Motorcycle GP – Hickman confirmed favorite in Qualifiers

Peter Hickman is the confirmed favorite to win the final after yesterday’s qualifying session of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix by topping the timesheet of first qualifying session that closed the first day of Macau Grand Prix event.

Hickman, riding a BMW S1000RR from Aspire-Ho by Bathams Racing Team clocked his best lap at 2:25.429, almost one second faster than the closest contender, his teammate and eight-time winner of the Macau GP, Michael Rutter.

The two men from Aspire- Ho by Bathams Racing Team dominated a session that presented only one surprise, the third best time achieved by another British rider, Danny Webb from MGM by Penz13 Team.

With a very steady riding performance, Webb managed to triumph over favorites such as Martin Jessopp on the Ducati Panigale 1199 and Gary Johnson on the Kawasaki ZX10RR who placed fourth and fifth at 3.3 and 3.4 seconds respectively, from the leader Hickman.

Closing the top six was Horst Saiger on the Yamaha R1 still trying to get some track time and adjusting to a new motorcycle. The season has not been a particularly happy one for Saiger due to an arm injury that forced him to stop riding for a lengthy period.

The afternoon’s qualifying session ran without any setbacks in contrast to the morning’s troubled Free Practice session that was red-flagged twice, both due to crashes.

The first incident was Andrew Dudgeon from VRS Racing Team, riding a BMW S1000RR that crashed in the early laps on reservoir bend. Although the rider is not considered to be in a life-threatening condition, medical reports indicate that he has a fracture in his lower spine that is still being assessed by the medical team.

Immediately after the session restarted, Spaniard Raul Torras crashed hard at the Mandarin’s Bend setting his motorcycle alight in a fireball.

The high-speed crash knocked out Torras with a hard hit to the head, sending him unconscious.

Taken to the hospital where he is still being observed and evaluated by the medical team, the rider is suspected of having an intracranial hemorrhage as a result of the crash.

Although none of the riders are believed to be in a life-threatening condition they will be out of the GP this year, bringing the grid down from 28 to 26 riders.

The motorcycle action goes back to the track at the Guia Circuit today at 7:30 a.m. for a 45-minute qualifying session that will then define the starting grid for the 12 laps of the 52nd Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix to be raced on Saturday around 4 p.m.