How old were you when you learned to ride a motorcycle? What is your family background as regards motorcycle racing? Are they supportive of you racing in the TT?
My maternal grandpa was Ken Harding who was chief scrutineer for the Manx GP and Chairman of the Manx Motorcycle Club, so I come from a Manx motorcycle racing family.
I started riding a Yamaha PW50 round the garden at about three or four and then, in around 2004 my Dad, Peter Simpson, began competing in the MGP, Southern 100, PreTT and the UGP.
He was due to race the TT in 2013 but sadly was ill so was unable to compete in the end and died before he could race the TT. I had watched his race career evolving and was thinking I'd like to have a go too, so in 2018 I bought an R6 track bike, got a racing licence and in April 2019 started racing at Jurby. My motivation was really because I had reached a point where I was looking at my life and thinking - what am I doing? So I decided to give racing a go as it was what I always wanted to do.
Following through on my racing aspirations, in 2021 I finished 3rd in the IOM Centre Championship, 3rd in the 600 Championship and won the Clubman Championship. I came 2nd in the senior open at Anglesey with the Wirral 100. I gained a 3rd place on the 600 at  Donington Park with Bemsee and came in 8th at Oulton Park with NG road racing. I went on to win the 600 class at Jurby Endurance Round two years in a row.
As to family support, well mums, aunties and grandmas would probably always prefer you to take up a nice safe pastime like knitting, but at the end of the day my mum is really supportive. She can see how much committment I have to my racing and how much difference it has made to my life and I think she wants me to be doing what inspires me and makes me get out of bed in the morning ready to go and do something I love. Hopefully, without blowing my own trumpet, she is proud of what I'm doing too.

Why did you decide to start racing and how are you feeling about the TT?
Motorcycle racing has really been my lifelong dream, top of my list. I am very excited about the TT and also a bit nervous about whether I'm good enough. But at the moment I'm trying not to overthink it and just follow my training and prep regimes one day at a time in the build up to the actual races.

What is your personal training regime? Do you go to the gym?
Yes I try to keep physically fit as it helps with racing to be in good physical condition so I go to the gym regularly - Nautilus gym is one of my sponsors so I can go there to train. I have started swimming too and play squash with a friend who is also a racer.

Do you have any mental strategies to improve your performance or any superstitions before you race?
Yes I think I do. Before the race starts I don't talk to anyone - I sit quietly on my own doing mental prep and visualising the track and the race in advance to prepare for what's to come so I feel really ready.
The only superstitious thing I do is to put the left of everything on first! Left glove, left boot, put my left arm into my leathers first and get on the bike from the left side. Don't ask me why, there's no logical explanation I just noticed I was doing it and realised that it just feels right to do it that way so I'll carry on.

How much and where do you practice?
I have a Trials bike and Supermoto as I don't have a legal road licence so I do some of my training off road at Laxey Mines which is an old quarry and mine site on the Isle of Man. Some in the UK on a Trials bike and some testing in Spain. I keep going with the racing throughout the winter but obviously up the training as the main events approach.

What is your current race machine and are you happy with it?
For the TT I have an Atherstone ARC Yamaha R6 2018 BN6 which I am very happy with. Atherstone have been great sponsors who have been behind me from the start which I really appreciate. Tony “Slick” Bass, who used to work for Carl Fogarty, does my engines for me. My second bike for the TT is Ryan Farquhar built ER6 Supertwin. That will be entered under the banner, LMR powered by Jon Cuff Electrical. Jon and his wife, Netty, have also supported me since I first started racing and very kindly bought me this amazing bike from Ryan. I can't thank them enough!

What is your motivation for racing? Do you just race to win or challenge yourself against the track?
I know that in the TT I am currently just a small fish in a big pond so my aims at the moment are simply:
a To Qualify
b To Finish
I know that the TT is probably the most demanding and challenging road race in the world so I am currently happy to take small steps in the right direction and pace myself as I'm only 24 so I have plenty of time ahead. I want to come home safely so I don’t leave my brain in the tool box when I ride on the roads. Last year was my first year of road racing so I need to achieve my goals, consolidate my capabilities and take all the advice I'm offered on board.

What does your team look like? Do you have a mechanic or do some of your own spannering?
In the winter off season my team is mainly just me and a couple of friends who help with a few bits.
When the season starts, my main man is Joey who went everywhere with me last year. He didn’t miss one race meeting which was just brilliant. I have a great support team besides Joey, made up of my uncle Rocky and I get a lot of help from Davy Moffit and his famous racer-dad, Dave Moffit, plus Dave's son-in-law Ant, all the help is very much appreciated from all of them. So in total 2 bikes and 5 guys to help so I should be ok. I am on the look out though for another person to join the team as a mechanic to help with bigger jobs for TT.

How are you feeling about the race and do you think the TT poses any particular challenges over other races?
Yes absolutely it does, you can be as fit as you like but mental strength, and how long you can concentrate for and how much you really want it is extremely  important. You need to be completely ready mentally and physically, to check and recheck everything and accept that it's probably the hardest race of all, so go into it really prepared.

What are your ambitions for this year?
Just to keep on improving and doing my best. Since I started racing, I have levelled up every year competing at bigger events and achieving better results so if I can do that again this year, I'll be happy with my performances. I consciously try not to have too much expectation early on and just see where the year takes me. I'm not rushing the job. I've got some great sponsorship which I really appreciate and is really helping things along. (Glad to be of assistance with this Marcus - Wemoto)

Have you been affected by the cancellation of the Northern Irish Road race season this year?
Yes it's a really massive disappointment. I went off racing last year and was away all year living out of a van over there. I can honestly say it was my best year ever and I had amazing help from Michael Sweeney and Shane Mulligan, which I'm so grateful for and which really helped me so much. I was in Spain training when I heard that the N.I races were cancelled so it didn't really hit me till I got back.
When I got home I felt terrible about it - it's such a fantastic way of life, such a terribly sad thing and it means a loss of opportunity to practice. But I am now keeping everything crossed that something will happen to save it although I don't hold out much hope. I'm re routing to get my practice in and am going to warm up with with the Wirral 100 and hopefully the BSB supersport championship.