Tourist Trophy – Macau Motorcycle GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium – Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

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Macao Moto GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium

Tourist Trophy - Macau Motorcycle GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

The last international road race of 2018 took place this weekend in Macau. Peter Hickman on S1000RR won this 52nd "Chinese Grand Prix" ahead of his teammate Michael Rutter on RC213V-S (!) And Martin Jessopp on 1199 Panigale R. Report and video…

While the brave MotoGP riders got buckets of water on their helmets – as well as big bowls! – on the occasion of (Spain), their daring road racing cousins ​​also completed their season, on the other side of the world on the track of Guia (China).

It was indeed the 65th edition of the Macao Grand Prix, the 52nd in the motorcycle category contested by an overwhelming majority of riders registered for the Tourist Trophy. It takes their temper to face the Macao loop, certainly (6.120 km Vs 60.73!) … but not ten times less dangerous since it takes place entirely in the city center !

  • MNC special file :
  • Macau Moto GP 2017 :
  • Macau Moto GP 2016 :

Already winner of this original "Chinese Grand Prix" motorcycle in 2015 and 2016, Peter Hickman started from pole position on Saturday. The # 88 BMW rider placed his S1000RR in front of his teammate Michael Rutter … who exceptionally drove in Macau on a Honda RC213V-S !

Tourist Trophy - Macau Motorcycle GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

When the red lights went out, good old Rutter (46, good age, right ?!) had a better start than his young rival (31) and completed three laps just ahead of him. Chased then threatened by Danny Webb (BMW n ° 99), Hickman decided to raise his voice in the 4th lap.

In doing so, the fastest man around the Isle of Man set a new lap record in Macau on his German Superbike and gained a slight lead over Rutter and his road MotoGP. Unable to keep up with the pace imposed by the two members of the Bathams Racing team, Webb was gradually overtaken by Gary Johnson (Kawasaki n ° 7) and Martin Jessopp (Ducati n ° 40).

Tourist Trophy - Macau Motorcycle GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

Starting – moderately – from third place on the grid, Jessopp spiced up the halfway point by stealing his fourth place from Johnson, then by ejecting Webb from the podium (remember that the same Webb finished this year on the Yamaha n ° 13!) . The Panigale could not hope to climb higher, the RCV then ahead of it by 4.5 seconds…

Hickman wraps up a brilliant 2018 season !

Rutter, on the other hand, scrupulously maintained the pressure on Hickman at the end of the race: Michael had just achieved his personal best lap when the race was definitively stopped four laps from the finish, due to the fall of two competitors (luckily without serious consequences).

Tourist Trophy - Macau Motorcycle GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

Declared a winner for the third time in his career at Macau, Hickman ended in the best possible way a shiny 2018 season: sparkling at the, dazzling in and beaming at, "Hicky" was also remarkable in being one of the six drivers. qualified for the "Showdown" at the end of the season !

Tourist Trophy - 2018 Macau Motorcycle GP: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

Rutter climbed for his part on his 19th Chinese podium since his debut in 1994! For the record, it was in 1998 riding an RC45 that he won the first of his eight victories. The guy then won in 2002 and 2003 on 998, in 2004 and 2005 on Fireblade, in 2011 on 1098 and again on CBR1000RR the following year. Sacred achievements !

Martin Jessopp, whose tenth visit to China, leaves with a sixth podium. This member of the prestigious "130 TT Club" (drivers having averaged 130 mph on the Snaeffel Moutain) teamed up this year with the famous John McGuinness !

Tourist Trophy - 2018 Macau Motorcycle GP: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

The second most successful rider of the "TiTi" (24 victories, the last of which was last August at the Classic TT) has won the Macao motorcycle GP once: it was in 2001 on a CBR954RR. Seventeen years later, riding a Panigale R (V2), the 46-year-old driver – also – has to settle for 10th place.

Finally, let us point out the 22nd place of our only French representative: Xavier Denis, "absolutely disappointed with the lap times but … always in one piece and enjoying the lifestyle in Macao". Because colonized by Portugal for four centuries and retroceded in 1999 to China, Macao is not just about its Grand Prix, any more than its casinos…

Macau Moto GP 2018: Driver’s statements

Peter Hickman (BMW S1000RR # 60) 1st

Tourist Trophy - 2018 Macau Motorcycle GP: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

“It’s fantastic for the team and for me. And giving our sponsors Aspire-Ho a win here is absolutely awesome. Michael Rutter got off to a much better start than me, which is usual: he always starts well. the grid. I was pretty happy to get behind him. Once in the lead I tried to escape a bit. Then I heard Martin Jessopp approaching and after the third lap I put my head in the handlebars to see if I could build a little gap and then manage it. That’s what I did in the end. I managed to win all the international road races this year, which is quite spectacular. And I also participated in the BSB "Showdown" so it was a very good year ".

Michael Rutter (Honda RC213V-S n ° 8) 2nd

Tourist Trophy - 2018 Macau Motorcycle GP: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

“The bike started off perfectly well and I passed right in front of Pete on the first turn. I thought ‘that’s not true, it’s not happening!’ Then I attacked. When he popped up in front, I thought I was going to stay on his back. But he left me so far behind in one lap that it was almost embarrassing, so I attacked again. started to match him and feel comfortable. I could see his Dunlop starting to wear out on the back. I thought he wouldn’t last, but he kept pace. To be honest with Pete , he was on track! "

Martin Jessopp (Ducati 1199 Panigale R n ° 40) 3rd

Tourist Trophy - Macau Motorcycle GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

"I didn’t really stress about the start. We were all in the same group and I thought it wasn’t a problem as long as I passed a few guys. I’m so unfamiliar with the bike. . I had been on the same machine for six years and have never won so why not try something different? I have been riding the past two days with a lot of respect for the bike and the circuit, and I I tried not to rush anything. It was going to be difficult in the face of such competition. Crazy as it sounds, I would love to do another race tomorrow! "

2018 Macau Moto GP: results

Tourist Trophy - Macau Motorcycle GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

Tourist Trophy - Macau Motorcycle GP 2018: BMW, Honda and Ducati on the podium - Used BMW DUCATI HONDA

Macau Moto GP 2018: best moments in video

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