MotoGP Phillip Island: McPhee ‘frustrated and disappointed’ after Q1 fight

After a promising, if bruising start in Australia, John McPhee struggled to get his Sterilgarda Husqvarna to perform as he wanted on Saturday with the Scot facing the Moto3 Q1 fight for the first time this season.

Initial progress already derailed by his Friday highside, before he regrouped to 11th at the close of the first day, McPhee was out of promotion contention in FP3 with his 1’38.324 time worthy of just 27th.

A determined comeback in the first qualifying session, however, saw the 28-year-old fastest overall as he progressed through to the final shootout thanks to a 1’37.041. Unable to replicate the dominance in Q2, McPhee will line up 16th on the grid for Sunday’s race action.

“In the end, it is good to salvage something to go fastest in Q1,” McPhee said of his Saturday efforts. “It is the first time this year I have been in Q1.

“Honestly speaking I was really disappointed this morning to be this slow and I don’t understand how. I missed the feeling from the bike a lot. It is frustrating, because I feel like I need something to improve to go faster. We changed the bike for Q2 and made a step, but it was not enough to be able to fight for the top positions. We need to keep working.

“P16 is nothing to smile about, but okay, we’ve moved a little in the right direction, which is a positive point. Of course the race will be difficult tomorrow, but I will push 100 per cent and try to be there.”