Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 43rd Edition
Motorcycle Magic in Store from Dazzling Field
A truly international field of road racing and endurance specialists will line up on the grid for the 43rd running of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix next month. Riders from ten countries and regions, from across Europe, Asia Pacific and the USA, will do battle over 15 laps of the Guia Circuit on Saturday, November 21st, and the irresistible mix of exciting newcomers and seasoned professionals holds the promise of a superb race.
All of last year’s top-eight finishers return to the legendary Guia Circuit in 2009, including last year’s victor and British Superbike star Stuart Easton, who will race with Hydrex IGT Honda. The 26-year old Scotsman took his maiden victory in the Far East Classic last year after a dramatic battle with six-time winner Michael Rutter. The win led to a full time ride with Hydrex Honda in the British Superbike Championship where he currently lies third.
As well as Rutter, who returns this year with Team of Paris-AXA in a bid to finally clinch that elusive seventh victory, Easton will be joined by 2001 winner and third placed rider last year, team mate John McGuinness.
Last year’s pole man, Conor Cummins, returns to Macau for the third time, this year with the Paul Bird works Kawasaki World Superbikes Team. At 23-year-old, the Manxman is among the crop of talented young riders who are quickly making a name for themselves at Macau and around the world. At the 2009 Isle of Man TT, Cummins racked up two podium places, and in the Ulster Grand Prix Dundrod 150 Superbike race he shattered the lap record with on his way to victory.
Joining Cummins on the team are multi-AMA Endurance Champion Mike Barnes of the USA, and Briton Ian Hutchinson, who last year finished fifth and seventh, respectively. Hutchinson had a successful Isle of Man TT this year, with the 30-year-old taking victory in both the first Supersport TT and in the first Superstock TT races.
Joining the 12-strong British contingent are DMR Racing teammates James Storrar and Steve Mercer. Storrar, 22, and Mercer, 27, both return to Macau after making their debuts in 2008. James McBride returns to Macau for his fifth visit, this year aboard a JV Racing Yamaha, having previously placed in the top ten three times, while regular Macau rider
Teammates Gary Johnson and James Hillier will compete on a pair of A.I.M Racing Suzukis. British Superstock Championship regular Hillier makes his debut at Macau in 2009, along with Mark Buckley, on a Jentin Racing Yamaha. Both riders were top ten finishers at the Isle of Man TT this year, and Buckley also finished third in the TTxGP, the first zero emissions TT race. Team of Paris-AXA rider, 25-year-old Simon Andrews, is another newcomer. Andrews has been competing in the British Superbike Championship since 2006, finishing eighth last year, and has also raced in the World Superbike Championship.
Dutchman Branko Srdanov makes his Macau debut with Cubic Macau Racing Team, while endurance specialist Horst Saiger of Germany will compete with BMW Macau Racing Team.
Moto Clube de Faro rider Nuno Farias will also race at Macau for the first time, joining Luis Carreira (Benimoto Suzuki Cetelem) and Tiago Magalhaes (AG Racing) as the three Portuguese riders in the 43rd edition of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. After finishing a career-best fourth in 2008, Carreira will no doubt have his sights firmly set on a podium finish.
Magalhaes will ride in the 600cc Supersport category, one of eight entries in the class, which includes Team of Paris-AXA rider Amaury Baratin of France aboard a Triumph, as well as a local contingent of drivers, including Joao Fernandes with Cubic Macau Racing Team, Sou Sio Hong and Ip Weng Keong, all of whom call the Guia Circuit home. Finishing third in the 600 Supersport category in 2008, Fernandes this year competed in the FIM World Endurance Championship.
Also in the 600 Supersport Class are Hong Kong’s Jason Broome, on a Yamaha, and Cheung Wai On aboard a Suzuki.
Joining Rutter, Baratin and Andrews on the Team of Paris-AXA team is Frenchman Gerald Muteau, runner-up in the 600 Supersport Category last year. In 2009, Muteau will compete on a Kawasaki 1000 for what will be his fourth visit.
The truly international field will see a four-strong American team. In addition to Barnes, are Mark “Thriller” Miller with Celtic Racing, Jeremy Toye with Lee’s Cycles Racing and Scott Jensen with Moto Garage Racing.
The Yamaha Austria Racing Team recently clinched the World Endurance Championship and return with their regular Macau rider Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter, third in 2007, while German Rico Penzkofer will race with BMW Macau Racing Team along with compatriot Saiger.
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