Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

McPhee apologises for punch-up after Doha Moto3 crash

Petronas Sprinta Moto3 rider John McPhee has issued an apology for fighting with Jeremy Alcoba following a crash late on in the Doha Grand Prix.

John Mcphee, Petronas Sprinta Racing

John Mcphee, Petronas Sprinta Racing

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

McPhee and Gresini rider Alcoba were part of the manic lead group in Sunday’s thrilling Moto3 encounter in Qatar.

Alcoba ran into the back of McPhee’s team-mate Darryn Binder at Turn 1 at the start of lap 15, crashing out while his errant Gresini bike flicked into McPhee’s path and hit the Scotsman on the head.

Having been wiped out by another rider for the second-successive race, an incensed McPhee lashed out at Alcoba in the gravel trap, with the Gresini rider also retaliating.

Both were hit with 1000 euro fines for their behaviour and will start the Portuguese GP from pitlane. Alcoba will be released five seconds after the rest of the pack, with McPhee forced to wait 10s before setting off.

McPhee accepts his punishment and says his reaction was “out-of-character”.

In a statement released on Monday evening, McPhee said: “I let my emotions get the better of me in Qatar, having been taken down for the second week in succession as a consequence of another rider’s mistake.

“I must apologise for my conduct – I didn’t react well to the incident.

John Mcphee, Petronas Sprinta Racing

John Mcphee, Petronas Sprinta Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“It is an adrenaline-fuelled sport, with obvious inherent danger; having a competitor’s bike strike my head triggered an out-of-character response and I’d like to apologise to the fans, my team, Petronas and our partners.

“I accept the penalty and will move onto Portimao focused on the task at hand.”

Read Also:

One of the pre-season world championship favourites, McPhee leaves Qatar without a single point after Leopard’s Xavi Artigas triggered a multi-rider shunt – which included McPhee – in the Qatar GP.

Sunday’s Doha GP was won by 16-year-old rookie Pedro Acosta, who came from nine seconds off the back of the pack on lap one following a pitlane start to claim a sensational maiden victory.

The Ajo KTM rider now leads the Moto3 standings by nine points from Binder, while Acosta’s team-mate and the Qatar GP winner Jaume Masia sits third 13 points adrift.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Doha Moto3: Acosta converts pitlane start to maiden victory by 0.039s
Next article Portimao Moto3: Rookie Acosta wins last-lap duel to take commanding points lead

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe