MotoGP Phillip Island: ‘Work to do’ for McPhee after FP1 highside

John McPhee endured a challenging first day on the Sterilgarda Husqvarna at Phillip Island following a highside in Moto3 FP1.

Heavy overnight rain left a damp and ‘tricky’ track for the lightweight class to navigate with further lunchtime showers once again impacting the second sessions. Low temperatures and a strong wind added to the challenge on the Moto3 machines, with McPhee caught out at turn 11 and going down heavily on his shoulder.

Despite the fall, and subsequent injury, the Scotsman continued to work across the afternoon, finding his rhythm in the mixed conditions to complete the day 11th overall with a 1’38.760 best.

“Conditions today were a little bit tricky, especially in FP1,” McPhee explained from Australia. “The track was mainly dry but there were four or five points where water crossed the circuit so it made it difficult and, unfortunately I got caught out in the FP1 session with a highside. I hurt my shoulder and elbow, so in FP2, at the beginning of the session, we decided to stay in the box.

“We went out in the end, and I managed to find a bit of a rhythm, which is nice to have in day one. We are 11th, not so far off the front, but definitely some work to do.

“I am not feeling overly comfortable at the moment on the bike, but I know this track well and I have been very, very strong here in the past, so I am sure that if we come a little bit closer with the overall setting, I can be very fast.”