MotoGP Silverstone: McPhee ‘disappointed’ after podium challenge

John McPhee recovered from a difficult start to claim seventh in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday.

The Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max rider found himself in 13th on the opening lap before regrouping to repeatedly challenge for podium contention during the 17-lap battle. Running second and at the head of a 20-rider train before the group concertinaed once more and he dropped back, McPhee was again in the podium fight on theist lap before a late-race tangle saw him cross the line in seventh.

“To finish my home GP less than a second from the victory is not a bad result, but at the same time, I am a little bit disappointed, because I felt like I had the speed to fight for the podium,” McPhee acknowledged on Sunday afternoon. “We did everything great and I think we were very very, very close.

“I am happy with my speed, the bike and the work my team did. I was able to show my speed in many laps of the race and I was able to do some good overtaking. On this track with so many long straights, there were lots of riders with different speeds, so the race was one to 1.5 seconds slower than necessary.

“In the end it was a great battle. In the last corner of the last lap I was in P4, I closed the door to try and charge to P3, but I was hit from one rider from behind, so that is the reason why I lost three places on the last corner.

“Anyway I gave my 100 per cent and this was the best result possible today. We will continue with this speed. There are lots of tracks coming where there are not so many long straights. With the good feeling and the good setting we have with the bike and with the way I am riding, we will demonstrate our speed. We will look forward to some nice results coming.”