John McPhee was on hand in London to launch the all-new British Talent Team which will make its Moto3 world championship debut this season. The Scottish rider will be the sole challenger for the new outfit while a British Talent Cup supported by Dorna is also in the pipeline for 2018.
McPhee will back on Honda machinery this year after a challenging campaign with Peugeot in 2016 and the 22 year old is excited to be part of an exciting new era for British motorcycle racing.
“I’m really happy to have this opportunity in the team and I’m looking forward to the season to see what we can do. Representing the UK and British Isles on the world stage, as well as the Team and Cup, is a big responsibility but I’ll work hard to get the kind of results we’re aiming for – and get this new project off to the best start. Thanks to everyone for the opportunity – and now I’m just looking forward to getting out and racing!”
The selection event for the Inaugural British Talent Cup will take place in the build-up to this year’s Grand Prix at Silverstone and Talent Scout Jeremy McWilliams will have a key role in the process, a role he is honoured to be taking on.
“It’s fantastic to be part of this project and to play a role in the future of motorcycling in the British Isles. It’s an important project to be involved in and I’m looking forward to getting started and showing what kind of talent we have. The British Isles has a long history of motorcycle racing and motorsport that I’m proud to have been part of and it’s an honour for me to now again play a role in it – just with the difference that this time, I’m not on the bike.”
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has high hopes for the new British Talent Cup and has high hopes that it will mirror the success of similar programmes across the world.
“After the incredible success of the Asia Talent Cup we are very proud to announce another amazing initiative as part of our Road to MotoGP. With the long and illustrious history of racing in the UK and British Isles, it is the perfect place and the perfect time to begin another chapter of the UK’s two-wheeled story, and we are proud to have John McPhee on board in the Moto3™ World Championship as the first stage in this project. His great victory in Brno last season was an astonishing achievement that proves his fortitude. The experience of Dorna, Alberto Puig and Jeremy McWilliams will be pushing to make both the British Talent Team and the British Talent Cup successful additions to our commitment to talent and riders of the future.”
