Rutter Makes Macau History with Seventh Win Michael Rutter made Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix history today by taking a seventh victory on the famous Guia street circuit, bettering the existing record he had shared with fellow legend Ron Haslam since 2005. Second was Rutter’s team mate Martin Jessopp, with Ian Hutchinson on the Swan Yamaha 1000 making a remarkable return to competition by taking third for an all-British podium. American Jeremy Toye was fourth with the IGT Kawasaki Racing Team. Rutter, aboard the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati 1200 proved why he is the greatest rider the event has ever known in the 10-lap race, winning by a margin of 4.772 seconds and setting the fastest lap of the race. Although Rutter had the advantage of pole position, it was Hutchinson who stormed off the grid and into the lead off the start, followed by Rutter, John McGuinness on the Roadhouse SMT Honda 1000 and Jessopp. McGuinness got by Rutter in the run down to Lisboa, with Jessopp following suit. While Hutchinson set about pulling away from the pack, Jessopp, McGuinness and Rutter were engaged in a three-way battle, with McGuinness dropping back to fourth by the end of the second lap. Rutter was on a charge though, and up to second a lap later having passed Jessopp at Lisboa, and taking the charge to the race leader. Closing up to Hutchinson on lap 4, Rutter made his move at Lisboa to take the lead. As Rutter set about putting some track between him and his rivals, Jessopp passed Hutchinson to go second. To rapturous cheers from the Macau crowds, Rutter crossed the line to take the flag and etch his name in the Grand Prix history books once again. However, it was team mate Jessopp who Rutter praised at the post-race press conference, after light-heartedly assuring the assembled media his first call would be to Ron Haslam: “Martin has been there all year he’s come along and learned a lot. It’s been a brilliant season.” Jessopp was equally delighted to be sharing the podium with two great names: “The last two years I’ve been learning from Michael. I hit the wall pretty hard on lap 1, so I settled down after that. I think Michael was playing with us for the first couple of laps.” For Hutchison, who this time last year was in intensive care after an accident in the UK, it was great to be back racing. He was also full of praise for the organisation’s decision to reschedule the races following bad weather on Saturday: “It was a great decision by the organisers to keep everyone safe,” he said. 45th City Of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Macau, China November 20 Race Results: 1. Michael Rutter, Great Britain (Duc 1098R), 10 laps, 24:32.817 2. Martin Jessopp, Great Britain (Duc 1098R), -4.772 seconds 3. Ian Hutchison, Great Britain (Yam YZF-R1), -6.847 4. Jeremy Toye, USA (Kaw ZX-10R), -9.674 5. Gary Johnson, Great Britain (Suz GSX-R1000), -14.113 6. John McGuinness, Great Britain (Hon CBR1000RR), -14.314 7. James Storrar, Great Britain (BMW S1000RR), -32.049 8. Michael Barnes, USA (Kaw ZX-10R), -36.894 9. Bruce Anstey, New Zealand (Hon CBR1000RR), -39.384 10. Steve Mercer, Great Britain (Hon CBR1000RR), -41.713 11. James Hillier, Great Britain (Kaw ZX-10R), -43.343 12. Michael Dunlop, Great Britain (Kaw ZX-10R), -52.089 13. William Dunlop, Great Britain (Hon CBR1000RR), -65.051 14. Didier Grams, Germany (Suz GSX-R1000), -69.043 15. Sean Dwyer, USA (BMW S1000RR), -71.068 16. Stephen Thompson, Great Britain (Hon CBR1000RR), -73.786 17. Paul Shoesmith, Great Britain (BMW S1000RR), -74.164 18. Mark Miller, USA (Apr RSV4 Factory), -80.311 19. James McBride, Great Britain (BMW S1000RR), -104.821 20. Michael Dokoupil, Czech Republic (BMW S1000RR), -124.331 21. Chris Clark, USA (Yam YZF-R1), -2 laps, DNF 22. Horst Saiger, Austria (BMW S1000RR), -9 laps, DNF 23. Rico Penzkofer, Germany (BMW S1000RR), DNS 24. Conor Cummins, Great Britain (Kaw ZX-10R), DNS More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport: IGT Kawasaki Just Miss Podium In Macau After a week of bad weather which curtailed most of the practice and qualifying sessions, the City of Dreams 45th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix was eventually run earlier this morning and saw a battling fourth position achieved by American Jeremy Toye. Aboard the PBM-prepared Kawasaki ZX-10R the 40-year-old Californian was hoping to repeat his podium success of last year but after the 10-lap race missed out on the podium by 2.827s. Ulsterman Michael Dunlop, making his Macau debut, was severely hindered by the lack of track time and as a result finished in 12th position, whereas Manxman Conor Cummins did not start the race due to contracting an illness during the week. Team owner Paul Bird said: “It’s been the most difficult week weather-wise we’ve ever known and well done to the organisers for persevering. Jeremy rode well to take fourth position and Michael was severely hampered through having no track time because of the weather but did well considering. It was my decision to not let Conor race, as much as he wanted to, because he had no strength after being ill during the week, and it was the right decision.” The Penrith based PBM team, having yesterday announced Rapid Solicitors as title sponsors for their British Superbike team, will concentrate on preparations for the 2012 season whereby Shane Byrne and Stuart Easton will start testing early in the New Year.