Peugeot MC Saxoprint’s John McPhee had a 8.8 second advantage as he crossed the finishing line in style to take his debut Moto3 victory in the rain at Brno.
Scotland’s finest looked confident, even in the earlier warm up session, where he topped the timesheets and he transitioned his good form into the race and had a good start from the third row to battle with championship leader, Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder.
The South African did lead the race with five laps to go and had McPhee hunting him down out on the Czech track. But he crashed out on the opening corner, paving the way for McPhee to pace ahead and take his maiden win with a strong and determined ride.
The rain continued to fall heavily out on track and in the end it was Aspar Mahindra’s Jorge Martin and Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio who completed the rostrum.
Initially it was Binder who took the hole-shot and charged on ahead. But he was chased by Martin who got into the lead on the opening lap, as the South African went wide. Meanwhile McPhee got a great start and after two laps was up to third and lapping the same pace as Binder.
But with seventeen laps to go the Scot overtook Martin on the straight allowing Binder and McPhee to go into the top two, and a battle ensued out on the sodden and wet track.
On the halfway mark McPhee and Binder pulled away from Pawi in third and had a three second advantage over third place, and it appeared that Binder would take another race win as he looked confident out in front. But his reign in the lead was not to last as he uncharacteristically crashed out at turn one.
The series leader was fortunately unhurt, but was not the only rider to succumb to the rainy conditions, as wet weather specialist, Pawi crashed with four laps to go whilst in second on turn 12 a rotation later. At the flag, Bastianini, Antonelli, Kornfeil, Bendsneyder, Mir, Bulega and Navarro rounded up the top ten.