BSB: John McPhee to make debut in 2025 alongside Charlie Nesbitt at MasterMac Honda

Moto3 race winner John McPhee will make his Bennetts British Superbike Championship debut next season after signing for MasterMac Honda.

The Scot will line-up alongside Charlie Nesbitt at the Hawk Racing-run team onboard the Honda Fireblade, taking the seat vacated by Lee Jackson at the end of the 2024 season.

McPhee completed 10 full seasons in Moto3 between 2013 and 2022, having also competed in eight races in 2012 and a handful of 125cc races in 2010 and 2011. McPhee’s best season came in 2019 when he finished fifth overall with 1 victory, three further podiums, two poles and one fastest lap.

The following year he again recorded one win, but with four further podiums and a pole position on his way to seventh overall. McPhee made a one-off Moto2 appearance with Petronas Sprinta Racing during the 2021 season.

With no Grand Prix options on the table, McPhee moved to the World Supersport Championship in 2023 and podiumed in his very first race at a wet Phillip Island. McPhee parted company with Vince64 Kawasaki during the season, jumping onboard Ducati machinery with D34G Racing for two of the final three rounds.

McPhee joined WRP by SKM-Triumph for his 2024 Supersport campaign and secured a best result of seventh a Cremona on his way to 16^th overall. McPhee parted company with the team before the final race of the season.

“I’ve had the privilege of racing at world level for a long time, and Bennetts BSB presents a new and exciting challenge for me,” McPhee said. “This championship has everything you want as a rider, with the quality of the racing, the variety of circuits and great support from the fans.

“I’m delighted to be joining one of the most experienced and successful teams on the grid, and can’t wait to get started.”

Meanwhile, Nesbitt remains for a third campaign in BSB having finished his sophomore season 11^th overall. Nesbitt’s best result of the 2024 season came at Cadwell Park when he finished third in race one, followed by a pair of fourths on the Sunday.

“With the experience of two full seasons on the superbike and a great team around me I’m very optimistic about what we can achieve in 2025,” Nesbitt said. “We hit a really good rhythm in the second half of last season and I felt more and more at home competing near the front for the podium places. Hopefully we’ll continue the momentum into the new season and make it our best together so far.”

Team manager Steve Hicken added: “It’s sure to be a competitive championship as always, and I’m very happy to have two high calibre riders on board. John brings so much valuable experience and ability, although in some ways he’ll be on a steep learning curve too, while Charlie just needs to keep working hard to push himself towards the top of the leader board more consistently.”