Daniel Shrimp - Motorcross
Daniel started riding after seeing his brother get a bike and watching him riding in the bush. He has been riding since the age of 7, at his local track in Byford. Showing a lot of talent and determination he has been an up and comer in the local rounds and recently won the 250cc 15 years class at the Honda Australian Junior MX Championship held in Wanneroo, WA.
2009
At the start of the 2009 I had the opportunity to stay in Sydney with Greg Moss for 6 weeks preparing for the Under 19’s championship. While I was there I underwent all of the Moss Institute coaching school's training program and I was able to ride with Matt Moss and a many other fast riders, whilst riding with them I noticed I picked up a fair amount of speed.
My goal for 2009 was to finish top ten in the Australian under 19’s championship. Due to injuries and dnf’s I was unable to complete that goal, I ended up finishing in 42nd Place.
In the WA State Titles I was hoping to finish in the top three, but due to missing 3 rounds and injuries I ended up finishing in 19th position. In the last round at Byford I finished 4th for the day, I was pleased with this result.
2009 has been a bit disappointing for me, coming back from a broken femur and trying to overcome the psychological side of things was really difficult, every time I came off it was always the leg with the rod in I hurt, it wasn’t until towards the end of the season that my confidence started coming back and I was starting to have fun again. I had the rod removed mid September after 11 months so with some time off I am looking forward to concentrating on the WA Senior State Rounds in 2010, I would like to compete in one or two of the National series to keep in touch with the East Coast.
To all my sponsors, and my mum and especially Dad who was always there to get my bikes sorted out for each event, thank you it has been an awesome experience to have been able to be given the opportunity to travel over East and compete in the under 19 national rounds, the tracks are nothing like I am used to riding over here in WA, I have learned a lot and met a lot of people that have helped me out.
2010
Civil War at Coastal’s
In the first race I got an average start and was 4th out of the first corner, I made a few mistakes during the race which I think mean I need to train some more, but I didn’t lose any positions and because of the mistakes I didn’t gain any either, so I finished 4th.
The second race I tried a different gate to see what side of the start line is better for a holeshot, but I ended up 4th out of the corner again and then held that position the moved up to 3rd place. Then my front wheel dug itself into the dirt, I crashed and then I finished up 5th for the race.
In the last race I got a good jump and I was coming around about 3rd after the first corner but then someone got hurt and they red flagged the race, which was a bummer, so after getting my gate sorted again my start was not so good, I was at the back of the pack coming out of the first corner but made up some more ground and finished around 4th or 5th.
After those three races they put together a feature race which they organise by saying the first 40 riders that put their names down can race. In that race I got an alright start and was out of the first corner in about 6th but due to a pile up in the second corner I was dead last with only 6 laps to catch up and by putting the last bit of energy I had I got myself into the top 10 out of around 35 riders so I was pretty stokes with that result.
It was also good to be racing against Michael Addison because for the time I could keep with him. Overall for the day I think with the results I got, I need to work on my starts a fair bit and to do a few more Moto’s.
Sunday May 9th
I have just raced the 2nd round of the state championships which was held at.
The day started out cloudy, by practice it was starting to rain. I thought we were in for a wet day but it cleared very quickly, practice went well and I felt good on the bike, the KTM was performing awesome.
The first race was 15 minutes plus 1 lap, I got an awesome jump and got the holeshot and then dropped back to 2nd place but didn’t let Humbo pull away, 5 minutes to go I made the pass and moved up into 1st place with a couple of close calls the battle for 1st was on, I stayed strong and won the race.
As we were waiting for the flag change and the track to be watered I knew it was going to be slippery 6 lap sprint, the start was not good but with the result I got in the 1st race. I knew I could do it and I ended up making a few passes and also mistakes and eventually move into and finished in 6th position.
The 3rd race was another 15 minute plus 1 lap and I was off to another good start and was 3rd out of the first corner but as the race went on I worked my way into 2nd place, but I knew 1st place (Josh Adams) was too far in-front for me to catch up, so I rode my own race stayed smooth and rode smart and finished in 2nd place, the track by this stage was starting to show some very sharp edges and had already claimed several flat tyres, thanks to my dad he had put a new tyre on the back.
My overall position I finished 2nd for the day in the Pro Lites. I felt confident today and was very pleased with my results.
I will now be back on the sand tracks training for the next state round in Bunbury.
Tumblegum
I raced at Tumblegum Sunday which didn’t really end with that good of a result.
In the first race I got off to an alright start and was up with the front of the pack but on about the 2nd lap I went over the berm and lost a couple of position and couldn’t gain them back. I think I finished roughly around 7th or 8th.
In the second race my start was not as good and I found myself mid pack and not long into the race I got caught up with a fallen rider and fell off myself and was in last place, by the end of the race I got myself into around 15th position.
In between the second and third race we had a shoot out which the first heat was 1 lap and then the top 20 stay in and the rest go back to the pits, then the second heat was 1 lap and the top 10 stay in, which after that heat I was eliminated.
In the last race I was off to another good start and was going better but due to a competitor crashing the race was red flagged, as the race started again my start was not to good, on the 3rd lap I found myself on the ground and working my way through the pack once again.
Willie Thompson put on a great event and I found the track fast and flowing but towards the end of the day it was getting sharp edges with kicky breaking bumps. I enjoyed the day, but with riding in sand it took a few rounds to get the suspension sorted. I now have to work on improving my reaction time on the starts.
