McPhee thrown lifeline by CIP, KTM
John McPhee has been thrown a grand prix lifeline by CIP KTM after learning at Sepang that his British Talent Team will not continue in next year's Moto3 series.
The Scot, who scored three podiums through 2017, has been left in the dark in recent weeks with regards to his future, the 23-year old unsure whether his current squad would continue in its current guise.
John McPhee has been thrown a grand prix lifeline by CIP KTM after learning at Sepang that his British Talent Team will not continue in next year's Moto3 series.
The Scot, who scored three podiums through 2017, has been left in the dark in recent weeks with regards to his future, the 23-year old unsure whether his current squad would continue in its current guise.
But it is believed the series organiser will re-focus its resources for 2018. Instead of supplying one team with equipment, it will spread that support to several outfits, with an announcement confirming as much expected soon.
Jens Hainbach, vice president of KTM’s road racing efforts, confirmed to Crash.net on Friday that McPhee will join the CIP squad, with Austrian machinery provided to both the Scot and young Russian Makar Yurchenko.
“It’s good news and it’s good for us. It will be a good, strong team with the Russian Yurchenko providing the youth. John will be the experience there. It should be a good combination for us,” he said.
And while it is understood McPhee has yet to put pen to paper on the contract with CIP, he has apparently agreed to the conditions, with KTM confident he will compete on one of its bikes in ’18.
According to one source, the British Talent Team’s absence from next year’s Moto3 grid does not mean Dorna will take focus away from the British racing scene, with the first running of the British Talent Cup having taken place this August.
