McPhee followed that result up with a string of strong performances , and took further podiums in Austria and Misano to end the year fifth in the championship , his best placing to date . He stayed with the same team for 2020 , and had his hopes pinned on winning the championship . After podiums in Qatar , Andalusia , Austria and a third grand prix win at the San Marino GP , he was in the hunt . But unfortunate crashes in Barcelona , France and Europe put paid to his title chances , and ended the year in seventh .
McPhee was once asked what he considers the best thing about being a motorcycle racer . “ For me , it ’ s just the passion of being at the front and competing for race wins ,” he said . “ I think no matter what bike I ’ m riding , as long as I can ride somewhere that I feel comfortable and fight to win , it ’ s the passion that you have for the victory . That ’ s the best part . To be able to be in a position to do what I love , almost kind of doing what once was my hobby as a career , my life focusing on only being faster on a motorcycle , that ’ s the best part .”
Despite wanting to move up to the Moto2™ class in 2021 , McPhee stayed with Petronas Sprinta Racing in Moto3™ for a third straight season . He ’ s been ridiculously unlucky through the season so far , getting taken out of both races in Qatar . Further crashes at Jerez and Barcelona mean it will be tough to win the title this year as he sits 14th overall . But the chance of racing in front of a home crowd , as well as his known speed , will be reason enough to consider McPhee among the favourites for victory this weekend .
82 | Moto3 TM | John McPhee