Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 48th Edition

Guia Street Circuit

Macau, China

November 15, 2014

Provisional Race Results:

1. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 12 laps, 29:45.143

2. Michael Rutter, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -14.050 seconds

3. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), -14.505

4. Gary Johnson, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -15.717

5. Lee Johnston, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -24.163

6. Horst Saiger, Austria (Kaw ZX-10R), -26.330

7. John McGuinness, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -30.479

8. Daniel Cooper, UK (BMW S1000RR), -49.091

9. Roman Stamm, Switzerland (Kaw ZX-10R), -49.449

10. Stephen Thompson, UK (BMW S1000RR), -53.760

11. Didier Grams, Germany (BMW S1000RR), -56.711

12. Mark Miller, USA (EBR 1190RS), -64.891

13. James McBride, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -66.128

14. Davy Morgan, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -67.989

15. Allan-Jon Venter, South Africa (Yam YZF-R1), -73.608

16. Steve Heneghan, Ireland (Kaw ZX-10R), -107.336

17. Graham English, UK (BMW S1000RR), -120.669

18. Sandor Bitter, Hungary (Hon CBR1000RR), -123.377

19. Nuno Caetano, Portugal (Kaw ZX-10R), -133.469

20. Dan Kruger, Canada (Kaw ZX-10R), -136.151

21. Michael Sweeney, Ireland (Kaw ZX-10R), -142.178

22. Brian McCormack, Ireland (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap, DNF

23. Steve Mercer, UK (BMW S1000RR), -2 laps, DNF, mechanical

24. Brandon Cretu, USA (EBR 1190RS), -6 laps, DNF, crash

25. James Storrar, UK (BMW S1000RR), -7 laps, DNF

26. Paul Shoesmith, UK (BMW S1000RR), -8 laps, DNF

27. Ian Hutchinson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -10 laps, DNF, crash

28. Marc Fissette, Belgium (Suz GSX-R1000), -12 laps, DNF

More, from a press release issued by Macau Grand Prix Press Office:

Stuart Easton Sweeps to Fourth Macau Victory

Stuart Easton got a perfect start from pole position to claim his fourth Guia Circuit victory in four attempts by winning the Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 48th Edition. Incredibly, there was a three-year gap between his last win and this one, but no-one at the circuit would have known, based on his dominant performance.

Increasing his advantage by over a second a lap on every lap but the last, Easton rode the PBM by The Venetian Hotel Kawasaki to a margin of victory which had dropped from 17 to 14 seconds as he visibly eased off and cruised the last couple of laps.

“It didn’t feel that easy! The plan worked, which was to get away in front and settle in for a couple of laps, and try and set a pace that I felt fast enough but still comfortable with so if anyone came with me, we could race at the end. It’s nice to win on my return having missed three years, to take pole and to win. I couldn’t have asked more from the tyres, from the bike and from the whole team.”

His relaxed ride was in stark contrast to the huge battle behind him as half a dozen riders scrapped over the last two podium places. Ian Hutchinson, on the second of the Paul Bird machines, launched an early bid for glory at Lisboa on lap one but overcooked it and took to the escape road.

Eight-time winner Michael Rutter started slowly from second on the grid, but soon put the Milwaukee Yamaha back in second place. After clattering the wall at Donna Maria in his pursuit of Easton, he decided second place would have to do – and immediately regretted the decision. He spent the next ten laps fending off first Lee Johnston (PIRTEK PRO BOLT HONDA) and then Gary Johnson (Quattro Plant Monex Europe Racing Honda) and finally Martin Jessopp (Riders Motorcycles BMW).

“We knew Stuart was going to be competitive, but he’s done a brilliant job. I got a real bad start. I got through and thought ‘right I’ve got to get my head down and get on the back of him straight away’ and I clipped the wall. Then I thought I’d try and keep second and if I stayed smooth I’d be, but that wasn’t the answer – Lee [Johnston] passed me, Martin passed me. We kept passing but it was all clean racing. I could hear them coming at the hairpin and I thought ‘I just wish they’d clear off!’”

While Rutter really had to earn his second position by defending hard, Jessopp earned third by fighting his way forwards, finishing half a second behind the Yamaha and only a second clear of Gary Johnson.

“We put on a good show. We had a fuse go on the bike yesterday and that cost us as we had to start way back on the grid. It was good fun, a good battle and we thought we might as well take it to Michael, me and Gary [Johnston], but Stuart’s made us all look a bit silly today.”

For Easton though, it was the perfect Macau comeback: “I’ll come back for sure!”

He’s hardly alone and it’s not just the bike riders anxious to return – the dates have already been decided: the 62nd Macau Grand Prix and the 49th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix take place on 12th – 15th November 2015.

More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport:

Easton Wins Macau Grand Prix

Paul Bird Motorsport rider Stuart Easton defied a three year absence to take a comprehensive victory in today’s 48th running of the Suncity Group Macau Grand Prix.

The 30 year old Hawick rider started from pole position aboard the Rapid Solicitors and Monster Energy-backed PBM by The Venetian Hotel Kawasaki after edging out main rival Michael Rutter by over half a second in qualifying.

From there, the double British Supersport Champion and 2014 MCE BSB Rider’s Cup Champion was never headed as he steadily built a lead, lapping over two seconds a lap faster than his rivals around the 6.12km Circuito Da Guia before rolling it off on the last lap to emerge victorious by over 14 seconds.

