MotoGP Sepang: Sensational Moto3 victory for McPhee

Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s John McPhee completed a fairytale comeback from 22nd on the Sepang grid to claim victory in the Moto3 race on Sunday.

His first win of the challenging 2022 season was backed up by teammate Ayumu Sasaki securing second by 0.043s with Gaviota GasGas Aspar’s Sergio Garcia completing the podium celebrations in third.

Following a wet Sunday warm-up session, a dry race was declared as the Moto3 grid prepared ahead of 17 laps of action in Malaysia. Leopard’s Dennis Foggia commanded proceedings from Aspar duo Izan Guevara and Garcia, the newly crowned champion ready to assist his teammate if needed as they target a one-two in the season’s standings.

Lights out and Guevara was in the lead from the outset, VisionTrack’s Josh Whatley facing a five second delay to his pitlane start after maxing out his engine allowance for the season with wildcard teammate and local rider Syarifuddin Azman on the fringes of the points in 17th.

Foggia returned to the lead as teammate Tatsuki Suzuki arrived to join him. The pack immediately shuffling as the Japanese rider was dropped to tenth with Garcia taking his turn out front. McPhee advanced from 22nd to 14th as the opening lap concluded, the Scott continuing to climb as he met teammate Sasaki in 11th shortly after, while a major highside for MTA’s Stefano Nepa, in the middle of the leading group, scattered the riders once again at turn nine.

Garcia headed the Red Bull KTM Ajo of Jaume Masia as lap three fired up. MT Helmets’ Diogo Moreira running third as Scott Ogden crashed the third VisionTrack machine out at turn two. Fellow rookie David Munoz sat fourth on the BOE KTM before the Brazilian claimed the lead as they crossed the line for lap four.

Garcia was back in