Scottish rider Stuart Easton took his first ever Macau GP victory on Saturday when he defeated Michael Rutter by 2.722 seconds after 15 tough, demanding laps of the 3.8-mile Guia circuit. Riding the Doosan Honda, Easton took control when early pace setter Cameron Donald (Relentless Suzuki) was forced to retire on the 5th lap and despite coming under intense pressure from Rutter and the NW200 Ducati, he edged away in the closing stages for a popular win. Donald and Easton set a searing pace until Donald’s bike lost power on the 5th lap and the double TT winner coasted to a halt. This allowed Easton to grab the initiative, extending his lead to over three seconds but Rutter began to claw back Easton’s lead and looked poised to take the lead at any time. However, Easton was putting in a perfect race and although his lead came down to 0.16-second after 12 laps, he gradually edged away, gaining a few 10ths each lap and he was able to cross the line almost three seconds clear. John McGuinness came through to third for his eighth podium in 11 Macau GP appearances whilst Portugese rider Luis Carreira had the best result of his career in 4th. He had been relegated to fifth on the last lap by leading American rider Michael Barnes but as the second Vent Axia Honda rider ran wide on the final corner, Carreira managed to outdrag him to the line and got the verdict by just 0.02-second! Barnes had come through the pack well after opting for a harder front tire whilst Jeremy Toye looked good for a top-six finish at least on the Corona Extra Honda until he overshot at Lisboa Corner. Toye rejoined to finish in a solid eighth and fared better than teammate Mark Miller who was forced to retire on the ninth lap when his rear tire chunked. The fourth of the American contingent, debutante Scott Jensen, took 16th after transmission problems caused him to take a detour down pit lane. 42nd Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Macau, China November 15, 2008 Race Results: 1. Stuart Easton, GBR (Hon CBR1000RR), 15 laps, 37:09.404 2. Michael Rutter, GBR (Duc 1098), -2.722 seconds 3. John McGuinness, GBR (Hon CBR1000RR), -31.711 4. Luis Carreira, POR (Suz GSX-R1000), -39.962 5. Michael Barnes, USA (Hon CBR1000RR), -39.982 6. Stephen Thompson, GBR (Hon CBR1000RR), -45.910 7. Ian Hutchinson, GBR (Kaw ZX-10R), -49.067 8. Jeremy Toye, USA (Hon CBR1000RR), -76.206 9. Marc Fissettee, BEL, -89.503 10. Rui Reigoto, POR (Kaw ZX-10R), -94.367 16. Scott Jensen, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap 22. Mark Miller, USA (Hon CBR1000RR), -7 laps, DNF 23. Conor Cummins, GBR (Yam YZF-R1), -8 laps, DNF 25. Cameron Donald, AUS (Suz GSX-R1000), -11 laps, DNF More, from a press release issued by Doosan Honda/Bike Animal Honda: Stuart Easton, riding the Doosan Honda 1000cc Fireblade, has won the 2008 Macau Grand Prix. Starting from sixth position, on row two of the grid, the 24-year-old Scotsman from Hawick made a flying start and by the third corner had clawed his way up to third place behind multiple Macau GP winner Michael Rutter and race leader Cameron Donald. On the second lap, Stuart got the better of Rutter and moved into second place behind the Suzuki of double Isle of Man TT winner Cameron Donald. Easton increased the pressure on the Australian’s TAS Suzuki with each passing lap around the 6.12km Circuito Da Guia and on lap five, Donald suffered a mechanical failure forcing him to retire leaving Stuart with a clear track ahead. NW200 Ducati rider Rutter was chasing hard and by lap eight, both Stuart and Michael had broken clear of the following pack. By lap thirteen there was a twenty-second gap between the two front runners and third place man John McGuinness. Rutter continued to pile on the pressure but Stuart was controlling the race from the front and held off the Ducati challenge to cross the finish line 2.722 seconds ahead of the six-times winner. An elated Stuart said: “After qualifying, I told the team that I couldn’t fault the bike and was feeling very confident about the race. I got a great start and by the third lap had settled in nicely behind Cameron. Unfortunately for him he retired leaving me with a three-second lead over Michael on the Ducati. I think it was fairly even between Michael and myself and during the mid-part of the race I have to admit I was feeling the pressure of leading. In the latter stages we had to clear groups of backmarkers which really focussed my mind and I realised I could win. I pushed hard during the last few laps I really dug deep and eventually finished almost three seconds ahead of Michael.” “I must compliment the team because without doubt that’s the best race bike I’ve ever ridden. The team have worked so hard and the result speaks for itself.” “What a fantastic day for the team” said smiling Crew Chief Mick Shanley, “Right from the off Stuart didn’t put a foot wrong and thoroughly deserves this, his first Macau GP win. The SMR team has been working so hard all season and Stuart has given myself and the lads that elusive victory and the perfect end to the 2008 season.” Shaun Muir, SMR Team Owner, was naturally delighted also: “Stuart rode a hard, fast and more importantly, a safe race on his very first outing for our team and our Macau GP sponsors, Doosan. I could not have hoped for a better outcome and the result is a testimony to all the hard work from all the team.” Top 6 Positions (of 32): 1, S Easton (Doosan Honda) 37:09.404 2, M Rutter (NW200 Ducati) 37:12.126 3, J McGuinness (Vent Axia Honda) 37:41.115 4, L Carreira (Benimoto Suzuki) 37:49.366 5, M Barnes (Vent Axia Honda) 37:49.386 6, S Thompson (Sloan Honda) 37:55.314