Last lap crash for unlucky McPhee

A podium finish and even a win looked likely for Oban’s John McPhee in last Sunday’s Moto3 Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, but a last lap crash prevented him from crossing the line.

McPhee made a sluggish start to the race and slipped back to 10th place from the outside of the front row. However, after some superb riding he fought his way back up the field.

With eight laps remaining it really was anyone’s race to win. The top 12 were joined at the hip in a classic Moto3 encounter.

Spaniard Alberto Arenas was looking strong at the spearhead of the group with P2 changing all the time between McPhee, Tony Arbolino and Darryn Binder.

With four laps to go, McPhee made his move. An aggressive pass on Arenas at Turn 11 was followed by a two-for-one purchase at turn 13 on Arbolino and Binder – the Oban rider was meaning business in the closing stages but he was not going to break clear as the top 11 were waiting to pounce.

With two laps left, McPhee led but Arbolino and now Arenas were getting impatient. Down the back straight, Arbolino got the slipstream and took P1 from McPhee, with Binder and Arenas getting too close for comfort

John McPhee takes the lead during last Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.

before Binder turn nine.

It was starting to hit boiling point and McPhee was back in the lead as the number 17 dived up the inside of Arbolino, who left the door wide open on the penultimate corner.

However, down the back straight Arbolino was tucked into the slipstream and made the move going into the Dani Pedrosa corner, with Arenas then getting past McPhee at turn nine as Jorge Lorenzo corner – the last corner – awaited.

And drama followed. McPhee dived up the inside but ran slightly wide, with Celestino Vietti then touching Arbolino crashed out at on the exit, who in turn made contact with McPhee – the Petronas Sprinta man could do nothing and crashed out with the finish line in sight.

There was no problem for Arenas though, the Spaniard stayed out of trouble and won the run to the line to win – taking another 25-point haul.

Japan’s Ai Ogura had a wonderful final few laps to finish P2 for his second podium of the season, with Arbolino settling for P3 after going into the last corner first.

After the race John said: ‘Unfortunately that’s racing. I gave everything I had today and tried my best on the last lap. I didn’t get a great start and I had to overwork the tyres a bit to get back to the sharp end, but it means I’ve got more knowledge ahead of the next race.

‘The good thing is I felt strong all race. It’s unfortunate about the result, but these things happen and we’ll try again next week. We know now that we can turn up at every race and be near the front, to be within the podium positions.

‘Knowing that is a massive confidence boost, everything is working well with my bike and we’re doing everything we can as a team.’

John’s next race is on Sunday (July 26) again at the Circuito de Jerez.