John McPhee was in the thick of a frantic last-lap battle for Moto3 victory in Catalunya, until being pitched into the air by a highside on the exit of Turn 10.
Yet what looked like a certain DNF became a spectacular save when the Scotsman managed to regain control after landing sidesaddle across the bike.
"When Toba went down, Ramirez braked avoid him and I was the next in line, so it was like a chain reaction," McPhee said. "I had to pick up the bike and release the brake a little bit, which was enough for me to run wide out onto the dirt.
"Then when I opened the throttle it highsided me. My airbag actually went off and didn't deflate until I was over the finish line! I was lucky to stay on and get a couple of points at least, but frustrated not to get the result, especially when Ramirez was just in front of me and he won the race."
Could this be the save of the year?
Whilst everyone was watching @KaitoToba crash out of the lead in Barcelona, Scottish rider @johnmcp17 rodeoed to 13th place!#MotoGP70 #CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/YLy1KlVU2v
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) June 17, 2019
McPhee, one of ten riders to lead a race lap in Barcelona, brought his Honda home in 13th place.
"I got caught out on the last lap unfortunately, but still we got a few points when the championship contenders around me didn't finish," said McPhee, currently ninth in the standings but now only four points from Tony Arbolino in sixth.
"I think we're on a good roll now. The bike's working well, the team's working fantastic, we're all working really good together. That makes a big difference. We know exactly what we are doing and have a routine that we do across the weekend and it's working.
"I don’t see why for the rest of the season there should be any race that we'll struggle at. I think we can fight at the front in every race."
