McPhee endures miserable British GPposted in OTHER04 | 09 | 2016
A FORTNIGHT AFTER winning the Czech Republic Moto3 Grand Prix, Scot John McPhee endured a miserable British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The disappointed 22-year-old from Oban had to settle for 18th in his home race, ultimately paying the price for a crash in wet qualifying which left him 17th on the grid for today’s race.
“It’s definitely not the weekend I wanted,” the Peugeot Saxoprint rider said after climbing off his Mahindra-powered 250cc bike.
“The problems stem from qualifying when I slid off the track in the torrential rain when I was lying sixth-fastest.
“I got the bike back to the garage and the boys did a great job repairing it. But by the time I got back out, track conditions had deteriorated and I was stuck back in 17th.
“I knew I had to make a really good start to the race, make up places and challenge before the pack separated out into groups.
“I knew too that if the gaps opened I’d struggle because our engine’s about 8% down on power compared to the leading bikes.
“Unfortunately, after fighting for positions off the start line, I dropped back to 20th and with the lack of power then struggled throughout the rest of the race,” the Racing Steps-backed rider continued.
“It’s really disappointing because I’d hoped to put on a good show for everyone who’s down here supporting me.”
The race was won by championship leader Brad Binder. The South African finished just 0.183s ahead of Italian Francesco Bagnaia, with Holland’s Bo Bendsneyder third, another 0.153s further back.
Related: McPhee targets British Moto3 GP top 10
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Jim McGill