Six-time winner at Macau, Michael Rutter, took pole position for tomorrow’s shortened 12-lap City of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 45th Edition. The 39-year-old Briton, aboard the RidersMotorcycles Ducati took pole with a lap of 2:23.794, just eight hundredths of a second off his scorching 2010 qualifying time. Second fastest was John McGuinness on the Roadhouse SMT Honda 1000. The fellow Briton, who last took victory on the 6.2km Guia Circuit ten years’ ago, was more than three seconds slower than Rutter. Ian Hutchinson, continuing his strong return to competition, was third fastest on the Swan Yamaha 1000. The fastest of the record five American entries was Jeremy Toye, third at Macau last year, on the IGT Kawasaki Racing Team 1000 machine, who was 6th quickest, followed by Michael Barnes on the Attack Performance Kawasaki 1000. Despite his convincing session, Rutter, who is gunning for a record-setting seventh win at Macau, played down its significance. “Even though my time was similar to last year, it means nothing. We have to wait until tomorrow and the race to see if I really can win,” he said. McGuinness was plagued by traffic during the session, but was satisfied to be starting alongside Rutter on the grid having been unable to better his rival’s best time. “Every time I got close, Rutter did a better time,” he said. All the riders were pleased to get the 45-minute qualifying session underway after rain had disrupted the race programme on Friday and Saturday morning. The City of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 45th Edition will be run on Sunday afternoon, with a 30 minute morning warm-up session scheduled. 45th City Of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Macau, China November 19 Qualifying Results: 1. Michael Rutter, Great Britain (Duc 1098R), 2:23.794 2. John McGuinness, Great Britain (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:26.951 3. Ian Hutchison, Great Britain (Yam YZF-R1), 2:27.911 4. Martin Jessopp, Great Britain (Duc 1098R), 2:27.991 5. Gary Johnson, Great Britain (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:28.014 6. Jeremy Toye, USA (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:28.213 7. Michael Barnes, USA (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:28.642 8. James Storrar, Great Britain (BMW S1000RR), 2:28.979 9. Rico Penzkofer, Germany (BMW S1000RR), 2:29.260 10. Conor Cummins, Great Britain (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:33.724 11. Steve Mercer, Great Britain (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:29.952 12. James Hillier, Great Britain (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:30.255 13. Bruce Anstey, New Zealand (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:30.341 14. Horst Saiger, Austria (BMW S1000RR), 2:31.505 15. William Dunlop, Great Britain (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:32.079 16. Michael Dunlop, Great Britain (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:32.086 17. Didier Grams, Germany (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:32.508 18. Stephen Thompson, Great Britain (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:32.946 19. James McBride, Great Britain (BMW S1000RR), 2:33.928 20. Mark Miller, USA (Apr RSV4 Factory), 2:34.123 21. Chris Clark, USA (Yam YZF-R1), 2:34.955 22. Sean Dwyer, USA (BMW S1000RR), 2:35.229