Some images have already surfaced on the internet of HM Plant KTM UK rider Shaun Simpson, winner of the final MX1 Grand Prix in Holland this year, riding the Austrian bike that sees the Scot reunited with the brand with whom he burst to prominence as an MX2 podium finisher and British national champion in 2008. Although the 25 year old was snapped training on a 450 he admitted that he is currently undecided about racing a 450SX-F or 350SX-f in the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship.

The news is significant as the 350 has been a title-winning motorcycle in the hands of Tony Cairoli each year since 2010 but very few other riders in the premier class have elected to use the bike that brings a compromise between 450cc four-stroke power and 250cc weight and handling. Fittingly the only other results of note on the model were obtained by Kevin Strijbos in 2012 when the Belgian represented the HM Plant team and he walked the podium three times (eventually leading to a return to the factory Suzuki set-up for 2013 where he’ll stay for next season). Some people believe that Cairoli’s relatively small frame is the ideal weight ratio to remain competitive on the 350 while other comments have referred to the bike’s need for high maintenance compared to a 450.

Simpson was one of the first racers to have been clipped by the 23 age limit rule in MX2 when he moved from being a top five regular in the class to MX1 in 2011. The Brit could have run another term on the 250 that year but elected to move onto the bigger bike and endured a largely unhappy apprenticeship season with LS Honda. The choice of the 350SX-F could be a winning combination for Roger Magee’s team once more as Simpson was an undoubted performer on the quarter litre machine and has now increased his skill and speed in the premier class, as he demonstrated at Lierop this past September.

“I’ve tested the 450 and 350SX-Fs and I love both of them,” he said. “I liked the 350 more than I thought I would. The general feel of the bike is familiar and it is easy just to jump on and ride it hard. I feel like I am in a really good place for 2014; a good bike, good suspension, good engine. I think I can do some damage.”

Magee and Simpson have previously used the engine-tuning skills of Dutchman John Volleburg and it was the technician’s efforts with the 2008 250SX-F that allowed Simpson to fight the factory KTMs in MX2. “We’ll get both bikes over to John for a full tune-up and then we’ll see where we go from there,” Simpson said.