From a press release issued by Macau Grand Prix organizers:

Rutter makes it five wins with a hat trick in Macau

Michael Rutter, on board the 1000cc Red Bull Honda, made it three wins in a row when he won the 38th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix-Hotel Fortuna this afternoon.

The 31-year-old racer from Leicestershire had to work hard for his win, the fifth of his career in the Far East Classic, after rival John McGuinness (999cc Monstermob Ducati), who had been fastest in practice, took the lead at the start of the 15-lap race.

Rutter admitted that he thought his rival had pulled too far away to be caught on the opening lap, but decided to ride as hard as he could and hope that McGuinness would make a mistake.

Rutter’s chance to take the lead came on lap eight when McGuinness, the 32-year-old from Lancashire, was slower than normal on the fast straight to Lisboa Bend and Rutter was able to pull out of the slipstream and pass him on the brakes.

McGuinness refused to give in though, and was only half a second down on Rutter at the chequered flag.

It was a good day for the Cumbrian-based Paul Bird-owned Monstermob Ducati team with 21-year-old Scot Stuart Easton finishing third.

Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter (1000cc Yamaha), was fourth, nearly 13 seconds behind Easton.

Three Americans pulled off a major surprise by filling the next three places. Josh Hayes, 29, on the 1000cc Attack Kawasaki making his debut at the race, was fifth, 24 year-old Geoff May on the 1000cc Hot Bodies Racing Suzuki was sixth and Jeremy Toye (1000cc Roadracingworld.com Yamaha) took seventh place.

Callum Ramsay was the winner of the FIM 600 Supersport event, but a one-time 14 second lead had been cut to just over two seconds by Australian Cameron Donald (China Yuan XGJao Honda) at the end of the race.

Chris Palmer, Ramsay’s team mate, on the second Valmoto Triumph was third, just over two seconds behind Donald with the trio taking 19th, 20th, and 21st places in the overall results.

Cheung Wai On, the talented 23-year-old Hong Kong racer, made an impressive debut on a home-built 600cc Honda, finishing 25th overall out of the 34 starters and fourth in the 600 Class.


Macau Grand Prix Results:

1. Michael RUTTER, GBR, Honda, 15 laps, 37:30.397
2. John McGUINNESS, GBR, Ducati, -0.518 second
3. Stuart EASTON, GBR, Ducati, -24.821 seconds
4. Thomas HINTERREITER, AUT, Yamaha, -37.534 seconds
5. Josh HAYES, USA, Kawasaki, -52.457 seconds
6. Geoff MAY, USA, Suzuki, -59.116 seconds
7. Jeremy TOYE, USA, Yamaha, -73.969 seconds
8. Steve ALLAN, GBR, Kawasaki, -79.371 seconds
9. James McBRIDE, GBR, Suzuki, -99.698 seconds
10. Stephen THOMPSON, GBR, Suzuki, -102.024 seconds
11. Les SHAND, GBR, Suzuki, -102.728 seconds
12. Marcel KELLENBERGER, SUI, Kawasaki, -106.211 seconds
13. Martin FINNEGAN, IRL, Yamaha, -110.440 seconds
14. Markus BARTH, GER, Kawasaki, -130.865 seconds
15. Richard BRITTON, GBR, Suzuki, -136.480 seconds
16. Rui REIGOTO, POR, Suzuki, -141.406 seconds
17. Horst SAIGER, AUT, Yamaha, -143.594 seconds
18. Jos LEITE, POR, Kawasaki, -143.951 seconds
19. Callum RAMSAY, GBR, Triumph, -146.007 seconds
20. Cameron DONALD, AUS, Honda, -148.454 seconds



More, from a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

DOUBLE ROSTRUM FOR MONSTERMOB AT MACAU GRAND PRIX

MCGUINNESS AND EASTON SECOND AND THIRD IN FAREWELL RACE FOR DUCATI

MonsterMob Ducati riders John McGuinness and Stuart Easton claimed second and third place respectively in today’s 38th Hotel Fortuna Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix as they gave the Paul Bird Motorsport team a glorious send-off in their final race for Ducati.

After four memorable years with Ducati, whereby the team has accrued a total of 40 race wins from 102 starts with a further 44 podium finishes also, the VK MonsterMob F04 pairing were hoping to add to the race victory tally having qualified in first and second on the grid.

32 year old McGuinness, from Morecambe, led for the opening seven laps chased hard by last year’s winner Michael Rutter (Honda) with 21 year old Easton keeping a watching brief in third place as they pulled clear of the field.

At half distance, Rutter hit the front but McGuinness, who won the race in 2001, shadowed the Honda man but despite his best efforts, couldn’t get past and had to settle for second place once more around the Far Eastern 6.12km street circuit.

“It was very frustrating as when Michael took the lead, he was holding me up in the ‘Town’ section but I just couldn’t put a safe pass on him. I had a look at a couple of the hairpins and was hoping to do it on the last lap but I’m really disappointed I couldn’t pull it off. The team deserved this win but it wasn’t to be,” said the six times TT winner.

Meanwhile Easton, reunited with the team that he won the 2002 British Supersport title with, rode an exceptional race to clinch third place on the rostrum ahead of a number of experienced Macau veterans. On only his second ever superbike race at the former Portuguese colony, the Hawick born but now Dalbeattie based rider was happy with his performance.

“A rostrum is perfect for me and is what I came here to achieve. It was great to work with the team again and it’s a pity we couldn’t have sent them away with a win on their swansong with Ducati but a double rostrum is a good result for us all,” said the young Scot.

Team boss Paul Bird spoke highly of his riders afterwards, and of the emotion in the camp: “I could have asked for no more from them, they both gave 100% and that’s all I can ever ask of a rider. Of course it would have been nice to win our final race for Ducati and it was very frustrating for John that he couldn’t re-pass Michael as I reckon he could have won that and as for Stuart, he was simply sensational. I’m very, very proud of my team and can honestly say that this is an end of a very special era. Even John had a tear in his eye which is most unusual!” said the Penrith businessman.