After 15 years away, John McPhee returned to the 'quiryky' Oulton Park for the first time since riding a 125cc machine around the circuit.
For the first time in 15 years, John McPhee completed laps around Oulton Park at the official British Superbike Test on Wednesday and Thursday.
After two years in the World Supersport Championship, McPhee is making his debut in the British Superbike Championship with MasterMac Honda.
During the three official British Superbike Tests, the former Grand Prix race winner has been adapting to the Honda CBR1000RR-R Superbike.
"It’s all completely different," McPhee said to our colleagues at Crash.net about riding Oulton Park on a Superbike.
"Obviously, the first time jumping on a 1,000cc, on a Superbike, for me this year, I knew it was going to be a big transition, but instantly I felt good with the bike, good with the team.
"We went out to Spain and had two really good days in Alcarras, turned up at the official test in Navarra and finished really strongly on the last day, we were third in both sessions and fourth on the combined [times].
"So, I was like ‘Maybe it’s not as big a transition as I thought,’ and that is to a certain [extent] correct; but the difference is coming back to places like Oulton Park where the track is so quirky, it’s got so many technical bits and that’s what I need to learn now I just need more laps to really understand the track.
"I’m feeling good with the bike we are still testing and developing, but the biggest thing for me is just understanding exactly where I’m going and lap-by-lap that’s coming better."
Despite finding the likes of Oulton Park difficult during his first test back at the circuit, McPhee is certain that there will be circuits on the calendar that he will be competitive at.
"There’s plenty of tracks that I know I’m going to be strong at and I’ll be absolutely fine at," he said.
"The likes of Oulton and Cadwell are two of the extremes, so I think if we can get through this first round and get some really good points on the board, it should set us in good stead for the rest of the season."
