Valkenswaard Report - LS Honda Racing

Thursday 29 April: This will be the last of the factory team reports. Ken De Dycker and Shaun Simpson scored points but unfortunately failed to make the impression that lives up to their potential.

Ken De Dycker, fresh from a brilliant win in the Belgian Championship last week finished 7th and 8th to claim 7th overall. Simpson, who struggled with his fitness in the hot and energy-sapping conditions, scored only 5 points, coming home 20th overall.

In the first moto, Ken got away with the front group and was on their pace for the first half of the race. However he lacked the strength to keep up with the fastest guys, and eventually started to fade to 7th place.

After a consistent 10th place in qualifying, both the team and Shaun Simpson had their eyes set on two steady races for Sunday. It was not to be as Shaun made a mediocre start and untypically couldn’t charge to improve on his 12th position in the opening stage of the moto. Simpson could only muster one point.

Motivated to bounce back after a disappointing first sprint, De Dycker and Simpson lined up for the second race. While Shaun had a better start this time, Ken had a lot to make up after a mid-pack start. The 26-year old Belgian steered his CRF450R into the top ten and claimed 7th by the third lap. Once again the demanding conditions and pain in his back took their toll. Ken crossed the line in 8th place.

While ‘Braveheart’ circulated in an encouraging 9th place early on, the former Valkenswaard MX2 moto winner started to tire quickly losing ground lap after lap. Simpson eventually picked up 4 points for his efforts.

Ken De Dycker: "What a tiring day! I was making too many mistakes and didn’t feel 100% from the crash in Bulgaria. The muscles in my back were getting very tight and that made it hard to stand-up. The final result was okay but not really want I wanted. It was so hard today. Now I hope to rest to get back into better shape.”

Shaun Simpson: "I didn’t feel so good in the heat race, without any lines, although I was able to take 10th position. I got two reasonable starts running in the back-end of the top ten and then just faded badly and I don’t know why. I felt very tired and was actually sick after both motos, which is something I’ve never experienced before. I just went so deep into my reserves. I was not in positions where I want to be battling and had no energy to do anything about it. I need to go back home and rest-up and find a bit of extra speed and fitness from somewhere.”

Copy and photos courtesy of Honda Pro Racing.