McPhee targets British Moto3 GP top 10posted in OTHER01 | 09 | 2016
TWO WEEKS AFTER becoming the first Scot to win a motorcycle world championship grand prix for more than 50 years, Oban’s John McPhee is back in action this weekend at Silverstone.
The 22-year-old Scot will fire up his 250cc Mahindra-powered Peugeot Saxoprint race bike to tackle the British Moto3 Grand Prix at the Northamptonshire circuit in front of 100,000 spectators.
As he prepared his gleaming No17 bike in his garage today — not far from the Yamaha of multiple MotoGP world champ, Valentino Rossi — the Scot admitted he was still coming to terms with his stunning win last time out at Brno in the Czech Republic Grand Prix.
“The last couple of weeks have been something of a whirlwind,” McPhee admitted. “Things have been so busy that, to be honest the full significance of what we achieved at Brno hasn’t fully sunk in.
Related: Scot John McPhee wins Moto3 GP in Brno
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the messages of support I’ve received, not only from Scotland but from around the world. I never knew I had so much backing.
“It’s been tough maintaining the focus for Silverstone, but we know we have a job to do and we’re fully concentrated on delivering this weekend.”
But McPhee, whose world championship career has been guided by the Racing Steps Foundation (RSF) — a not-for-profit fund that provides and finances competition and performance development programmes for young British racing drivers and motorcycle racers — is being realistic about his chances at Silverstone.
“Brno was, let’s say, unusual because of the torrential rain we had right through the race,” the Scot smiled. “Those conditions were a great leveller and helped me out, because my bike’s engine is around 8% down on power compared to the leading bikes in Moto3.
“It meant the focus was on rider ability, and how I applied the power rather than simply having the brute force of a more powerful engine.
“So, having enjoyed the high of Brno, I now need to recalibrate my thought process. I’ve got to be realistic because a lot of what’s going to happen will depend on what the conditions are like.
“Obviously I’m hoping for rain but, as we sit here under near cloudless blue skies, that’s not exactly looking likely. But showers are forecast for Sunday.
“We can certainly be competitive over one or two laps in the dry, but over a race distance it’s really, really difficult to overcome the power difference at the moment.
“I think the main thing — wet or dry — is we try to be in the top 10. The most important thing for me is to be top Mahindra-powered rider.”
And McPhee, who will again be surrounded by support from mum Maggie, dad Alasdair, and Peter Ball who heads up the RSF motorcycle division, is looking forward to seeing more Saltires flying round the home of British motorsport.
“At every race around the world this season I’ve always spotted the Saltires hanging from the grandstands or being flown by supporters,” the Scot, who proudly wears an impressive blue and white cross on his race helmet, said.
“You’ve no idea how big a boost it gives me to know the support is there. I think, on the back of the Brno win and the fact this is my home grand prix, there might be a few more flying this weekend.
“And I’ll certainly be doing everything I can to deliver the best result everyone.”
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Jim McGill