Motocycle GP Preview | Hickman chasing third win, Rutter ninth

The motorcycle race is always one of the most anticipated moments of the Grand Prix.
As in previous editions, the 52nd Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix promises to raise adrenaline levels sky-high and hypnotize spectators with the action on the track.
Expectations are high for this year’s 12-lap race around the Guia circuit, which will see a very special trio on the entry list.

Michael Rutter, the eight-time winner has high hopes for this year, given his experience and the very special two-wheel machine that he will ride.
Under the colors of the “Aspire-Ho Team,” as previously announced by the Times, Rutter and the legendary Peter Hickman – another of the great names – will undoubtedly try to lead the pack. The former will attempt to reach a new record of nine wins in Macau and the latter will try for his third win in four years, after having missed his chance in last year’s race, which ended prematurely due to the fatal accident involving Daniel Hegarty.

This year, Rutter is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his first win in Macau, and he is taking it seriously. He is bringing a Honda RCV 213V – which could capture the attention of fans by itself – to the Guia Circuit for the first time.

Hickman, the Macau winner in 2015 and 2016, will ride his traditional BMW bike, which proved very efficient in the streets of Macau on several past occasions.

Hickman has had a good run this season, having placed fifth in the British Superbike Championship and set a new outright lap record at the Isle of Man TT by the time he conquered the win in the Senior TT.
With the first two dice rolled, it is time to ask: is this finally the year of Martin Jessop? He has worked hard for so many years and come close to a win on several occasions. Under normal circumstances, it might be difficult for him to outrun both Rutter and Hickman, but he is certain to try.

Absent from the Grand Prix last year due to injury, the “mythical” John McGuinness will also return to the Guia Circuit on November 15.
The 23-time Isle of Man TT winner ensured that he was making a serious comeback to racing when he won the Isle of Man Senior Classic TT in August.

This year, McGuiness will be at the handlebar of last year’s winning machine (and Lap Record holder), the Ducati 1199 Panigale from Tak Chun Group by PBM, teaming with Jessopp. If the Rutter-Hickman pair sounds promising, they could ask for no better opponents than McGuiness-Jessopp.

Another top contender who might make a difference this year is Horst Saiger, who will be returning to Macau for the 11th time with a Yamaha R1.

Those racing under the flag of the Penz13 team typically score well. This year, the team will bring Ireland’s Derek Sheils, Briton Danny Webb and newcomer Davey Todd, all on BMWs, to Macau.
Todd could be the breakout of this year as he will race in Macau for the first time, after starting road racing last year with a promising debut at the Isle of Man in June.

Spectators would do well to keep an eye out for him in the number 74 machine from Penz13.

On the topic of newcomers, this year will introduce several aspiring record-breaking numbers. They will certainly need time to adjust and learn the Macau track, but their sheer numbers could set the scene for an interesting fight with names like Manxman Andrew Dudgeon, Craig Neve, Dominic Herbertson and Paul Jordan or even Rob Hodson, Phillip Crowe, Daley Mathison, Raul Torras and Erno Kostamo.

With all these ingredients, the 52nd Motorcycle GP is shaping up to be an interesting race that will pit experience against young blood.