29 May 2022 – Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello – Italy

The Italian Grand Prix ended with a crash on lap 11 for John, fortunately without any physical consequences. Our British driver slipped at turn 14 during lap 11. The driver who followed him hit John’s Husqvarna, but luckily there was no impact with the pilot. Until then, John was running a good race. In fact, even without a very good start, starting from the sixth position on the grid, he passed on the first lap eleventh, during the following laps he climbed up to the seventh position. John until the fall was in the lead group and fighting for the podium. Unfortunately, at turn 14 he lost control of his FR 250GP and it was a good thing that D. Holgado, who followed him closely, did not hit him.

It closes a black weekend for the Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing. In fact, after the fall in free practice 2 of Ayumu, who suffered the fracture of a vertebra, both collarbones, a head injury and various bruises, today we have to record the fall of John. In the meantime, today Ayumu has been transferred to a hospital in Milan where he will begin his recovery, which will lead him to healing. For now, the doctors have not declared the recovery time, but given the condition, Ayumu he will miss the next Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Here are the words of John and our Team Owner Max Biaggi.

JOHN MCPHEE : “Overall, until race day I think we had a very productive weekend. We managed to show that we have come back strong from the injury, and we were there in the top 10 in all sessions and this is very good. In the race unfortunately, I struggled a bit from the beginning just to keep my position and it was a little bit difficult to make a pass. Finally I made a mistake, it was completely my fault, I made a high side and crashed. I am very sorry to the team about that. The good point is that we showed that we have the speed, we are only now in the third race of the season for me, so I just need a little bit more time to adapt a little bit more. Anyway I think there is a lot of positives although it was a negative end to the weekend. I look forward to Montmeló, and having another strong weekend there.”

MAX BIAGGI – TEAM OWNER : “A dark weekend, in which we collected very little. In fact, after the injury of Ayumu, who Friday ran into a scary accident, which luckily had not serious consequences, today in the race John fell when he was fighting for the podium. We just have to look ahead to the next race, which will be held in Barcelona next weekend. Ayumu will definitely not race in Barcelona, but we hope that John can fight for the podium.”

Results Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley 2022 – Race

1. Sergio GARCIA (GASGAS) 39’43.214, 2. Izan GUEVARA (GASGAS) -0.000, 3. Tatsuki SUZUKI (Honda) + 0.012,
NC – John MCPHEE Crash on lap 11 at turn 14. Rider uninjured.

World Championship Classification Moto3 2022 – After Race 8

1. Sergio GARCIA (GASGAS) 137 pts; 2. Izan GUEVARA (GASGAS) 109 pts, 3. Jaume MASIA (KTM) 95 pts;
5. Ayumu SASAKI (Husqvarna) 75 pts, 19. John MCPHEE (Husqvarna) 15 pts.