McPhee signs top deal for 2020
‘To be honest it was proving to be difficult to go to Moto2’
While it may not have been the weekend he had hoped for after finishing seventh despite being a front runner all race, John McPhee left Silverstone in an Aston Martin that had been loaned to him and a contract with arguably the best Moto3 team in the paddock in his pocket for next season. Despite rumours of a move to Moto2 in 2020, McPhee will now stay with Petronas Sprinta SRT next year in a bid to win the Moto3 crown. “Knowing 100% that I’m here next year means we’ll be recording every last little bit of detail we can in to our paperwork so that when we arrive next year we’ll have every possible piece of info we’ll need, which should really jump start my season. I’ve never had that before because I’ve never gone into a second season with the same team, bike and crew.” Although the 25-year-old has had to park his Moto2 aspirations for another season he has the guarantee of a top level Moto3 bike in 2020 along with the carrot of graduating into Moto2 in 2021 while staying in the Petronas squad. “To be honest it was proving to be difficult to go to Moto2. The grid is dropping to 28 bikes next year and 90% of the riders are on two-year deals, so there are literally no seats available. Obviously it was what we were aiming for, but it was proving difficult and then this great opportunity came to stay with Petronas to stay in Moto3 with the option to step up with them.” Fellow Brit Tom Booth-Amos finished the race 25th.