John McPhee sets to work in Austria

Despite cold conditions John McPhee and new face in the Peugeot MC SAXOPRINT Team Albert Arenas displayed a solid performance on Friday at the new to both riders Red Bull Ring in Austria.

Both first practices session took place in dry conditions but pretty cold temperatures at the new entry to this year’s championship calendar in Austria’s Styria region today. Friday’s on track action started with negative record for August with just 8 degrees’ air temperature this morning.

However, both riders in Peugeot Motocycles SAXOPRINT delivered a solid ride in these tricky conditions, avoiding any risks to complete the opening day for round ten with young Spaniard Arenas in 17th and McPhee in 22nd position.

John McPhee from Scotland had the same objectives as his teammate he adapted rapidly to the somehow strange Austrian circuit. To end Friday in P22 is of course a bit far off for the ambitious rider’s taste but he summarized to the day positively.

The smaller cylinder class action is set to continue Saturday morning with the final free practice session in to expect improved conditions under bright skies and higher temperatures. The starting grid for Sunday’s Moto3™ Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich – this weekend marks the comeback of the Austrian round to the World Championship – will decided at lunch time with the all-important qualifying practice.

#17 John McPHEE (FP1: P17 – 1´39.622 (18/18) / FP2: P22 – 1´38.614 (18/18)):
“First I would like to admit that the track is really nice to ride and also the whole circuit and its environment is really nice too. For all the rides I think, it’s good to come to a new place where we all enjoy to ride. In respect to our work on track today we made some good progress and managed to find a good pace very quickly this morning. During the second session we continued in a good direction and we also to continue to understand this track better. However, we’re a little bit far away from where we want to be but I’ve to say at this point that we managed it clever to save some tyres for the remaining weekend. Overall, it wasn’t a bad day one and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Source: Peugeot MC SAXOPRINT