44th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Macau, China November 20, 2010 Race Results: 1. Stuart Easton, Great Britain, (Kaw ZX-10R), 21:43.951 2. Michael Rutter, Great Britain, (Duc 1098), -10.896 seconds 3. Jeremy Toye, USA, (BMW S1000RR), -24.011 4. Simon Andrews, Great Britain, (Kaw ZX-10R), -24.709 5. Gary Johnson, Great Britain, (Suz GSX-R1000), -32.668 6. John McGuinness, Great Britain, (Hon CBR1000RR), -40.194 7. James Storrar, Great Britain, (BMW S1000RR), -43.767 8. Cameron Donald, Australia, (Suz GSX-R1000), -52.861 9. James McBride, Great Britain, (Yam YZF-R1), -55.714 10. Keith Amor, Great Britain, (Kaw ZX-10R), -58.764 11. Rico Penzkofer, Germany, (BMW S1000RR), -62.437 12. Mark Miller, USA, (BMW S1000RR), -66.426 13. Michal Dokoupil, Czech Republic, (Yam YZF-R1), -69.534 14. Dan Kneen, Isle of Man, (BMW S1000RR), -69.960 15. David Johnson, Australia, (Yam YZF-R1), -70.192 16. Horst Saiger, Austria, (MV Agusta F4), -78.173 17. Mark Buckley, Great Britain, (BMW S1000RR), -79.327 18. Didier Grams, Germany, (Suz GSX-R1000), -90.500 19. Sean Dwyer, USA, (Suz GSX-R1000), -100.316 20. Anthony Dos Santos, France, (Yam YZF-R1), -100.901 21. Joao Fernandes, Macau, (Yam YZF-R1), -1 lap 22. James Hillier, Great Britain, (Suz GSX-R1000), -2 laps 23. Martin Jessopp, Great Britain, (Kaw ZX-10R), -6 laps, DNF 24. Chris Peris, Canada, (BMW S1000RR), -6 laps, DNF, crash Fastest Lap: Easton, 2:23.616, new lap record More, from a press release issued by the Macau Grand Prix Committee: Easton Makes It Three in a Row in Macau Stuart Easton, the 27-year-old Scottish racer won his third successive Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix with victory in the 44th running of the Far East classic today (Saturday). Easton, on the Paul Bird Kawasaki Racing Team machine, had to do it the hard way though, beating off a strong challenge from King of Macau, Michael Rutter, on board the Team of Paris AXA Ducati. Rutter, fastest in qualifying, chased his young rival in the first part of the race until it was red flagged after six laps following a crash involving Canadian Chris Peris. Then, in the restart, Easton made another attempt to open up a gap over his older rival and at one stage, had got a lead of almost two seconds, but Rutter, the 38-year-old British star, closed the gap again and threatened to catch and pass the Kawasaki man. Easton responded by quickening his pace, setting a brand new lap record of 2:23.616 seconds on the seventh of the nine-lap race, breaking Rutter’s spirit. “When I saw that Rutter had caught me, I was devastated after trying so hard to break free. I thought if he could catch me after all that, there was no way I could beat him. But I tried again and managed to open a gap once more,” said Easton. At the chequered flag Easton’s winning margin was almost 11 seconds over Rutter. “I tried to catch Stuart mid-way through the race but then I hit the trackside Armco and said to myself, once is enough. I’m not doing that any more,” said Rutter, who eased off the pace and settled for a safe second place. Rutter must now wait at least one more year before he can win his record-breaking seventh Macau GP. Jeremy Toye, the 39-year-old American on the Lee’s Cycles Racing BMW grabbed a dramatic third place within sight of the finishing line after Britain’s Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) had struck mechanical problems on the final lap. Gary Johnson (MOCHA/IGT Suzuki), another British rider, was fifth home and John McGuinness (IGT/sorrymate.com), the 2001 race winner, was sixth over the line. Peris was detained in hospital suffering from a mild right lung contusion and concussion. More, from a press release issued by IGT Sorrymate.com: TOP SIX FINISH FOR IGT SORRYMATE.COM John McGuiness, riding the IGT Sorrymate.com Honda Superbike, finished sixth in today’s 2010 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. Starting on the front row in P3 John lost a place to the USA’s Jeremy Toye as the pack raced away from the line but during the first few laps was chasing hard and by lap 6 passing Toye looked to be a certainty. Unfortunately this was not to be as the race was Red Flagged during lap 8 when Canada’s Chris Peris crashed his BMW machine. All riders returned to the pits and took the opportunity to fit fresh tyres meaning IGT Sorrymate.com’s Dunlop tyre wear advantage was no more. John’s Honda was fitted with a new rear but unfortunately no new front was available. The race was restarted as straight 9 lap race with the grid positions being the track positions at the time the race was stopped, meaning that John would still start on the front row but in P4. After the restart John was pushed back to P8 by the Lisboa Bend but fought back to finish sixth in the shortened race. John McGuinness: “I was going well in the first race and I was sure I could pass Toye and then chase the leaders. The Red Flag was very bad for me because it meant that the other teams could fit new tyres meaning my good wear situation advantage was completely gone. To make things worse, I really struggled to find grip