Six-Time Champion Rutter Heads Macau GP Entry List

 

Michael Rutter is the stand-out name on the entry list for this year's 45^th running of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. The prestigious event has seen a British winner in each of the last 13 years and the chances of another UK success look high judging by the names already confirmed.

Alongside Rutter, 2002 winner John McGuinness will also be in action and with another TT Championship under his belt, the Morecambe man will be intent on adding to his eight podium finishes at Macau.

After finishing on the podium last year, American rider Jeremy Toye will be back alongside Conor Cummins in the Kawasaki Racing Team while Michael Dunlop completes the three-man squad. Michael, along with brother William, will be desperate to follow in some very special footsteps as he looks to join his late father Robert on the list of Macau masters.

Ian Hutchinson is a welcome name on the list of entrants as the Bingley rider makes his return to racing after more than a year out with a broken leg. 'Hutchy' will compete for Swan Yamaha while Brigg rider Gary Johnson will race under the IGT Suzuki by TAS banner. Martin Jessopp is also confirmed and will partner Michael Rutter, just as he does in the British Superbike Championship.

The major threat to the British contingent is likely to come from Bruce Anstey, the Kiwi rider took victory in the Supersport class at this year's TT and will race a 1000cc Honda for Padgetts Motorcycles. Former podium finisher Mark Miller will also be a threat while the home challenge will come from Sou Sio Hong and Joao Fernandes.

They will all be looking to join the list of legendary figures who have tasted victory in this event. Four-time Superbike World Champion Carl Fogarty has a win to his name while TT and BSB legend Steve Hislop has three of them. Former Grand Prix world champion Kevin Schwantz also took victory in 1988 in a decade dominated by Ron Haslam, a six-time winner in his own right.

One sad omission from the entry list is reigning triple champion Stuart Easton. The Scotsman claimed victory in each of the last three Macau GPs but will not be able to defend his title as he recovers from the serious injuries sustained at the North West 200.

 

City of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 45^th Edition

Provisional Entry List:

No.	Rider	Nat	Machine	Team	cc
2	Michael Rutter	GBR	Ducati	Team of Paris	1200
3	Michael Dunlop	GBR	Kawasaki	Kawasaki Racing Team	1000
4	John McGuinness	GBR	Honda	Roadhouse SMT Honda	1000
5	Bruce Anstey	NZL	Honda	Padgetts	1000
6	William Dunlop	GBR	Honda	Wilson Craig	1000
7	Ian Hutchinson	GBR	Yamaha	Swan Yamaha	1000
8	Conor Cummins	GBR	Kawasaki	Kawasaki Racing Team	1000
9	James McBride	GBR	BMW	PB Motorsport	1000
10	Mark Miller	USA	Aprilia	Splitlath Motorsport	1000
11	Stephen Thompson	GBR	Honda	Roadhouse T & R Motorsport	1000
12	Horst Saiger	AUT	BMW	Penz13.com	1000
13	Rico Penzkofer	GER	BMW	Penz13.com	1000
15	James Storrar	GBR	BMW	IseeMacau.com BMW by DMR	1000
17	Steve Mercer	GBR	Honda	Jentin Racing	1000
18	Sou Sio Hong	MAC	Honda	SOU Sio Hong	1000
20	Sean Dwyer	USA	BMW	Locust-Lee's Cycle	1000
22	Chris Clark	USA	Yamaha	Yes-Pcs-Graves Yamaha	1000
23	Michal Dokoupil	CZE	BMW	IseeMacau.com BMW by DMR	1000
26	Didier Grams	GER	Suzuki	Team Heidger-Motorsport.de	1000
32	Joao Fernandes	MAC	BMW	Team of Paris	1000
34	Michael Barnes	USA	Kawasaki	Attack Performance Kawasaki	1000
37	James Hillier	GBR	Kawasaki	Bournemouth Kawasaki	1000
40	Martin Jessopp	GBR	Ducati	Team of Paris	1200
55	Tiago Magalhaes	POR	Kawasaki	Motodesacelera Kawasaki	1000
57	Jeremy Toye	USA	Kawasaki	Kawasaki Racing Team	1000
69	Gary Johnson	GBR	Suzuki	IGT Suzuki by TAS	1000
77	Nuno Caetano	POR	Suzuki	HM Racing Team	1000
99	Paul Shoesmith	GBR	BMW	PB Motorsport	1000