Scotland’s John McPhee has taken victory in today’s Moto3 race at Misano after starting from 17th on the grid while championship leader Albert Arenas crashed out.
A delighted Ai Ogura took his fifth podium from seven races to solidify his championship challenge, trailing by just five points, in second, with Tatsuki Suzuki rounding out the celebrations, at his team, SIC58 Squadra Corse’s, eponymous race in third.
Confident on the grid that he had the pace to run with the front group, John McPhee was out for a good start from his frustrating 17th place and hunting for points, as the 31 riders lined up ahead of the 23 -lap contest on the Adriatic coast.
Steady progress saw the Scotsman sitting 11th after the first lap and maintaining his position, chipping away at the fringes of the top-10 for the following revolutions. The halfway point saw the Petronas rider showing impressive and front-running pace but the density of the pack seemed to prevent McPhee from making ground on the riders around him.
Determined to make the break, the number 17 dug deep and finally joined the fight at the front with eight laps to go. Circulating in fifth with his eye on the leaders, he moved to fourth two laps later before bettering Arenas for third with just five to go and making an immediate challenge for second moments later. A determined charge on the exit of turn 16 saw McPhee take charge of proceedings in the closing stages, looking for important championship points and his first win since Le Mans 2019.
As the penultimate lap began, disaster struck for Championship leader Albert Arenas with a dramatic crash at turn three, while a five rider battle frantically ensued at the front. McPhee, Ogura and Rodrigo all taking fleeting turns at the front as they dived for the line, with McPhee holding his nerve and holding court as he claimed the impressive victory from 17th on the grid.
Looking for his first win in Grand Prix racing to match his maiden pole position, Ogura had initially taken the hotshot storming into turn one as the lights went out, Suzuki following suit, before Gabriel Rodrigo took charge abroad his Kömmerling Gresini.
Tony Arbolino looked the big winner from the start, charging up to fourth from his ninth place grid spot while Arenas, starting from 13th, was quick to make his move on his Pull&Bear Aspar, taking fifth on the second lap. A battle ensued between Arbolino, Suzuki and Rodrigo as the trio continued to make moves at the front before a surprise entry made an appearance.
Making rapid progress from 19th to 8th, Darryn Binder set a fastest lap on just his second revolution as he looked to join the fight at the front, his CIP Green Power making its presence known in third on lap six before taking a brief lead, from Rodrigo, with 16 to go.
The lack of a breakaway saw a multi-rider battle for the lead with Arbolino briefly losing out after a close call with Binder, the South African aggressively diving for the lead after ten laps.
Rodrigo swiftly returned to the front, with Jaume Masia quietly sitting in third ahead of teammate Foggia, the two Leopard riders patiently waiting for their chance to strike. With nine laps to go their wishes seemed to be answered. A high-side for Binder on the exit of turn six, narrowing missing disaster as he crashed on the racing line and in the path of the hunting crowd, put Masia in the lead but Rodrigo was not to be outdone, regaining his dominance at the front and holding fast from Suzuki and Masia.
In the end the battle-worn Argentinian had to settle for fifth, behind an almost previously unnoticed Jeremy Alcoba, with Arbolino sixth. Masia, Romano Fenati, Foggia and Andrea Migno rounded out the top ten.
A dramatic first lap crash as Garcia tagged Fernandez, put paid to a disappointing home weekend for Celestino Vietti, falling foul of the incident and losing out in his home race, the instigator, Garcia rejoining but being issued a long-lap penalty for the altercation.
