moto saw Watson and Sterry on track and after good starts, Sterry suffered a crash on the opening lap, while Watson had a technical problem and retired from a top 10 position. Sterry managed to recover to just outside the top 20 but the team result wasn’t looking great.
In the second moto Simpson and Sterry both managed to turn things around and after both producing great results with Simpson in 3
rd and Sterry in 12
th the team were back in with a chance of a podium going into the final race.
Race three saw Simpson and Watson line up on gate looking to bring it home for Team GB and after the opening lap the team had jumped up to second with both riders inside the top 10. As the race continued GB slipped to third and then later to fourth as the French team made progress.
In the final stages of the race Team France
’s leading man, Gautier Paulin, was forced to retire from the race with a technical issue, moving Great Britain back onto the podium, making it their third consecutive podium finish in the last three years.
Speaking after the races the three riders commented;
Shaun Simpson: “This has been a long time coming for me, this is my 7th Nations for Team GB after my first 2008. To get my first podium as part of Team GB is amazing and I can’t explain how happy I am. We knew coming into the weekend that the Dutch were going to be strong, but then the weather had a factor and help us a bit maybe. My two teammates have done an amazing job on the first attempt. For me it hasn’t been the greatest season in MXGP but this is the cherry on the top of the cake and I can’t thank Mark and everyone involved for everything this weekend. Nathan Watson:
“It was so tough out there but I am almost speechless with the result. I managed to get two good starts from the outside – I’m not sure how! In the first race I had to apologise; I’ve never ‘done’ a clutch in my life but I must have got a bit excited. I was riding quite good but fell and my shoulder came out a little bit. I didn't want to tell anyone and so just taped it up and got stuck-into the last race. I felt a lot of pressure and I didn't want let the team down. I was happy to get a solid result and it’s so nice to be on the podium: it’s amazing.” Adam Sterry: "
What a way to end my MX2 career; I'm lost for words. I got taken out on the first lap of the first race, then crashed myself a couple of laps later and I thought it was over for the team. But we had a solid second moto to get back in with a chance and the boys brought it home in the final race. My thanks to the entire F&H team for the last two years; they went above and beyond and gave me a great bike again for this weekend; it never missed a beat despite the weather conditions."