McPhee success

MOTORCYCLE racer John McPhee was celebrating at the weekend after making a comeback from 19th on the grid at the Dutch GP to finish on the podium.

JOHN McPhee had a barnstorming Dutch GP for the British Talent Team, staging an awesome comeback from 19th on the grid to fight for the win - eventually finishing third.

Off to a slower start than the Connel rider wanted, John only made up a handful of places initially before getting in the mix in the second group. As the race began to close up and eventual winner Aron Canet led the charge to catch the front runners, McPhee stayed with the Spaniard and was soon up into podium contention.

Hitting the lead for the first time with four laps to go, John prepared a final charge after the incredible comeback – challenging for the win on the final lap before crossing the line in third. From 19th position on the grid to the podium, this was a gain of an incredible 16 places.

With the big haul of points in the bag, John is back in the top five of the championship.

The next stop is Germany and the Sachsenring, as the grid head out for one last showdown next weekend ahead of the summer break.

After the race John said: ‘ I’m absolutely delighted to be on the podium, so happy for myself and the team to pull this result out after such a tough weekend.

‘The race was great fun. Starting from 19th was quite difficult but we had the rhythm and the pace and we kept chipping away.

‘I realised I was catching the second group and the second group were catching the leaders. I kept fighting away and with about five laps to go I thought I could even win the race and that we had a real good chance.

‘I timed everything perfectly going into the last lap in turn nine and 10.

‘I tried to pass Canet and then he and Mir ran wide, but to claim the last step on the podium I’m really happy.’