The JK Racing rider – operating on a shoestring and with father Willie as mechanic – enacted a classic ‘David and Goliath’ scenario to post a remarkable 1-3 scorecard and create some of the most exciting scenes witnessed in the FIM Motocross World Championship this season. One factory team manager commented to OTOR that it was like Simpson had won a championship such was the outpouring of goodwill towards and friendly and ever-persistent member of the GP fraternity. Here Simpson chats about his first ever GP win; the perfect set-up to his place on the Motocross of Nations British team for Teutschenthal in three weeks…

On his post-race feelings…
This is definitely the best day of my career so far. I have won a race in MX2 and had podiums but I’ve never been on the top step. I couldn’t believe it actually. There was a lot going on in that second race; I crashed on the first lap, went down to eighth got back and passed Desalle for second and then Ken came back at me. It was an exciting race. When I came over the finish line I still didn’t know if I had won the GP because my dad hadn’t put the pitboard out for two laps. I was thinking ‘Come on! Get with the programme here!’. It was a hectic second moto and I still cannot really express what I’m feeling.

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On bouncing back from the split with TM and winning against the odds…
It has been a tough year. It didn’t start out so great and things were not working out with the team I was with. I changed over to Yamaha and knew exactly how to set-up the bike from last year. We used WP suspension, which I knew from riding the KTM and since then we have improved my engine a lot. At the moment the bike is perfect for me, especially in the sand. Coming here I knew I liked Lierop and I like the sand and when it rained last night – I like the mud – it made a perfect combination. I thought why not go for it. It was a surprise to win the first race, especially because Tony was behind me and then slid out. There was a lot of emotion when I won that.

On whether he knew he needed at least third place from a five rider fight for second spot in the second moto to defeat Tony Cairoli and Kevin Strijbos….
No. I knew Tony was in the lead and he was fourth in the first moto. I knew if I was fourth we would be tied on points and he’d win. When Kevin went past I thought he would have won overall but it sorted itself out. In one of the corners I started doing some mathematics in my head and I thought ‘what are you doing?! Just keep riding!’

On his like of the Lierop sand and how he luck varies here…
In 2006 I broke my leg, in 2007 my collarbone the year after I was twice in the top five and always consistent after that. Last year I was around the top three with the Yamaha but had a few small bike problems. This year went great; two good starts and it all rolled on from Saturday.

On how he went from top ten runner to GP winner…
I think with it being sand and being deeper today because of the rain. With the long ruts it reminds me of one of the tracks I practice on back in Scotland actually. I woke up the morning and thought that this was nothing new for me. Other than that I can’t really explain how I’ve come from eighth to tenth to winning the GP and a moto.

On whether this result might help concrete a ride for 2014…
I hope so. Until now I spoke to three people, and even then it has not been going that great. There have not been any offers on the table. I think I improved by one position in the championship to tenth [he actually moved up two, to ninth] and that has been a career goal for three years now in MX1 to break into the top ten. I’m still unsure what I will do next year but I would like to stay with Yamaha and progress.

On the positive reaction inside the paddock and around the circuit to his triumph…
It’s great. The pitlane was on fire when I went past and everyone was hanging out in the last couple of laps. It is a really good feeling to know that. I did the best job I could. As we know it is going to ‘MXGP’ class next year so it was good to win the last MX1 GP and I don’t think a Brit has won on the 450 since Billy Mac that’s another good milestone for the Brits, and I think it is the only British MX1 podium this year. Happy with that.