MotoGP Qatar: McPhee ‘able to fight after successful seventh’

John McPhee will start his first Moto3 race with the Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing squad from seventh after a strong Saturday in Qatar.

Confident of Q2 promotion thanks to his impressive Friday pace, McPhee opened 2022’s second day of action with set-up preparation in FP3. Heading into qualifying, he was initially used as an experienced reference for the pack as the final runs fired up, with the Scot securing the head of the third row for Sunday’s 18-lap opener after a 2’05.549 lap, two-tenths shy of his weekend best.

“It’s been another successful day here in Doha,” McPhee confirmed from Qatar. “We have been working a lot with the team, keep adapting to the Husqvarna, and to improve my overall feeling. In qualifications, the target is always the front two or three rows. We will be starting from P7, at the start of the third row, which is a good position to be able to fight in the race.

“Of course you always want more as a rider and the good thing is that I know there is more potential to come, so for the moment we are making good progress. I am very excited to race tomorrow.”

“This is a great start for us here in Lusail today,” Team owner Max Biaggi added. “We have both riders in the first three rows and tomorrow we can fight for the positions that matter! Both Ayumu and John have done a good job with their teams so far, but it will be crucial to stay focused, to make a good race tomorrow.”