This week’s Oulton P𝓰ark BSB test marked a ♏return to the circuit for the first time in 15 years for John McPhee.

The Scottish rider, who debuts in BSB this season after a year in WorldSSP, was last at Oulton Park on a 125cc bik🦹e, but heading there this week had also to continue his adaptation to the Honda CBR1000RR-R Superbike he will race this year for the MasterMac Hon❀da squad run by Hawk Racing.

“It’s all completely different,” M🥃cPhee said, speaking to mahbx.com, of Oulton Park on a Superbike compared to the 125cc he last rode at the Cheshire circuit.

“Obviously, the fꦛirst time jumping on a 1,000cc, on a Superbike, for me this year; I knew it was going to be a big transition🐻, but instantly I felt good with the bike, good with the team.

“We went o🍒ut to Spain and had two really good days in Alcarras, turned up at the official test in Navarra and finished really strongly – on the last day we were third in both sessions and fourth on the combined [times].

“So, I was like ‘Maybe it’s not as big a transition as I thought,’ and that is – to a certain [extent] – correct; but the difference is coming back to places like Oulton Park where the track is so quirky, it’s got so many technical bits and that’s what I need to learn now – I just need more laps to re🐼ally understand the track.

“I’m feeling good with the bike – we are still testing and developing, but the biggest thing for me is just understanding exactly where I’m going and ꦍlap-by-lap that’s coming better.”

While it has been an initial struggle for McPhee as a BSB rookie to re-learn Oulton Park while also adapting to the Fireblade🌠, the ex-Grand Prix rider is sure that there will also be tracks on the calendar where he can be competitive.

“There’s plenty of tracks that I kn💮ow I’m going to be strong at 🌞and I’ll be absolutely fine at,” he said.

“The likes ꦺof Oulton and Cadwell are two of the extremes, so I think if we can get through this first round and get some really good points on the board it should set us in good stead for the rest of the s🐎eason.”

McPhee added that there is more for him to find i💞n himself than in the bike at this still-early phase of his adaptation to BSB, to the Honda CBR1000RR-R, and to a Superbike in general.

“I’d say more to find in me – defin✤itely,🅰” he said.

“Then, the bike setup is working, it’s in a really good working window. The team has got so much experience to know exactly what they’re doing, I think the differenc💝e i🔯s just in bringing the bike to suit my style as well.

“Immediately in Spa🌊in it all worked and it all clicked straight away. You then come to somewhere like Oulton Park where it’s a bit more quirky and it takes a bit of time. We’re working away at it and I’m sure come round one we’ll be good to go.”