Moto GP Macao 2019: mini victory for Rutter after a big pile-up
Author of pole position on the handlebars of his BMW S1000RR, Peter Hickman was the big favorite of the 53rd Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. Unfortunately, two successive red flags reduced the race to a single lap (!). Michael Rutter wins the bet on his Honda RC213V-S … and pays for his tour !
Michael Rutter was declared the winner of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix after Saturday’s ersatz race, interrupted by two red flags. So not sure that the rider of the bewitching Honda RC213V-S adds this success to his long list of victories in the Chinese event !
As a reminder, the 47-year-old Briton had won eight times on the Guia urban circuit before this weekend: in 1998 on RC45, 2000 on R1, 2002 and 2003 on 998, 2004 and 2005 on CBR1000RR, 2011 on 1098 and 2012 again on Fireblade. By the champion’s admission, he did not deserve this victory in 2019…
- Macau Moto GP 2018 :
- Macau Moto GP 2017 :
- Macau Moto GP 2016 :
Winner in Macao in 2015, 2016 and 2018 on S1000RR, Peter Hickman had taken pole position last Friday for this 53rd Motorcycle Grand Prix … A GP with a route far too dangerous to appear on the MotoGP calendar, but which does not impress hardly the pilots of the Tourist Trophy !
The race had started very well for Hickman since after two short laps, the n ° 88 of the MGM by Bathams team was seven seconds ahead of his four pursuers: his teammate Michael Rutter, David Johnson on his Ducati PBM, Lee Johnston on his BMW Ashcourt Racing and Davey Todd on his BMW MGM by Penz 13.
While "Hicky" could begin to manage, the red flags made their – first – appearance following the fall of Rob Hodson at the level of the Esses, which led to that of Marek Cerveny placed just behind him … Fortunately, the two pilots did not were only very slightly injured.
In accordance with the regulations, the organizers proceeded with the outright cancellation of this first part of the race and relaunched the Grand Prix for eight laps. This time around, Rutter got off to the best start from second place and finished the first lap in the lead, 26 hundredths of a second ahead of his best foe Hickman. !
Peter overtakes his colleague and his RCV while braking Lisboa Bend then escapes again when the marshals at station 15 have to interrupt the race again due to a horrific pile-up involving six motorcycles (see the videos below)…
Erno Kostamo, Derek Sheils, Didier Grams, Michael Sweeney, Philip Crowe and Dan Kruger tangled up with each other but miraculously none were badly injured: "Taken to hospital, Kostamo, Sheils and Kruger were aware. Kruger. and Sheils have been released, while Kostamo is in stable condition and will be operated on tonight, "management reported a few hours later..
Due to the busy race schedule (of the 66th Macau Auto GP), the organizers had no choice but to declare the race over. So in the lead at the end of the very first lap, Rutter finally won the Grand Prix … and pocketed the winner’s bonus. !
"I just heard that I was awarded the victory in today’s race," tweeted Michael Rutter on Saturday night. "It’s a bit of a shame because Peter really deserved it … Sorry Peter," the veteran apologized. Third in qualifying, Australian David Johnson more logically completed the podium with his Panigale V4. Either BMW, Honda and Ducati, as in 2018 !
No doubt dispossessed of a fourth Macao GP victory in five years (Glen Irwinn had beaten him in 2017 in a race also stopped prematurely), Peter Hickman however quickly consoled himself by demanding that his teammate settle their score evening at the casino bar. Philosopher and smart, the patron of road races !
Macao Grand Prix 2019: the live video
Macau Grand Prix 2019: the pile-up
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