Scot McPhee bags maiden Moto3 GP winposted in OTHER21 | 08 | 2016
OBAN’S JOHN McPHEE became the first Scot to win a Moto3 World Championship Grand Prix when he took the chequered flag today in Brno.
In treacherously slippery conditions, the 22-year-old claimed a dramatic win in the Czech Republic Moto3 GP on his 250cc Peugeot MC SaxoPrint bike.
But the Scot, who started from 11th on the grid and finished 8.806-seconds ahead of Spain’s Jorge Martin, had a heart-stopping moment (see image below) two laps from the end when he almost did a handstand on his bike.
As the rain lashed the circuit, the rear wheel of McPhee’s Peugeot slid from beneath him as he accelerated out of a right-hander. The sudden, violent action pitched the rider out of his seat sending his legs flailing upwards as he clung to the handlebars.
Somehow, McPhee managed to hold on to the bike as it continued up the track and he landed back in his seat to continue to take the chequered flag.
“Aye, that was a bit of a moment,” the talented young Scot, backed by the not-for-profit Racing Steps Foundation, admitted after today’s podium celebrations.
“Funnily enough, I did exactly the same thing a few laps earlier, so you could say I was almost ready for it. But yeh, it was scary.”
And McPhee, who pressurised championship leader Brad Binder throughout the race before the South African crashed out with five laps remaining, couldn’t hide his delight.
“This has been a dream for me since I came to grand prix racing, and even before that,” the Scot beamed. “I can’t explain how happy I am.
“I need to say a massive thanks to the people who have been working tirelessly around me and helped to get me here, including my mum and dad, Peter Ball and all the guys from Racing Steps Foundation.
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“We’ve been improving step by step and getting closer to the front. This is the best feeling ever.”
McPhee also revealed that a steamed-up screen on his bike meant he pushed harder than he had to over the closing laps.
“I couldn’t see my pltboard clearly,” he explained. “When I went passed I saw the numbers ‘1’ and ‘2’, and thought I was leading by just 1.2-seconds. I didn’t realise it was actually 12-seconds.
“So I kept pushing, but in these atrocious conditions it was the best thing to do because it helped keep the concentration levels high. I’m absolutely delighted.”
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Jim McGill