McPhee: “My screen steamed up and I couldn’t see the gap!”

Brno Moto3™ race winner discusses his incredible wet weather win

It had been an almighty 54 years since the last Scottish win in the world championship – taken by Bob McIntyre at Spa-Francorchamps in 1962 - but the wait is now over after John McPhee (Peugeot MC Saxoprint) kicked off a historic day in Brno with a stunning wet weather display in the Moto3™ race. The Scottish rider has shown fantastic form in the wet before, but Brno saw McPhee on another level as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda Team Asia) crashed out of podium contention to leave McPhee to bring it home. Almost faultless, the Peugeot MC Saxoprint rider hung onto one big moment near the end of the race – and then crossed the line an incredible 8.8 seconds clear of the field to take his first win.

John McPhee (P1): “I still hardly can explain my emotions, it’s the very best feeling in the world. Honestly speaking, it’s so strange because last night I went for shower and I was imagining being on the podium. I know that sounds really weird! Anyway, I had a great feeling during the race and I’m really very happy. It was kind of hard and the question before it was what is the strategy for the race - because we already had a good one during qualifying in dry conditions. We had a good starting position. But in rainy conditions it’s so difficult to make a plan because you don’t know what anybody is going to do and you also don’t know what kind of rhythm you might be able to race. However, the morning’s warm up session gave me confidence of course and I knew I had to be somewhere in the front four or five riders. When I saw Brad (Binder) had a good rhythm I said to myself that this was good chance to race at the front. I felt comfortable and if I could follow him wait until the last laps, then try to make a move. So this was the plan. It was unfortunate for Brad that he had a crash - until then he was riding very well but suddenly I was in the lead. So from then on I tried to stay calm and tried to keep a good rhythm. I also was looking at my pit board to see the gap to the riders behind me, but my screen steamed up inside so I couldn’t see the gap that my crew showing was me. I just saw a one and a two but I didn’t know if that meant 1.2 or even twelve seconds. So for this reason I kept pushing and pushing. With three laps to the line I had a big moment - at that point I looked back over my shoulder and I couldn’t see anyone following me so I started to realize that I had a proper gap to the others. The next view on my pit board did confirm this and I understood that we could win the race. The last laps I stayed calm and brought it home. I’m so happy! A big thank you the team, Peugeot and Mahindra, as well to all the sponsors. I think we made them a bit proud today.”