04 September 2022 – Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli – Italy

For years now, the Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing on the Misano World Circuit has not managed to get what it deserved.

It happened in 2019, when Canet’s bike in full fight for the title fell silent during the reconnaissance lap, it happened last year when Fenati, while he was literally dominating the race, with a margin of more than three seconds, He crashed into a small slip that excluded him from the race prematurely. In both cases, the bad result had a decisive impact on the world scene. Today unfortunately the same script was repeated, since Ayumu, who started from the seventeenth position, was literally mowed down by a wild card, on the first lap in turn 4. In fact, the young N. Carraro, after having missed the braking, hit the blameless Ayumu, that slipped. A real shame, especially considering the amazing comeback that our driver did in the Red Bull Ring. Ayumu was fast all weekend and the only time he preferred not to risk was during qualifying. All this is understandable, given the two significant falls of this season.

On the other side of the pits John took home a good ninth place, 11,383 seconds from the winner. John is the third race in which he manages to earn points. It has to be said that the weekend has been rather difficult, and our British driver has never been particularly comfortable in the dry. Yesterday however, in intermediate conditions he had managed to conquer the eighth position on the grid. On the finish line of the first lap, he passed tenth, but on the second lap he slipped into fifteenth position. In the following laps John recovered some positions, closing ninth. John in the race got the sixth fastest lap, with a time of 1’42.012.

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

JOHN MCPHEE : “I can’t help but be a little disappointed with the result, because I don’t think it reflects the hard work that the guys in my pit box are doing, during the race weekends, to try to improve. We can be fast and do good lap times. In fact, in some parts of the track I’m strong, but in other parts I get passed easily and in the race I can’t express our true speed. As I said we have very good speed and that is good, but we need to be able to improve to be able to fight with the other riders. We will work on this aspect in the next race. In Aragon the track is smooth, it will be easier for me, compared to Austria and Misano, which are not suitable for my riding style. We have some points to work on, but overall I have to thank my team, because as always they have worked very hard. We will soon achieve the results we deserve.”

AYUMU SASAKI : “It was a very disappointing day. We felt good in the warm-up, we had a great pace, but unfortunately, in the first lap of the race one guy hit me and I crashed. It is very disappointing, I know that in races something can always happen and there is nothing I can do about it. I just need to look ahead, we have 6 races to go now, again, we went back to 66 points rom the first position in the championship. It is an up and down season, but this is how it is, I just need to accept it and try to be better in Aragon.”

MAX BIAGGI – TEAM OWNER : “A day to forget. On the wave of enthusiasm, following the victory over Red Bull Ring, we hoped for a comeback by Ayumu, but unfortunately, we did not consider the element of misfortune, which often haunts us on this circuit. Racing is also this and you have to accept it. We’ll make up for it in the next race. John got a good ninth place, but I hope that before the end of the championship he can get on the podium!”

Results Gran Premio Gryfyn di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini 2022 – Race

1. Dennis FOGGIA (Honda) 39’21.864, 2. Jaume MASIA (KTM) + 0.289, 3. Izan GUEVARA (GASGAS) + 0.334,
9. John MCPHEE (Husqvarna) + 11.383, NC. Ayumu SASAKI (Husqvarna) – Caduta al primo giro in curva 4. Pilota illeso.

World Championship Classification Moto3 2022 – After Race 14

1. Izan GUEVARA (GASGAS) 204 pts; 2. Sergio GARCIA (GASGAS) 193 pts; 3. Dennis FOGGIA (Honda) 169 pts;
4. Ayumu SASAKI (Husqvarna) 138 pts; 17. John MCPHEE (Husqvarna) 47 pts.