John McPhee gets big Moto3 chance

Scottish rider John McPhee has been handed a dream chance to showcase his potential on the world stage after landing a Moto3 ride for the final five races of the 2012 world championship.

McPhee will replace injured French rider Alexis Masbou, who broke his femur during a private test at Vallelunga recently and is unlikely to be back in action this season.

McPhee, who races for the Racing Steps Foundation squad, will make his debut for the Caretta Technology squad in this weekend’s Motorland Aragon race in Spain and then deputise for Masbou in Motegi, Sepang, Phillip Island and Valencia.

The 18-year-old is no stranger to the Grand Prix paddock having made seven wild card appearances, the most recent of which saw him battle inside the top five for part of a rain-hit Brno clash in the Czech Republic.

McPhee will compete on his KRP M3-01 chassis, which has been re-liveried in Caretta Technology colours and is to be fitted with the Italian squad’s Geo Technology Grand Prix spec Honda engine.

McPhee said: “It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity. To get more experience at world level with a Grand Prix team like Caretta should give a boost to my prospects of getting a full-time world championship ride in 2013.

“Naturally I have a lot of sympathy for Alexis and wish him all the best for a speedy recovery. He’s clearly had a strong working relationship with the team to get the results he has, so hopefully I will be able to pick up where he left off.”

Caretta Technology team boss Giorgio Bertelli said McPhee was “an ideal replacement”.

He added: “Alexis has done really good work for the team this year but John showed everyone at last month’s Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno that he has what it takes to be a strong competitor. So we are very comfortable with him as a stand in. We hope to achieve good things together.”

McPhee’s regular ride is with the RSF-backed KRP team in Spain’s CEV Moto3 Series and he is currently fifth in the CEV rider standings.