with the new rear tyre we fitted for the second race. However I did manage to push back up to sixth and I would like to thank the team for all their support and hard work.” Alec Tague, Crew Chief: “Obviously we would have liked a podium result but to finish sixth at an event which is completely new to us is still a solid result. John gave us great input and I must take this opportunity to thank the technical crew, Warren Bardsley and Ollie Poyser, for all their hard work.” Robin Croft, SMT Team Owner: “We were clearly disadvantaged by the race stop and restart but to finish sixth at our Macau debut is still a great achievement. I must say a big thank you to John, Alec and the team, and, of course, to our sponsors IGT and Sorrymate.com.” More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsports Kawasaki: Stuart Easton Wins Macau GP for Kawasaki Kawasaki Racing Team rider, Stuart Easton blitzed the 44th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix today for the third consecutive year in a row breaking his own lap record, as teammate Keith Amor is rewarded a deserving tenth place. The 27-year-old Scot took charge of the two-part race from start-to-finish despite a red flag halting the event on lap six following a crash involving Canadian Chris Peris. Easton fought off the advances of Michael Rutter, the fastest man in qualifying, to lead the nine-lap restart race by setting a brand new lap record of 2:23.616 seconds. Easton headed over the line with a dominating 11 second lead to secure victory for the last outing onboard Paul Bird Motorsports ZX-10R machine. Easton’s fellow Scotsman and team-mate Keith Amor, fought hard in the mid field to secure a brave tenth place having qualified in sixth. The road-racing star suffered some disadvantage after facing set-up issues Kawasaki machine but managed to battle out the two-part race around the 6.2km Guia circuit to complete two successful results for the Kawasaki Racing Team supported by Dog-one-Life and IGT. The Paul Bird Motorsport Team has been taking part in the Macau Grand Prix for over 12 years and today’s outing has secured the second victory for the Penrith-based Team for the Asian event. The last Macau race win for PBM was in 2001 with John McGuiness. Stuart Easton: “I’m over the moon to make this my third victory in a row in Macau and to win on the Kawasaki ZX-10R. The Kawasaki Racing Team gave me a package today which I could dominate and break the lap record on, this speaks for itself and the work they’ve put in. It wasn’t all easy sailing for me however as Rutter put up a good fight for most of the two-part races. When I saw that he (Rutter) had caught me, I was devastated after trying so hard to break free. I thought if he could catch me after all that, there was no way I could beat him. But I tried again and managed to open a gap once more and gradually pulled away to win the race by almost 11 seconds .I would like to thank the boys, Pirelli tyres, Kawasaki and to Paul Bird for giving me this opportunity.” Keith Amor: “The Macau Grand Prix is a special kind of race and it’s a pleasure to take-part in and bring the Kawasaki bike home in a top ten position. I had some issues to contend with over the two-part race but overall I really enjoyed the experience and am grateful of the opportunity which Paul Bird has given me. I would have liked to have finished a bit further up the ladder as I didn’t feel that I delivered what I am capable of. But the boys and I did the best job we could, road around some problems and also had a good battle in the mid-field. Thank you to Kawasaki and Paul Bird for the opportunity to give the ZX-10R a final run.” Paul Bird, Race Team Owner: “It’s been a fantastic result for Stuart and the Team today and I’m really proud to have my second victory of the Macau event. Stuart rode brilliantly from start to finish and really showed that he wanted the win badly by fighting off Michael Rutter. Stuart has enjoyed previous success here and is making his mark on the Macau victory board having made this his third. I am delighted that he was able to continue his winning streak on-board the ZX-10R, which will be its last outing with the PBM/KRT as we now have the new Ninja to develop for WSBK. Keith also did a sterling job for the team with a top ten finish under difficult circumstances. He had a few issues to contend with over the race but his work ethic this week as been very professional and we couldn’t have asked for anymore. I’d like to thank Kawasaki for allowing us to continue our support of the Macau Grand Prix and to Pirelli for their fantastic support also. The KRT can now take a well-earned break from racing, as we set out targets towards the 2011 WSBK test season with the brand new Ninja ZX-10R.” The 44th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix final results are: 1. Stuart Easton Kawasaki Racing Team 2. Michael Rutter Paris AXA Ducati 3. Jeremy Toye – Lee’s Cycles Racing BMW 4. Simon Andrews – MSS Colchester Kawasaki 5. Gary Johnson – MOCHA/IGT Suzuki 6. John McGuiness IGT/sorrymate.com Honda 10. Keith Amor Kawasaki Racing Team