Grand Prix of Belgium winners Shaun Simpson and Max Anstie have spoken of their early selection for the 2015 British team for the Motocross of Nations at Ernee in France.
Both were individually informed last month that they would be wearing the British colours on September 26-27 in a move that gave little space for Red Bull KTM riders (and 2014 Team GBR representatives) Dean Wilson and Tommy Searle to heal from respective injuries and demonstrate pace and form for possible inclusion. Searle even took to his Twitter account to vent an opinion.
“We’re both leading the British Championship and that’s fair enough,” commented Anstie. “I have a lot of great competitors in England and I think they are fast and I feel that I have earned my spot through winning Grands Prix. I think it is fair, and Shaun has clearly been riding amazingly in his races and we are the two top Brits at the moment.”
“I still have to make it there!” he joked. “It is not my place to say who picks the team but I’m very happy to be able to represent the country and be a part of it.”
Anstie was won two rounds of the 2015 series in MX2 and is slated for the same berth at Ernee. Simpson has been a consistent runner in the leading group of MXGP despite his privateer status and away from the FIM World Championship has won all six rounds of the domestic competition in the UK.
“It is early to pick the team,” he said “but overall Max and I have shown the consistency through the year to warrant our spots in the team. For a few years I felt like I have been like a ‘last minute’ addition or only just filling that third rider spot, but this year I feel that Max and I can slot ourselves in there right-away. I think from the wide selection of other guys to choose then we are in a good position as a country and I’m looking forward to racing in France this year.”
