Macau, China, 13 Oct – Michael Rutter, who will be racing with a North West Ducati 200, returns this year to Macau to take part in the 42nd Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, in an attempt to capture his seventh victory at the Guia Circuit, it was announced today.
Rutter, who is 35 years old, last won the Macau Moto GP in 2005.
Also taking part is fellow Briton John McGuinness, 36, the 2001 Macau winner and last year’s runner-up, who won his 14th Isle of Man TT this year, taking victory in June’s Senior TT Race.
Joining the 12-strong British contingent is Stuart Easton, Supersport winner at Macau in 2002, and second runner-up overall in 2004, after being forced to miss the event last year.
Easton, 25, finished fifth at Oulton Park in the British Superbike Championship and will be racing with Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda on a Superbike this year.
Guy Martin, 27, will be partnering with Easton with Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda.
Winner of the 600cc Supersport class three times in a row Steve Allan is back, this year on an AVIVA Kawasaki superbike of MSS-Discovery Racing.
The Scot races in the British Superstock Championship and at Macau will be joined on the team by Briton Ian Hutchinson, a TT winner and strong road racer who is making his fourth visit to Macau.
Another strong contender is Thomas Hinterreiter, back with a Yamaha for the Austria Racing Team. The 41-year old Austrian finished on the podium at Macau last year, his 3rd place a career best at Macau.
Conor Cummins from the Isle of Man is back to compete in his second Grand Prix after the young rider impressed with a fifth-place finish in his debut last year.
Cummins will be competing at Macau on a Yamaha with Team Of Paris A.I.M. Racing, together with Frenchmen Gerald Muteau, Amaury Baratin, Fabrice Miguet and Pierre Chapuis.
Amongst the four-rider American entry for the Far East Classic is Mark “Thriller” Miller, sixth last year.
After finishing on the podium in 2000, Miller is back with Corona Extra Honda Racing, with fellow American Jeremy Toye.
From the Pacific comes the New Zealand duo: Bruce Anstey (39 years old), making a return to Macau after a five-year absence, and Australian Cameron Donald, who has raced in Macau seven times, both with Relentless Suzuki by Tas.
Representing Portugal at the 42nd edition of the Macau Moto GP are Luis Carreira, Rui Reigoto and José Leite.
The first two competed last year in Macau and achieved their best result to date. Reigoto, who last competed at Macau in 2005, will race with Vodafone/Kawasaki/KMS.
Amongst the seven promising newcomers making their Macau debuts this year is professional AMA American road racer Scott Jensen, who has competed in the AMA Superbike category since 2002. The 46-year old is entered on a Moto Garage Racing Suzuki.
British newcomers include James Storrar and Steve Mercer on DMR Racing Yamahas, and Gary Johnson on a BTS Racing Honda.
Belgian Marc Fissette (34 years old), with IXO-Churrascao Racing, is another newcomer.
Making his Macau debut will be Briton Dan Linfoot (20 years old) for Rob Mac Racing on a 600cc Yamaha.
Two Macau riders will compete in the 600cc Supersport category. Sou Sio Hong and Leong Iok Choi will each ride Yamahas, while the sole Hong Kong entrant is Cheung Wai On, sixth in the category last year.
(MacauNews)