It was the Scot’s fourth Macau GP victory, adding to his successes in 2008, 2009 and 2010 before serious injury saw him miss the 2011 race.

It wasn’t such good news for defending Macau GP Champion and Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team-mate Ian Hutchinson who was hoping to add to the sensational victory he took last year. The Yorkshireman started in fourth on the grid and was running with the leading bunch until he overshot the tricky Lisboa corner in the early stages of the race before rejoining well down the order. However, it got worse for the eight-time TT winner from Bingley when he slid off at slow speed at the Melco Hairpin and retired.

Easton’s latest victory rounded off a very successful season for the Penrith-based PBM team which saw Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne win the MCE British Superbike Championship, adding to Easton’s Rider’s Cup success.

Stuart Easton: “To come back after three years and win again is fantastic although I didn’t expect it to be quite so easy. I knew my wife and my little boy were watching back home so I had to do it for them. It was a case of just getting my head down and building a lead and I was comfortable putting the laps in. Thanks to the team, this is a great way to end the season on a high.”

Ian Hutchinson: “I felt I had good pace but it just wasn’t to be this year. Practice and qualifying went OK but I made a mistake on the opening lap and that was my race over. Then I tipped off at walking pace trying to make up lost ground and that was that. Well done to Stuart on a fantastic win, if I had to hand my number one plate over to anyone, it would be him.”

Paul Bird: “It’s brilliant to get another Macau GP win, that was a proper job! Stuart has been a class above everyone else here all week which is even more impressive when you consider he’s not been here for three years. The others simply had no answer for him again today. Hutchy didn’t have any luck today but he’ll bounce back and I’m sure he’ll be joining us for a celebration drink later! Thanks to all our sponsors, especially The Venetian Hotel, Monster Energy and Rapid Solicitors, it’s great to have such iconic brands associated with us.”

For more information, please visit www.pbmuk.net.

More, from a press release issued by Penz13.com Racing Team:

Thompson celebrates Top Ten at Macau

Macau. British Road Racer Stephen Thompson celebrated a Top Ten finish at today’s 48th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. On his Team Penz13.com BMW Motorrad S 1000 RR machinery he took the chequered flag on tenth position. Team mate Steve Mercer had to pull aside with one and a half laps to go due to a technical problem. Newcomer Dan Kruger took the flag on 20th position.

Stephen Thompson got tenth in today’s 48th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. The Brit accomplished his target of the top ten therewith but was a bit unsatisfied afterwards due to missing the start slightly. He lost only about four seconds on the duo in front of him, fighting for P8.

Steve Mercer was up in a fight for seventh with TT legend John McGuinness entering the last but one lap. He was studying his fellow British compatriots for a couple of laps and noticed he could go a slightly quicker pace than him on the mountain section of the Guia Circuit at Macau. Mercer planned to pull his final attack on the approach of the Lisboa bend in the last lap but had to pull aside beforehand due to a technical issue.

Strong first Macau appearance for Dan Kruger. The Canadian rider, who took part in a couple of Real Road Races for the Penz13.com Racing Team this year, was using his own motorbike from the Chinese Superbike Championship under the Penz-banner at his first Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. Saturday’s race brought further improvement for Kruger, going almost two seconds quicker on his fastest race lap than in Qualifying. He took home 20th spot.

The race win went to Stuart Easton in front of Michael Rutter and today’s best BMW S 1000 RR rider, Martin Jessopp.

Stephen Thompson – P10:

It was good, kind of bad start, because the lights went out pretty quick. In a way not too bad, but I was a bit too careful in the first corner and a couple of guys went through. After the first lap I just got my head down, but we had a little problem with the suspension, it was awkward. With 3, 4 laps in, I saw on the screen some crashes so I remind myself to be careful. Another guy passed me an I followed him and made up some spots. Happy enough.

Steve Mercer – DNF:

It was going really, really well. I was on a good run with McGuinness and think was looking quite strong, actually. It was a good race, it was quick from the start line. I knew I could not make a pass on him too early, because he would go back in front of me straight afterwards. I wanted to tuck behind him until the last lap and then try and go for it at the Lisboa and then pull a gap through the mountains. Hopefully that would have been enough. Unfortunately we didn’t get that far, because with the second but last lap the bike broke down going down to Lisboa so it ended prematurely. I had a good pace and it’s just frustrating. The bike has been amazing, the 2015 BMW S 1000 RR is real, real strong bike and I felt that we didn’t, sort of, get the result, that we deserved. It wasn’t meant to be but there is always a next year and we are going to have another go then.

Dan Kruger – P20:

Not bad for a Newcomer, ey? If you ask me I would love to go out again straight ahead and do another 10 laps. I was having so much fun out there, it’s just been amazing. Now I am not a Macau virgin anymore. Honestly, that was a great fun and I’d love to come back again next year and look for further improvements.

Rico Penzkofer – Team Principal:

First of all I am satisfied and happy that no one crashed. Dan did a very good job as a newcomer, went down to 37s in the race and got a 20th home. I think that’s more than good. Stephen did what we expected more or less. He was in the Top Ten or round about in the practices and the race. Unfortunately Steve broke down with one and a half lap to go and we don’t know yet why. That’s upsetting. But no one got hurt, also in the other crashes, and that’s the main thing. Next year our target will be to field at least on Top Five rider again. We also need to find out what caused the problem on Steve’s bike, what is a bit annoying as he was fighting with John McGuinness for seventh and for sure was going to try a move. But, yeah, anyways, all are healthy, all are back. We are now having a beer, all is good.