Motorcycle Grand Prix | Preview: Hickman chasing a Macau hat-trick

Peter Hickman

Always one of the most anticipated moments of the Grand Prix (GP) event, the 51st Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix promises to keep emotions running high and adrenaline pumping during the 12-lap race around the Guia circuit.

Even if some of the usual suspects are noticeably absent from the starting list this year, the action promises to be just as thrilling. Many veteran riders will be trying to demonstrate their expertise and experience, while another group of hopefuls will be jostling to prove their mettle in their debut on the notoriously difficult and death-defying circuit.

Dean Harrison

Stalwarts like John McGuinness, who has not missed a Macau GP since 1998, and Ian Hutchinson, another longtime racer in Macau and the 2013 GP winner, are missing from the lineup. Both are recovering from serious injuries sustained during major races on the Road Racing calendar this year; namely, the North West 200 and the TT at the Isle of Man, respectively.

The only American left in a competition of mostly UK riders, Mark Miller – who started in 1998 and described Macau as a crucial race – is also absent this year.

This leaves three serious candidates for the laurel wreath: the trio that stormed the 2016 podium – Peter Hickman, Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp.

For Hickman, who has won the last two editions, this year will be his chance to join an exclusive group of racers who have won three consecutive times. He has had an amazing season this year in the British Superbike Championship (BSB) with a podium finish at the Isle of Man TT.

Martin Jessopp

All three will be riding similar bikes to last year’s, with Hickman and Rutter being reunited on a pair of SMT/Bathams BMWs.

On a third S1000RR BMW, wearing the colors of Riders Motorcycles, will be Jessopp, a five-time podium finisher and Macau regular who is still chasing the gold medal.

The 45-year-old Rutter, eight-time winner and record-holder nicknamed “The Blade,” is expected to thrash the youngsters in the paddock once more.

Twenty years have passed since Rutter claimed his first podium finish at the Guia Circuit. His subsequent winning streak has earned him yet another moniker: the “Peter Pan of British road racing.”

Beyond the best bets for the podium, – the dark horse of this race – is a man who made his Macau debut last year, and who would have clinched a spot on the podium himself had his Ducati not encountered an electrical failure in the penultimate lap. Glenn Irwin, whose impressive performance last year saw him battling shoulder to shoulder at the front, is already said to be hungry for more this year.

Glenn Irwin

Michael Rutter

Another one to watch is Dean Harrison, returning to Macau after four years away. Harrison has been known as the “world’s fastest road racer” since clocking an impressive record speed of approximately 217kph at the Ulster Grand Prix in August. For his second run in Macau, he will ride the Silicone Engineer Racing Kawasaki ZX10RR.

British and Irish riders dominate the Macau line-up for this year’s race, which yet again will have only one local team on the grid: the CF32 Racing Team.

The CF32 team is partnering the Lekka Racing Team this year, and will again feature South African rider Allann-Jon Venter, riding a Yamaha R1.