John McPhee gets Brno Wildcard

Photo: Tim Keeton / Impact Images

Racing Steps Foundation-backed Moto3 rider John McPhee (Oban, Argyll) has been awarded one of the two wildcard entries for round 12 of the MotoGP World Championship at Brno on August 26.

McPhee, who is currently sixth in Spain’s CEV Buckler Moto3 rider standings, will be joined on the Brno entrants list by Germany’s IDM Moto3 class points leader Luca Grünwald who picked up the other ticket.

The Brno entry will be McPhee’s seventh Grand Prix wildcard. Previously he raced in the superseded 125GP category, claiming his best result – and first World Championship point for 15th – at the British Grand Prix last year before going one better at the season-ending round at Valencia.

So far this year the 18 years-old Scot has raced in the Catalunya and British Grands Prix finishing 19th in Spain and 28th at Silverstone following a crash.
McPhee has won the ACCR (Czech Republic Auto Club) wildcard for Brno while Grünwald, who made his Moto3 World Championship debut at Sachsenring last month, picked up the FIM (International Motorcycling Federation) nomination.

McPhee’s selection comes on the back of a string of front-running rides in the new 250cc four stroke class in the CEV series.
The KRP team rider, who finished his first season in the Spanish championship in 10th place in the then-125GP rider standings, has secured two podium finishes in the successor Moto3 class so far this season.

“The wildcard is well-deserved,” said RSF motorcycle racing co-ordinator Peter Ball. “John has turned in some really strong rides so far this season which, unfortunately, his results don’t reflect.”

McPhee echoed the view: “Apart from my two podiums in the CEV series this year I don’t really feel I’ve shown what I know I’m capable of. Hopefully I can do this at Brno to justify the faith that the Racing Steps Foundation and KRP have shown in me.
“The support they’ve given me over the last three years has been incredible so it would be fantastic to reward them with a strong result.”

About the Racing Steps Foundation

The Racing Steps Foundation is a private, not-for-profit fund that provides and finances competition and performance development programmes for an elite group of young British racing drivers and motorcycle racers.
The backing is provided for those with the skills and determination to climb to the top of the international motorsports ladder but who lack the funds and mentoring needed to ease their path.
It was set up in 2007 and in 2012 provides major support for:
James Calado (Abingdon, Oxfordshire) in GP2; Jack Harvey (Bassingham, Lincolnshire) in British F3 International; Oliver Rowland (Sheffield, Yorkshire) in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup; Jake Dennis (Nuneaton, Warwickshire) in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC; Ben Barnicoat (Chesterfield, Derbyshire), Ricky Collard (Eversley, Hampshire) and Sam Webster (Weymouth, Dorset) in UK and international KF2 karting; and John McPhee (Oban, Scotland), Fraser Rogers (Chippenham, Wiltshire) and Wayne Ryan (New Romney, Kent) in Spanish, Italian, German and World Championship Moto3.

John McPhee – Background

Born: Oban, Argyll, Scotland on 14 July 1994. Lives Oban, Scotland.
2012: CEV Moto3 Championship (five out of seven rounds): 6th / 49pts (2 podiums). World Championship Moto3 Grand Prix Wildcards: Catalunya (19th), Silverstone (28th, crashed)
2011: CEV 125GP Championship: 10th / 38pts. CIV 125GP Championship (two rounds only): 20th / 8pts. UEM European 125GP Championship: 14th / 2pts. World 125cc Championship: Wildcard entries: Catalunya, Silverstone and Valencia.
2010: British 125GP Championship: 5th (1 win, 4 podiums). U17s ACU Academy Cup: 2nd (3 wins, 7 podiums, 3 FLs).
2009: British 125GP Championship(eight rounds only, broken ankle): 36th. U17s ACU Academy Cup: 14th.
2008: Scottish, NE of England and Melville Formula 125 Championships: Triple Champion (42 races, 29 wins, 37 podiums).
2007: Scottish, NE of England and Melville Formula 125 Championships (15 races, 1 win, 7 podiums).
2006-1999: Oban Youth Motocross (50, 65 and 85cc categories): Eight-times Champion.

Related Posts

• John McPhee: Twenty Questions
• Former British 125GP champ Kyle Ryde switches to CEV series with UK’s KRP team
• McPhee’s impressive charge through the field comes to an early end in Valencia
• Rogers unable to secure podium spot in European Championship after two costly setbacks
• John McPhee replaces Alexis Masbou at Caretta for remainder of Moto3 season
• McPhee and Rogers back in top ten at Albacete, Ryan crashes out in last lap
• Wildcard McPhee makes his mark in Brno and takes 15th after fearless race performance
• McPhee battles to sixth at Albacete, Rogers and Ryan in the points
• McPhee drops in CEV championship standings after crashing out of the lead at Catalunya
• Disappointment for British wildcard riders McPhee and Rogers at Silverstone
• Best British finisher McPhee outside the points after “bit of a disaster” in final corner at Catalunya
• McPhee only ninth in Aragon after battling Honda power deficit, Rogers and Ryan in the points
• John McPhee and Fraser Rogers Moto3 wildcards at Silverstone
• McPhee back on the podium in Navarra and taking over second place in Spanish Championship
• Three Brits qualify within top eight for second CEV round at Navarra

Posted by GB on 12:31 pm. Filed under Moto3, News, Racing Steps. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry